Couples planning to get married in Denmark should get started with the legal formalities as soon as possible. Several months out is not too soon. Learn more about how to get married in Denmark.
Things can usually be carried out in far less time than that, but a number of legal issues, particularly previous marriages, can create a hassle.
Who can get married?
There are a few basic rules concerning those who can and cannot get married here:
You must both be 18 years of age or over and you must both be unmarried.
If one of you has previously been married, the previous marriage must have been dissolved before you can remarry.
Marriage between close relatives is not permitted and, if one of you is under guardianship, the guardian must consent to the marriage.
You are not entering into a marriage of convenience (for example, with the sole intent to remain legally in Denmark)
Sex or nationality is not a defining factor regarding getting married in Denmark. Same-sex couples, and foreign couples are legally allowed to marry in Denmark.
Permanent residence is not a requirement in order to get married here. Therefore, it is possible to travel to Denmark simply to get married!
What Documents Are Required to Get Married in Denmark?
In general, you will be required to present the following:
Valid Passport, ID or any other official proof of identity which includes a photograph.
Special requirements may apply regarding the documents that you must enclose with your application. For example, it may be a requirement for the document to be stamped by an official authority – either through endorsement by an apostille or through legislation.
Foreign documents must be translated into Danish, English or German by an authorized translator. This also applies to any apostille endorsement. If the document has been legalized, all stamps, etc. must also be translated.
Note that this must be done before you submit your application to the Agency of Family Law.
If the certificates are foreign, it will be considered whether they are genuine and can be accepted in Denmark. Documents from certain countries must be legalized or endorsed by an apostille.
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What Are the Fees for Marriage in Denmark
This fee is determined and adjusted by the Minister for Children and Social Affairs. Your application may not be considered until the fee has been received in the Agency’s account.
As of 1 January 2023, the fee is: DKK 1,800 (USD 278).
The Agency of Family Law offers three ways of paying the fee:
- You can pay the fee as an extension of you completing the digital application form with a marriage declaration. This method is the quickest way to get your application started – you pay the fee at the same time as you sign and submit your application. You should therefore have your payment card ready when completing the application.
- You can also pay the fee via your bank. The amount must be deposited in our account with Danske Bank: Reg. No: 0216 – account No: 4069217060. Remember to state your CPR number or your name and passport/ID number when making the payment. If you do not, the recepient will not be able to see which application the fee is linked to.
- If you have an account with a foreign bank and you wish to pay the fee to the Agency of Family Law, you must use the following information: IBAN: DK91 0216 4069 2170 60. BIC/SWIFT: DABADKKK. Remember to state your CPR number or your name and passport/ID number when making the payment. If you do not, the recepient will not be able to see which application the fee is linked to.
The Agency of Family Law does not accept cash or cheques.
Getting Married in Denmark for the LGBTQ+ Community
A gay marriage in Denmark is absolutely legal, and it is valid worldwide, although some countries still of course do not recognize same-sex marriage.
Wikipedia has a helpful page which is usually up to date.
Countries which recognize civil partnerships but not LGBT marriage allow you to register your Danish marriage as a partnership. But there are a number of countries where it is not only not recognized but actually punishable, so couples should be aware of any risks, and then try and be discrete if that helps in their particular situation.
Your Danish Marriage Certificate
If you were married at a municipality, Danish authorities can legalize your original marriage certificate which you have received from the municipality. The certificate must be signed with a stamped and a physical/wet signature.
If you were married in a church, Danish authorities can legalize your original marriage certificate which you have received from the church office where you were married. The certificate must be signed with a physical/wet signature.
You can request your marriage certificate with a digital signature at borger.dk. Visit borger.dk for more information.
If you married in another religious community than the Evangelical Lutheran church in Denmark or the municipality, it is only the municipalities that can issue marriage certificates for weddings carried out in recognized religious communities. The authorization to perform the weddings does not include the issuing of marriage certificates. The religious communities are therefore not authorized to issue marriage certificates in connection to weddings carried out in the community.
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Did you know that Denmark is one of the easiest countries in the world to get married?
Given the wedding process can be more complicated than it needs to be in some countries, a lot of non-Danish couples or couples living in abroad, choose to simply ‘hop’ over the border and get married in Denmark.
You may have heard of this as a possibility, it might be the first time it’s ever been offered as an option but Getting Married in Denmark is a very popular choice for many couples who reside abroad and it has been going back as far as the 1960-70s.
The documentation is simple, the process easy and straightforward and thousands of couples travel to Denmark for their quick, simple and fast elopement wedding every year.
How To Get Married in Denmark, compiled by Tor Kjolberg