Happy ending to this thread: I called up the zollikon zivilstandamt and talked with the lady, and she agreed to let me send the birth certificates back so I can avoid paying 65chf.

I'm happy she was so flexible...

For child birth certificates, they need official copies of everything. No photo copies.

We had to get official birth certificates from both of our countries that included both parents information. My 'card' birth certificate was not good enough - they need the full page.

All the documents you provide they keep. I tried to talk to them and say they could stamp it or make it official and copy it, and then give me the original back (I was not aware - I only ordered one expensive birth certificate from Canada).

Really?

We've had 3 children here and always had all certificates returned.

That's interesting. I was told that it wasn't the town of Baden that requested it, but the officials.

They refused to give it back.

Good for you that you got all your documents back.

We paid fees (of course). So maybe it was just all automated...?

Basel's quite efficient like that...