Getting married to a foreign citizen

Each of your sponsors must complete a statement.  

The people getting married cannot act as each other’s sponsors. The sponsors must be at least 18 years old. The sponsor does not have to be the same person who witnesses the actual ceremony. 

Fill in the statement by the sponsor

If you apply online, your sponsors do not need to submit this form on paper – it’s included in the online application.

If you have a Norwegian national identity number, you do not need to submit proof of your name, age, or citizenship.

If you do not have a Norwegian national identity number, you must submit proof such as a passport, national ID card, or birth certificate.

• If using a passport or national ID card, send a high-quality colour copy – not the original.
• National ID cards are only accepted for EU/EEA/EFTA citizens.
• If using a birth certificate, you must send the original, with an apostille or legalisation, by post. We do not accept electronic certificates.
• The certificate must be in English or a Nordic language. If it’s in another language, it must be translated by a certified translator. You must send both the original and the translation.
• If the translation is done abroad, it must also be apostilled or legalised.
• If the birth certificate does not state your citizenship, you must also submit proof of your citizenship, such as a colour copy of your passport or national ID card.

You must send the original certificate of no impediment to marriage issued by the authorities in your home country. This certificate must confirm that there are no legal obstacles to getting married in Norway. If your country does not issue certificates of no impediment, you must instead provide proof of your civil status from your home country. 

You can read more about required documents from abroad on Bufdir's website.

If you're a resident in a country other than the one you're a citizen of, you must also submit proof of your civil status from the country where you currently reside.  

Requirements for original supporting documents:

• The certificate must be apostilled or legalised.
• It must be no older than four months.  
• The certificate must be in English or a Nordic language. If it’s in another language, it must be translated by a certified translator. You must send both the original and the translation. 
• If the translation is done abroad, it must also be apostilled or legalised.

We do not accept electronic certificates. All original supporting documents must be sent by post.

If you’re a citizen of a country outside the Nordic region, you must  submit proof of lawful residence in Norway. 

If you’re using a passport, national ID card, or visa as proof, please send a high-quality colour copy – do not send the original.

• National ID cards are only accepted for EU/EEA/EFTA citizens.

If you already have a marriage license another Nordic country, it can be used in Norway – but it must be converted into a Norwegian certificate.

You must send the original Nordic certificate by post. We do not accept electronic certificates.

If you only have a certificate of no impediment to marriage from another Nordic country, you must still apply for a Norwegian marriage license.

You can read more about certificates from Nordic countries on Bufdir's website.

If you’re registered as living in Norway and wish to change your name when you get married, you can apply for a name change at the same time as you apply for the marriage license. 

If you apply online, you can include the name change in the same application.

Norwegian law does not require you to change your name when you get married. If you plan to travel shortly after the wedding, we recommend waiting to change your name until after your trip. If you do wish to change your name, make sure to allow enough time for case processing and for ordering a new passport.