Between a Swiss National and a Kazakh/Foreign National
The following procedure applies in connection with a marriage to be celebrated in Switzerland between a Kazakh or Foreign national and a Swiss national.
The future bridegroom and bride have to submit an application for preparation of marriage (available from Swiss missions) at the Registry Office in the place of residence in Switzerland. If they are not resident in Switzerland, the application has to be filed with the Registry Office where it is intended that the marriage shall take place. An engaged couple living abroad can also file the application with the Swiss Embassy or Consulate competent for their place of residence.
Besides the application form, the future bridegroom and bride have to sign a special declaration concerning the conditions for the marriage; they declare that they meet the requirements for the marriage, and that the documents presented are up to date, complete and true. This declaration has to be signed personally either at the competent Swiss Embassy or Consulate or before the Registrar in Switzerland. By signing the documents the bride and bridegroom confirm that they understand their contents. They also confirm that they are aware of the penal consequences in case of false declarations under Articles 65 and 69 3 of the Civil Status Ordinance. 

Further documents
The following documents have to be presented with the application for preparation of marriage:

Foreign national

• "Duplicate of the birth certificate" (Please make sure that the maiden name of the mother is mentioned in the birth certificate. If not please provide this Embassy with either the marriage certificate of the parents or the birth certificate of the mother)
• if the bridegroom or bride has been married before:
  the documents concerning the dissolution of the former marriage, i.e. certificate of divorce (please indicate a former wife's maiden surname) or death certificate
• civil status confirmation
• certificate of residence
• national passport
• additional documents may be required (for example extract of criminal record) . Please contact the Civil Registry Office in Switzerland

These documents have to be submitted to the Swiss Embassy with Apostille, translated and sealed by a Notary Office.
Please contact the Embassy of Switzerland if the foreign spouse intends to take residence in Switzerland.

Swiss national

• certificate of domicile issued by the local authorities; if the person is registered with a Swiss Mission, a certificate of registration will be issued by that Mission (a fee of CHF 40.00 at the equivalent in KZT has to be paid)
• certificate of marital status (Personenstandsausweis) issued by the place of origin (can be obtained through the Embassy for a fee of CHF 55.00 and postage fee of CHF 5.00 payable in KZT)

Photocopies of the above-mentioned documents cannot be accepted. The original documents will not be returned.

If the Swiss national is not resident in Kazakhstan, please provide the Swiss Embassy with the following documents:

• copy of certificate of marital status (Personenstandsausweis)
• copy of Swiss passport
• letter of confirmation of the marriage with the future wife/husband indicating the place where the marriage ceremony will take place and the confirmation if the future wife/husband shall take residence in Switzerland.

If the application for the marriage is filed with a Swiss Embassy or Consulate, all documents are forwarded by that office to the competent authorities in Switzerland. If all requirements for the marriage are met, the Registry Office issues the authorisation for the marriage.
The marriage can take place 10 days at the earliest and 3 months at the latest after the authorisation is issued.

Name after marriage
Please contact the relevant Swiss Mission if you would like to know the different possibilities with regard to surnames. An information sheet and, if applicable, the necessary declarations are available.

Marriage ceremony
The marriage is performed publicly by the Civil Registrar in the town hall in the presence of two adult witnesses. A religious marriage ceremony is optional and may take place only after the civil marriage. Please note that the Swiss Embassy is unable to give information on religious marriages.

Fees (payable in cash)
The Swiss Embassy charges a fee of CHF 140.00 payable in KZT for filing the application for marriage.
Depending on the documents presented, additional costs may arise.

If, after the marriage, the couple takes up residence in Kazakhstan, the Swiss partner should register with the Swiss Embassy in Astana.