How to Get Married in Denmark: Documents, Ceremony, and Apostille

To get married in Denmark as a foreign couple, you apply online to the Agency of Family Law (Familieretshuset) for a certificate of marital status, pay a DKK 2,100 fee, and once the certificate is issued, book a civil ceremony at any Danish municipality. There is no residency requirement, no waiting period after approval, and the whole process typically runs two to four weeks from application to wedding day.

Who Can Marry in Denmark

Danish law sets three firm conditions. Both parties must be at least 18. Judicial waivers are not available.1Danish Legislation. Act on the Contraction and Dissolution of Marriage Neither person can already be married or in a registered partnership. Both must freely consent. Danish citizens and foreign nationals are held to the same rules, and same-sex couples follow the identical process with no separate forms.

You also need to be in Denmark lawfully on the day of the ceremony. For most visitors that means visa-free entry, a valid Schengen visa, or a residence permit. There is no minimum number of days you must spend in the country beforehand. If your legal stay covers the ceremony date, you qualify.

Documents to Gather Before You Apply

Familieretshuset publishes a specific checklist, and incomplete submissions get pushed to the back of the queue. Collect everything before you open the online form.

  • Color scans of every page of your passport, including blank pages and both covers. EU and EEA citizens can substitute a national ID card, both sides in color.
  • Proof of legal stay: a Schengen visa, residence permit, EU registration certificate, or visible entry stamps for visa-free nationals.
  • A certificate of marital status from the authorities where you currently live, confirming you are free to marry. Skip this if you already live in Denmark.
  • Proof of cohabitation, such as a residence certificate showing a shared address, if you and your partner live together outside Denmark.
  • Original divorce or death certificates if either of you was previously married.
  • Birth certificates for any children you have together.

Any document not in Danish, English, or German must be translated into one of those languages.2Familieretshuset. Apply for a Certificate of Marital Status Scandinavian-language documents are accepted without translation. If the Agency finds a translation insufficient, it will pause your case and request a new one, which adds days or weeks. Every document must be an original or a certified copy; expired or uncertified records are a common reason applications stall.

Request your marital status certificate from your local civil registry or court early. Processing times vary by country, and some jurisdictions take several weeks to issue one.

Applying to the Agency of Family Law

All international couples apply through Familieretshuset’s online self-service portal, available in Danish and English.3Agency of Family Law. Agency of Family Law The application is called a prøvelsesattest, or certificate of marital status. During the form you choose which municipality you want to marry in, upload your documents, enter personal and marital-history details, and pay by credit card.

The fee is DKK 2,100 as of 2026.4lifeindenmark.borger.dk. How to Apply for a Certificate of Marital Status It is non-refundable. If your application is rejected, you pay the full fee again when you reapply, so getting the paperwork right the first time matters.

Straightforward cases where every document is complete often receive a response within five working days. Applications that trigger follow-up questions can stretch to several weeks. Once issued, the certificate is valid for four months.4lifeindenmark.borger.dk. How to Apply for a Certificate of Marital Status If your passport expires before those four months are up, the certificate’s validity is shortened to match.

Booking and Holding the Ceremony

Once you have the prøvelsesattest, coordinate directly with the municipality (kommune) you selected on the application. Each kommune manages its own calendar. Contact them early, especially for summer dates when demand peaks.

Civil ceremonies are free of charge.5international.kk.dk. Getting Married in the City of Copenhagen A civil registrar, or in some municipalities a member of the city council, presides. The ceremony is short: a brief address, the exchange of consent, an optional exchange of rings, and signatures on the marriage documents.

Two witnesses aged 18 or older must be physically present and sign the certificate. If you are traveling without guests, most town halls can provide staff as witnesses at no extra cost when you book.6I DO CPH. Open-Air Wedding

Ceremonies can be conducted in Danish, English, or German, and both parties must understand the chosen language. If neither of you speaks any of those three, bring your own interpreter. Guests are free to photograph, record video, and livestream.

You are not tied to a town hall. Many municipalities offer open-air ceremony locations that carry the same legal weight as an indoor wedding. Copenhagen, for example, curates an annual list of outdoor sites including the Citadel, Copenhagen City Hall Garden, and Amager Beach Park.6I DO CPH. Open-Air Wedding

Your Marriage Certificate and the Apostille

The marriage is registered in the Danish civil system immediately after the ceremony. The municipality issues an international marriage certificate printed in Danish, English, German, French, and Spanish. That single document is your proof of marriage for both Danish and foreign authorities.

For use abroad, most countries require an apostille stamp. Denmark ratified the Hague Apostille Convention in 2006.7HCCH. Denmark Ratifies Apostille Convention The apostille verifies the signature and seal of the municipal official who signed your certificate, so no further embassy legalization is needed for Convention countries.

The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Udenrigsministeriet) handles apostille requests. The fee is DKK 250 per document.8Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. Legalisation (Apostille) You can submit through the Ministry’s online webshop or visit the Legalisation Office in person at Asiatisk Plads 2, Copenhagen. Walk-in hours run Monday through Friday mornings, with additional afternoon hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In-person requests are often processed while you wait; mail-in requests take a few business days plus shipping.

If your country is not a Hague Convention member, you may need full consular legalization instead. Check with your country’s embassy in Copenhagen before the ceremony so you know which path applies.

Bringing a Danish Marriage Home to the United States

A marriage legally performed abroad is generally recognized in the United States. The U.S. Embassy in Denmark confirms that marriages performed overseas are considered valid where they took place.9U.S. Embassy in Denmark. U.S. Citizen Services There is no federal requirement to re-register the marriage on your return.

You will still need the apostilled certificate for practical steps like joint tax filing, a Social Security name change, and updating ID documents. Keep several certified copies on hand.

If you are a U.S. citizen who married a foreign national in Denmark and want your spouse to live with you in the United States, you file Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) with USCIS. That starts the CR1 or IR1 immigrant visa process, depending on how long you have been married at the time of approval. The case moves from USCIS to the National Visa Center to a consular interview. Your spouse enters the United States as a lawful permanent resident. The U.S. sponsor must keep a principal residence in the United States and be at least 18 to sign the Affidavit of Support (Form I-864).10U.S. Department of State. Immigrant Visa for a Spouse of a U.S. Citizen (IR1 or CR1)

What It Costs

Government fees are modest. Direct costs to Danish authorities are:

Beyond the government line items, budget for certified translations if your documents are not in Danish, English, German, or a Scandinavian language. Translation costs vary by language and provider. Add travel, accommodation, and any fees your home country charges to issue its marital status certificate. The ceremony itself adds nothing to the bill.