If I change my last name, and then in turn change the last name I have on all my ID (which includes passport, visa, and permit B card) is it a lengthy process that should just be put off?
Is it worth it changing my last name?
Name changing is not a concept the Swiss understand.
My wife (Swiss) took my last name but everything official we get from the government here always includes my/our last name with her maiden name hyphenated after it. So even if you're successful maybe they would still include your "old" last name?
Dan
You also could have taken your wife's name! other than by marriage it's not going to happen in CH.
But I think that's what the OP means. I seem to recall her starting one or two threads about getting married and champagne and such like.
Well she didn't really care to keep her old name, it was all up to her. But her maiden name is not on her passport, government id, or driver's license yet they still include it for a lot of things.
Dan
Just because they don't want it, you infer they don't understand... you should ask yourself who understands what here, really.
Double name is a perfectly painless process here. That qualifies as change. If you want to replace a name with another, then Switzerland belongs to a long list of countries acting the same. As always, "exotic" is a relative concept.
When we got married right before I moved to Switzerland (in France, and both EU-nationals), I decided to take a hyphenated last name, which I then used for all of my Swiss documents: permit, drivers licence, bank account, etc.
Then we changed cantons several years later, and when I received my new B-permit, I saw that they used my maiden name! I thought it was a mistake, but they told me they had done this voluntarily, since in France, the married name is just a "nom d'usage", and not an official one. Which means that at some point, I'll have to change all of my cards and IDs back...
So depending on where you are from, changing your name may not have that much impact in terms of administrative paperwork.
Well, why would you want to do it? If you're not that bothered, then probably not.
I certainly wasn't giving up the name I'd used for 29 years and established my identity, career and qualifications under, just because I got married. So far (it's only been seven months and we don't have children) there have been no negative bureaucratic consequences.
i think it is more for when you have kids and you are travelling as a family under different names. if you keep your name, what surname do kids have?
This is very interesting topic especially as I will marry soon and plan to take on my partner's name as my surname. I'm sure the local Kreisburo will be able to give some useful advise right?
Personally I think it's easier in the long run but I guess I am old fashioned and all. I never know how to address the Christmas card to my friend who kept her name - both names are too long to fit on one line for my labels
When juggling with several passports and sailing in international water, keeping the double name on official papers makes life easier, even if one uses only half of it in daily life. I don't have the same name in Germany and in France, but having a double name on a German paper turned my life with Swiss administration into a love story.
As of 2013 there are new rules for surnames after marriage (or official partnership). The default "option" is : both keep their last name. If this does not suit the couple, they can freely pick one of both names.
During the official registration, if the default is chosen, the couple has to pick a surname for all their kids to come.
Good one! I didn't notice that anywhere in the media... I wasn't listening carefully enough.
From 1st Januar, one keeps normally one's name but one can take the name of the spouse/partner. Double names are not allowed anymore as official names, but can be used in daily life freely. Good for gender equality but I am mourning the death of the double name.
I must admit the seemingly automatic hypenated addition of my maiden name to my surname on not only governmental but some other companies record systems here annoyed me to the Nth degree at first... Now, however, I find it quite cute!
This depends on the canton.
In 2011, we we already free to each choose independently our new last names here in Ticino.
Tom
My feelings exactly.
Niki, what's wrong with your old name...."X" is a cool last name