Certified translation › Family reunion & visa
Certified translation for family reunion and a Swiss visa – from CHF 89 per certificate: marriage certificate, birth certificate and certificate of no impediment, produced by a qualified translator. Ready to submit to the cantonal migration office and the Swiss representation abroad, with standard-compliant transliteration of names and a certification statement. Fixed price including postal delivery.
Qualified translators · names to ISO 9 · family reunion under the FNIA (AIG) · set price for the visa package · a reply on working days within 60 minutes
In brief
Spouse and child reunification require certified translations of the core civil-status records – above all the marriage certificate, the children's birth certificate and, depending on the case, a certificate of no impediment / capacity to marry. For spouse reunification an A1 language proof is usually added (FNIA/AIG).
You apply for the visa at the Swiss representation abroad (embassy/consulate); the legal basis is the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act (FNIA/AIG). Exactly which records are required is set by the checklist of your competent representation abroad – and that is precisely the set we translate.
Procedure & deadlines
Family reunion protects marriage and family under Art. 13 of the Federal Constitution (FC) and Art. 8 ECHR. Which relatives may join and which conditions apply is governed by the FNIA/AIG (Art. 42–52) – graded by the residence status (Swiss citizen, settlement permit C or residence permit B) of the family member living in Switzerland.
Spouse reunification: both spouses of age, and depending on the category an A1 language proof (national language) from the joining spouse or enrolment in a language course. Child reunification: minor unmarried child, subject to the statutory reunification deadlines (shorter for older children). Other relatives only in cases of hardship.
The spouse demonstrates basic knowledge of a national language with a recognised A1 certificate (e.g. fide, telc, Goethe). The language proof is not translated; the law provides for exceptions to the language requirement.
Now the marriage, birth and, where applicable, single-status/divorce records are needed – certified-translated and, depending on the country of origin, with an apostille or legalisation by the representation abroad.
The application for a national visa (category D) runs through the Swiss representation abroad. It reviews the documents and, as a rule, involves the cantonal migration office at the future place of residence.
As a guide value, allow at least six weeks from complete documents. Once granted, the family member enters with the visa.
After entry, the residence permit (B) is applied for at the cantonal migration office. Complete, correctly translated records prevent follow-up requests at this stage.
Which documents?
This checklist is the heart of the visa package. Each row leads to the matching guide – with details on apostille, name transliteration and validity periods. Principle: foreign-language records are certified-translated, proofs in a national language such as the A1 certificate are not.
| Document (guide) | Role in the procedure | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage certificate | Proof of the marriage – basis of spouse reunification (FNIA/AIG) | with apostille/legalisation depending on the country |
| Birth certificate | Child reunification (FNIA/AIG) and proof of parentage/relationship | match names to the passport spelling |
| Certificate of no impediment / capacity to marry | Proof that there is no impediment to marriage (where the marriage has not yet taken place) | marriage-preparation procedure under the Civil Code (CC); validity usually 6 months |
| Divorce certificate / decree | Proof that both spouses' prior marriages have ended | foreign divorces may need to be recognised |
| Passport / ID card | Identity and the governing spelling of names | reference for the transliteration of the name |
| Registration certificate / proof of housing | Proof of adequate housing and of the sponsor's residence | translate foreign-language proofs |
Each embassy keeps its own information sheet with the required documents and the number of copies. Obtain it first – then we translate precisely, in the right language direction and without superfluous documents.
Apostille & certification
Many representations abroad require the apostille or legalisation of the foreign record in addition to the certified translation – it confirms the genuineness of a marriage, birth or divorce certificate.
Important: the FÜD does not issue apostilles. For foreign records, the competent authority in the country of issue provides them. For Swiss records used abroad, the position differs from federal documents (Federal Chancellery): for cantonal civil-status and administrative records, the State Chancellery of the canton in which the record was issued is competent. We then translate the record and the apostille together, certified.
A missing apostille stops the visa – not the translation.
That is why we clarify in advance which authority in the country of issue confirms genuineness, and align the translation with it.
Case studies
The family relationship and the country of origin determine the set of records, the language proof and whether an apostille is needed.
Spouse reunification
Child reunification
Prior marriage
Expert value
Visa applications rarely fail on the body text, but on a missing apostille, a name that differs or an expired certificate. The most common returns – and how a qualified translator avoids them.
| Pitfall | Why it is critical | How the FÜD solves it |
|---|---|---|
| Apostille missing or wrong authority | Without proof of genuineness the embassy will not accept the record – the appointment falls through. | We check the apostille requirement of the country of issue in advance and translate the record and the apostille together. |
| Name in the record ≠ passport | If the transliteration differs from the passport, the representation abroad doubts the identity. | Transliteration to ISO, matched against the passport, with any deviations explained in the certification statement. |
| Certificate of no impediment expired | A certificate of capacity to marry / no impediment is usually valid only for about six months. | We flag the validity period and translate close to the time of submission. |
| A1 proof from a non-recognised body | Only certificates from recognised providers (e.g. fide, telc, Goethe) are accepted. | We point to the recognised examination bodies; the certificate itself remains untranslated. |
| Incomplete translation | If seals, stamps and marginal notes are missing, the translation cannot be certified. | Seals, stamps and notes are described and translated; anything illegible is marked as such. |
How it works
You upload clearly legible scans of the records and tell us the passport spelling of the names as well as the language direction into the destination country. We review the set, match the names and name a binding fixed price. After your approval, a qualified translator translates true to form and layout.
You receive the translations in advance as a PDF and then the certified originals by post. On request we align the language direction and apostille requirement in advance with the information sheet of your representation abroad.
Offer & price
Family reunion and a visa usually bring several records together. We bill standard records as a flat fee per document, extensive documents per standard line – calculated as a set with a volume advantage.
| Certified translation by a qualified translator | ✓included |
| Certification statement, stamp & signature | ✓included |
| Advance PDF for checking | ✓included |
| Postal delivery of the certified originals | ✓included |
| Set discount for several records | ✓available |
Standard records at a flat fixed price, extensive documents from CHF 1.09/standard line; we name the exact amount after a brief review – incl. VAT and shipping How the price is made up →
FAQ
Evidence
Every legal statement on this page is tied to a primary source. The individual grant is decided by the representation abroad and the competent cantonal migration office.
The embassy processed our spouse visa with no follow-up request – the marriage certificate with apostille and the translation matched exactly. That was precisely where it had failed the first time.
A. Nawaz · Spouse reunification, Zurich
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