Required official documents

Civil status certificate (no older than 3 months): this document provides your current personal data such as your name and civil status.

Family record document (marriage certificate): this document confirms the place and date of marriage and contains the current personal details of the husband, wife and children from their marriage. The family record document is reissued each time an event affects your civil status (e.g., birth, death, registration of a child).

Civil partnership certificate: this document confirms the place and date of a registered partnership and the names and domiciles of the partners before and after registration.

Registration notice from the Swiss resident’s registration office (deregistration date no earlier than one year prior) or residence certificate from abroad (issuing date no earlier than 3 months prior)*: this document states the registered person's place of residence at the time of departure from Switzerland to move abroad.

Certificate of inheritance: The certificate of inheritance discloses information about the heirs and is required to gain access to inheritance.

Registered civil status document (issue date as of date of death): This document discloses information about the registered person's parents, spouses and children.

* Or a comparable document such as a tax assessment, voter identification card – issued no earlier than three months prior.

Swiss citizens can order the respective documents (civil status certificate, family record, civil partnership certificate) at the civil register office in their hometown.

Those who are not Swiss citizens can order these statements at the civil register office closest to their current or previous domicile address.

You must request confirmation of place of residence / declaration certificate / certificate of departure in your current domicile (for both citizens and non-citizens). A certificate of inheritance or proof of a deceased pensioner's registered civil status can be picked up at the inheritance office.

If you are no longer a resident in Switzerland, please see below for the list of documents required instead of the civil status certificate and confirmation of place of residence in several other countries. Swiss citizens abroad can get these documents in the consulate of the country in which they live.