- Notes from the Federal Palace
How “Marriage for all” affects same-sex couples
04.02.2022 – FEDERAL OFFICE OF JUSTICE (FOJ)
With the electorate having approved the “Marriage for all” proposal in autumn 2021, same-sex couples will now be able to marry from 1 July 2022 onwards. How does this change in the law affect people in other ways? Does the amendment also have implications for Swiss Abroad?
The Swiss electorate voted yes to the “Marriage for all” proposal in a popular vote on 26 September 2021 (see edition 6/2021 of “Swiss Review”). There will also be implications for Swiss Abroad when the relevant amendment to the Swiss Civil Code comes into force on 1 July 2022.
Same-sex couples in Switzerland have been able to enter into civil partnerships since 2007, but they have never been allowed to get married. This will change when “Marriage for all” comes into force on 1 July 2022. Same-sex couples will then be able to tie the knot in Switzerland too, while no new civil partnerships will be permitted.
The legal differences between civil partnership and marriage mainly relate to the areas of naturalisation, adoption, and reproductive medicine. Simplified naturalisation, the right of adoption, and access to reproductive medicine are only open to married couples.
Don’t miss the statutory period
For same-sex couples who marry abroad before 1 July 2022 but have no prenuptial agreement, the “Marriage for all” amendment has retroactive implications with regard to the matrimonial regime. Under Swiss law, joint ownership of property applies retroactively to same-sex couples (instead of separation of property). For this reason, either same-sex spouse can inform the other spouse in writing between 1 January 2022 and 30 June 2022 that their existing matrimonial regime will continue to apply. This declaration must be personally signed.
Here are the possible implications for Swiss Abroad:
- Unmarried same-sex couples can get married in Switzerland from 1 July 2022. Starting from this date, they will be able to submit the necessary application for preparation of marriage in Switzerland to the relevant Swiss representation abroad.
- Registered partners keep their status. However, same-sex couples who have registered their partnership before 1 July 2022 will be able at any time to convert their (civil) registered partnership into marriage by means of a joint declaration. The conversion declaration can be handed in at any registry office in Switzerland or at the couple’s local Swiss representation abroad. Conversion into marriage at a registry office in Switzerland can involve a ceremony, if the couple so desire. Partners who enter into a civil partnership abroad on or after 1 July 2022 cannot convert such a partnership into marriage. They can, however, get married in Switzerland.
- Same-sex couples who have married abroad and whose marriage has been recognised in Switzerland as a civil partnership can, from 1 July 2022, apply to the cantonal marital status supervisory authority of their home canton to have their entry updated in the Swiss civil status register. This is because foreign same-sex marriages are now recognised as marriages in Switzerland. The entry will also be automatically updated when a change of civil status (birth, death, etc.) has to be registered.
- Foreign heterosexual civil partnerships are now recognised as civil partnerships in Switzerland. From 1 July 2022, couples in such partnerships can apply to the cantonal marital status supervisory authority of their home canton for their partnership to be entered in the Swiss civil status register.
- Married female couples will now have access to sperm donations in Switzerland. Provided the sperm donation is conducted under the terms of the Swiss Reproductive Medicine Act, the wife of the childbearing woman will become one of the child’s legal parents, and stepchild adoption will no longer be necessary. The donation of eggs and embryos as well as all forms of surrogate motherhood remain unlawful.
For further information in German, French and Italian, visit the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) website.
Couples with any questions on these matters can contact the registry office/supervisory authority of their home canton or their local Swiss representation abroad. List of registry offices
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