Marriages concluded in Tanzania are recognised in Switzerland on condition that there is no impediment to the marriage under Swiss law. For marriages in Zanzibar, please see below.

In order that your marriage may be registered with the relevant civil authorities in Switzerland, the documents listed below are required following the marriage ceremony (photocopies are not acceptable): 

• certificate of no-impediment (hast to be obtained before the marriage)
• certificate of marriage 
• birth certificate of the foreign spouse 
• certificate of residence ("Barua Ya Utambulisho Wa Makazi")
• if the foreign spouse has been married before, the documents concerning the dissolution of the former marriage, i.e. divorce decree (please indicate a former wife's maiden surname) or death certificate 
• passport of the foreign spouse, for inspection only

All certificates must must be issued within the last 6 months and must be legalized by the Tanzanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Marriage of two non-resident Swiss citizens

In order to enable the Swiss mission to forward the marriage documents to the relevant Swiss authorities, documents relating to domicile, place of origin and parents names should be provided (passport, birth certificate or "Personenstandsausweis/certificat d'état civil" etc).

The General Registrar Officer of RITA will issue an international recognised marriage certificate (“Copy of an entry in a marriage register”). Please ask for 2 certificates as one original will be sent to Switzerland for registration and cannot be returned.

The marriage certificate has to be legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affaires in Dar es Salaam before submitting it to the Swiss Embassy.

Marriage in Zanzibar

A special marriage license has to be obtained from the district registrar in Zanzibar prior to the wedding. A wedding that has taken place in Zanzibar needs to be registered in the General Registry Office of Tanzania in Dar es Salaam (RITA). For more information please contact them directly.

The General Registrar Officer of RITA will issue an international recognised marriage certificate (“Copy of an entry in a marriage register”). Please ask for 2 certificates as one original will be sent to Switzerland for registration and cannot be returned.

The marriage certificate has to be legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affaires in Dar es Salaam before submitting it to the Swiss Embassy.

The marriage certificate will then be legalised by the Swiss Embassy and sent to Switzerland for registration at your place of origin. A copy of your passport and a copy of your certificate of civil status (Personenstandsausweis/certificate individuel d’état civil) will also be needed.