Swiss citizen marrying in Vietnam: certificate of capacity and registration

• The union is subject to the law of the country where it is performed. The Swiss representation is not in charge of civil status procedures with foreign authorities: contact the Vietnamese civil status office where you plan to marry. Only they can give authoritative information.
• Ask whether a Swiss certificate of capacity to marry is required or an individual Swiss civil status certificate is enough, whether other Swiss documents are needed and whether documents must be legalised or carry an Apostille.
• In Vietnam each spouse keeps their own name after marriage.

Certificate of capacity to marry

Some countries require a certificate that, under Swiss law, there is no impediment to marriage. The civil status authority in Switzerland issues it. Both fiancés must order it (in parallel in different places if they live in different countries) and must attend in person. If you order through the representation, ask beforehand whether an interpreter is needed; the cost is yours.

• The order form (German, French or Italian) and identity documents, submitted in person.
• Swiss citizens: original certificate of current residence and a valid passport or identity card.
• Other citizens (for example Vietnamese): original birth certificate showing the parents, current civil status record (certificate of unmarried status, divorce decree with its date of effect, or death certificate of a late spouse), certificate of residence, valid passport or identity card.
• Partner living in Switzerland: copy of the residence certificate and of the passport or identity card.
• Vietnamese documents must have their origin authenticated at the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hanoi or the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ho Chi Minh City (the Swiss pages say legalisation; from 11 September 2026 this is an Apostille), then be translated by an official notary office into a Swiss national language or English. Originals not older than six months are submitted to the Swiss civil status authority and are not returned; photocopies are not accepted.

Updated: 1 October 2026 · Sources: FDFA — marriage or partnership performed abroad, FDFA — legalisation of official seals and signatures

A preparatory procedure is mandatory. It is usually carried out with the Swiss registry office where the ceremony is held or, if you live abroad, with your Swiss representation; presence in person is required. Via the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City the fee is VND 10,170,000, paid in cash with the documents. If you plan to live in Switzerland right after the wedding and your spouse is not Swiss, they may need a visa and a residence permit; the application can be submitted as part of the marriage preparation and the cantonal migration authority decides.

Updated: 1 October 2026 · Sources: FDFA — marriage to be performed in Switzerland

Foreign authorities generally do not tell the Swiss representation about your marriage, so you must send the documents yourself so the civil status authority in Switzerland can enter it and the Register of the Swiss Abroad can be updated. This is free of charge and may take some time.

• Marriage with a Swiss certificate of capacity: the original marriage certificate (extract from the marriage register issued by the People's Committee where the wedding took place), a copy of the Swiss certificate and the spouses' address.
• Marriage with an individual civil status certificate: follow the consulate's infosheet on registering a marriage that took place in Vietnam.
• You can upload copies through the FDFA online desk so the representation checks them first, then submit the originals.
• Report any change of address, and ask for new documents if you change your surname (civil status is not shown on Swiss identity documents).
• A non-Swiss spouse does not automatically become a Swiss citizen through marriage.

Updated: 1 October 2026 · Sources: FDFA — after a marriage performed abroad, FDFA — online desk for Swiss nationals abroad, FDFA — civil status