Every child born in Switzerland must be registered at the Registry Office for the place where the child is born. If your child is born in a hospital, the hospital management will generally register the birth. If the birth does not take place in a hospital, the mother or the legal father (this means the man married to the woman or the man who has acknowledged or will acknowledge the child) or a person authorised by the parents must register the birth within three days. Contact the Registry Office responsible for the area where you live to find out about the documents required for registering your child’s birth.

If a couple is married the husband is automatically registered by the Registry Office as the child’s father. If the husband doubts that he is the father he can contest paternity in court.

If the mother is not married at the time of the birth, the child’s biological father must expressly acknowledge it. He can do this at the appropriate Registry Office either before or after the birth. If the father refuses to acknowledge his child the mother can demand that he acknowledge it through the courts.

Contact the Registry Office if you have questions about your child’s acknowledgement, nationality and name.