Registered partnership in Switzerland

Switzerland has allowed registered partnerships for same-sex couples since 1 January 2007. A constitutional amendment to legalize same-sex marriage is currently pending before the Swiss Parliament. An amendment to the Constitution requires a majority of the people and cantons (states) vote in favor of the proposal in a referendum.

In a nationwide referendum on 5 June 2005, the Swiss people approved by 58% a registered partnership law, granting same-sex couples the same rights and protections as married couples in terms of next of kin status, taxation, social security, insurance, and shared possession of a dwelling. However, same-sex couples would not have the same rights in terms of:

The official title of the same-sex union is "eingetragene Partnerschaft" in German, "partenariat enregistré" in French and "unione domestica registrata" in Italian. The bill was passed by the National Council, 111 to 72, on 3 December 2003 and by the Council of States on 3 June 2004, with minor changes. The National Council approved it again on 10 June but the conservative Federal Democratic Union collected signatures to force a referendum. Subsequently the Swiss people voted 58% in favor of the bill on 5 June 2005. The law came into effect on 1 January 2007. Switzerland was the first nation to pass a same-sex union law by referendum.

On 15 March 2016, the National Council approved two motions that would make registered partnerships also available to opposite-sex couples. These motions were approved 96-83 and 96-82.

Single people, regardless of sexual orientation, may adopt children. A bill legalizing stepchild adoption for same-sex couples was approved by Parliament in Spring 2016. Opponents unsuccessfully tried to force a referendum on the bill. The law will come into effect on a yet to be announced date.

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