Switzerland will restore official double surnames for spouses in 2027

Spouses in Switzerland will be able to take an official double surname again from January 1, 2027, SRF reported, after the Federal Council brought the relevant changes to the Civil Code into force.

Couples will be able to use a double surname with or without a hyphen. Children will not be allowed to take a double surname. Under rules in place since 2013, spouses have had to choose between keeping their own names or taking a shared family name. They could use an unofficial, hyphenated double name, known as an alliance name.

People who are already married can tell their civil registry office from the start of 2027 that they want to use an official double surname. A transition period will allow alliance names to continue to appear in passports and identity cards while authorities make the necessary technical changes. The Federal Council has not yet set the period’s duration.

Changes to the Civil Status Ordinance are being prepared and are expected to be approved by the Federal Council in November. The government will bring the related amendment to the Identity Documents Act into force at a later date and announce the end of the transition period in advance.