Joining your family

Information on visa options for joining family in Australia is available on the following websites: 

Registering marriages contracted abroad

Marriages contracted abroad or registered partnerships under civil law are recognised in Switzerland and must be registered with the Swiss civil status authorities. Swiss nationals who get married abroad are required to register their marriage with the competent Swiss representation abroad. The representation translates and authenticates the marriage certificate and forwards it to the civil status authority in Switzerland free of charge. In exceptional cases, you can also notify your cantonal civil status authority, which will forward the marriage certificate and related documents to the representation abroad for translation and authentication. In this case you will be required to pay a fee.

Find out what you need to do as early as possible

Before you get married or register a partnership, contact your Swiss representation to find out what you will need to do to make sure your marriage is recognised and registered in the civil status register without delay.

Registered partnerships

Australia recognises same-sex marriages and civil unions. Same-sex partners and their families have the same rights as opposite-sex partners and their families.

For example, unmarried heterosexual and same-sex couples are also eligible for partner visas. 

Contact

Innovation and Partnerships

Consular Directorate CD
Effingerstrasse 27
3003 Bern

Phone

Helpline +41 800 24-7-365 / +41 58 465 33 33

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