As most of you will know, Im in the process of making my big anticipated move to Switzerland, where I will marry the love of my life and live happily ever after

I have searched the forum high and low for information on getting a spousal visa (from South africa) on the grounds for intention to marry, but I have not come accross anything ( please point me in the right direction if there is one)

I thought I would share my experience and findings as I go along in the hope that I may be able to assist someone in a similiar situation in the future.

Of the many documents needed, included is the unabridged birth certificate, declaration of marital staus and police clearance.
This is all very time consuming and I have been waiting for my daughters unabridged certificate for 5 months.

Also needed from my partners side is a declaration of intention to marry ( how romantic ) which needs to be signed at the consulate and then sent on to the consulate here in South Africa - Does anyone have any experience with this as I'm not sure what it entails?

So at the moment its just a matter of waiting for documentation and then applying for the VISA. I will update this thread as I go along, hopefully uncovering pitfalls and possible delays in the process, that could have been avoided.

Are there any other Saffers (or non EU) here who went through the same procedure and have any words of wisdom while I sit here waiting for the wheel to turn?

Finally got my unabridged certificates today. My daughters one took almost 6 months, and after much bitching and moaning with home affairs mine took less than 2 weeks....

Super excited to see the wheels turning....

Right, I'm off to phone the police services and find out whats holding up my clearance certificate (Hope I didnt do something in my teenage years that I have forgotten about...)

Your spouse has to go trough a whole lot of paperwork here in Switzerland.
He needs to visit the "Gemeinde" they will give a todo list for you and for him.

Quick update:

After presenting all necessary documentation to the consulate and a nice fee of R1350 (sfr.150) plus an additional R715 (visa app fee) I am now waiting for approval of my Visa application, which is dependant on approval of my application to marry in Switzerland


Requirements for marriage in switzerland

Declaration of intent to marry - available from the consualte only
Police Clearance certificate - application can be done at any police station
unabridged birth certificate ( if previously married decree of divorce or death certificate) - Home Affairs
Proof of residence - can be obtained at police station
Proof of Marital Status - Home affairs

Once the consulate in switzerland have checked and verified all these documents, ( and dragged my fiance through tons of paperwork) they then approve my VISA and I have 3 months from this date to tie the knot or else I get booted out of the country.

I have no idea how this works for other countries but this is just my experience from South Africa.

Hopefully it will be helpful to some body else one day as when i tried to find info online i came up with absolutely nothing....


If all goes according to plan I will be in Zurich by the Middle of May - Just one month later than I originaly planned a year ago!

final update:

for some reason in South Africa, I could not access the forum.

I am finally here and everything took 4 months from beginning of investigating how to get to here to actually getting here...

I think that was pretty speedy considering how slow the wheels turn in SA.