Applying for a residence permit for my family (family reunification)
6. Stay for the purpose of marriage
For whom
A foreign national may apply for a residence permit of limited duration in order to enable them to prepare their marriage to a Swiss citizen or a foreign national holding a residence permit of a durable nature (permit B or C).
When
The application for a residence permit for marriage must be filed by the fiancée or fiancé abroad before their entry into Switzerland with the competent Swiss representation of their place of residence.
Applications to the Civil Registry Office must be made before entering Switzerland.
Terms
The legal steps towards marriage must be completed and the celebration of marriage must be possible within a reasonable time. A certificate from the Civil Registry Office confirming this shall be submitted.
You must have a personal e-démarches account to be able to file your application online.
Attachments
- application for personal entry to the Swiss representation abroad (visa application)
- copy of a valid passport
- 1 passport-sized photo with full names on the back
- evidence of financial means
- copy of the lease for the future spouse in Geneva
- certificate from the Civil Registry Office confirming that the preparatory formalities have been completed and that the marriage can be celebrated within a reasonable period
- letter confirming the wish of the future spouses to marry, specifying the circumstances of the meeting of the couple and mentioning any children born of a previous union
The application is forwarded to the OCPM by the Swiss representation for appraisal and decision. Additional documents may then be requested.
If the fiancée or the fiancé is already in Switzerland, she or he should first contact the Civil Registry Office of the place of residence chosen for the celebration of the marriage to start the procedures there and obtain the necessary information on the progress of the procedure.
Once you receive the "60 days" civil status letter, you will be able to file your application.
Processing times
Processing times can be consulted on this page: Délais de traitement moyens des demandes déposées à l'OCPM | ge.ch
Help to fill in the online form
See our fact sheet: Practical help to announce your arrival in Geneva online or to apply for a residence permit with or without activity at the OCPM | ge.ch
Your application can be done either online or by postal mail.