Two processes run parallel:
- with the immigration authorities and
- with the marriage office (in German: Zivilstandsamt).
These two are, in turn, done
- in part by the person resident in Switzerland, and
- in part by the other, non-Switzerland-domiciled person, in their home country.
Quite a bit of information can usually be found on the Swiss Embassy's website of Thatothercountry. This makes sense because each country has its own set of identifying documents. It can take several weeks or months to collect all the those Thatcountry documents (with the local and the Swiss requirements for formality, such as being recent, and getting apostilles).
While the bundle of required documents is being assembled by the person in Thatcountry, the partner domiciled in Switzerland makes their complete application to their
Cantonal migration office. Applicants will have to submit proof of at least:
- proper identification
- a valid permit to live and work in Switzerland
- sufficient income to support both partners themselves, i.e. without the immediate need of the incoming partner to generate income, which in Swiss terms means at least enough to avoid needing to apply for Social Security benefits (in practice, for both partners: rent, medical insurance, transport plus at least about Fr. 900 per person per month)
- accommodation in Switzerland, already owned or rented, that is large enough for two people to live in, which, in Swiss terms, means at least two rooms, i.e. living-room and bedroom.
The other application is to the
marriage office in the municipality of residence in Switzerland. The person domiciled in Switzerland states, there, on the official form, that he/she wishes to marry the person from Thatcountry. The person in Thatcountry will be required to sign such a form, too, in their interview (see below).
The
Swiss authorities responsible for Thatcountry will be willing to accept the document bundle from the local person only once there is proof, sent by the person living in Switzerland, of successfully having make both these applications. Then, the documents can be submitted by the Thatcountry person to the Swiss authorities there. Those Swiss consulate/embassy staff then spend some weeks or even months doing checks to verify everything. It stands to reason that this can only be done there with the local Thatcountry government, and not here in Switzerland.
The Thatcountry person will also have to make an appointment to physically attend an
interview in the Thatcountry embassy or consulate. There, they will have to be able to answer questions to show that they have understood the Swiss system of human rights, specifically matters such that they must not do anything criminal in Switzerland, that women and men have equal rights, that children, also girls, have the right to decide about their professional future, that forced marriage is illegal in Switzerland, and that marriage requires of each spouse to suppor the other. They may also be asked about any participation in radicalised groups. In addition, they may be asked to provide proof of a certain minimum level of competence in a Swiss language or, possibly, proof of registration at a language school may suffice (you'd need to check on this point).
In addition,
both parters will be asked questions about the nature of their relationship, (either in an interview or in writing, in their respective countries) because the authorities wish to prevent anyone entering Switzerland for a fake or forced marriage, both of which are illegal. Therefore, they will be asked about how and when they met, whether they know each other's families and friends, how often they have spent time together, whether they have photos, tickets or other documentation proving the duration of their relationship, when they realised that this would be a serious commitment, and even about their plans for the future as a married couple, and whether either partner already has previously been married, and has any existing children, and whether the new couple envisages having children.
Once that Swiss authority in Thatcountry are satisfied that this is a genuine application for a real marriage, they send those approved documents of the fiancé(e) to the
migration authorities of the Canton of residence of the person living in Switzerland. They also then take some weeks or months to be certain that all the documentation is correct.
If the application is approved, the partner in Thatcountry will be issued a so-called
D-Visa by the Swiss authorities in Thatcountry, allowing them to enter Switzerland specifically for the purpose of getting married.
Once they arrive in Switzerland, they go, with their partner domiciled in Switzerland, to the immigration authorities to collect their
permit to live in Switzerland and also to local municipality, to reqister their arrival and residence.
With that permit, the couple can then go to the
marriage office to make the final arrangements for the marriage ceremony.
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