The road to marriage - step by step
In this article, you can follow the formal procedure for getting married or you can go straight to the part you want to find out more about.
Before you can get married, the Tax Administration must check whether you meet the conditions for entering into marriage.
How to apply for a certificate of no impediment to marriage
To apply electronically, you must
- ensure that both you and your sponsor can log in using BankID or a similar solution
- have your sponsor's national identity number available
- submit any required supporting documents by post
The online form consists of both the personal declaration and the declaration from your sponsors. The statement by the sponsor must be completed by two sponsors/witnesses – one for each of you. The sponsor must be a person who knows you.
It may take some time before you receive the documents you need, so make sure to take care of this well in advance of your wedding. See our case processing times.
Apply for a change of name
If one or both of you want to change your name in connection with the marriage, you must apply for a change of name at the same time as you’re completing the other forms.
If you’re going to travel after the wedding, we recommend that you wait to change your name. In peak periods, we need more time to process your case. And if you’re also getting a new passport, you might not have enough time. It’s not required by Norwegian law to change your name when you get married. It’s easy to change your name once you come back home.
Declaration concerning division
If you’ve been married before, you must complete a declaration concerning division.
If you’re divorced according to foreign law
In the case of people who are divorced according to foreign law, the divorce must be recognised by the County Governor (link to Norwegian page). The requirement for recognition does not apply if the divorce was carried out in another Nordic country, as long as both spouses were resident and had citizenships in a Nordic country at the time of the divorce.
If you wish to apply on paper instead, you must complete the forms below and submit them collectively to us at:
Skatteetaten
Postboks 9200 Grønland
0134 Oslo
Norway
- Personal declaration – each person getting married must complete their own declaration.
- Statement by the sponsor – must be completed by two sponsors/witnesses – one for each of you. It must be a person who knows you. The sponsor’s citizenship is not relevant, but he/she must be over 18 years of age. The person who fills out the sponsor declaration does not need to be the same person who serves as a witness during the actual ceremony.
- In the case of people who are divorced according to foreign law, the divorce must be recognised by the County Governor (link to Norwegian page). The requirement for recognition does not apply if the divorce was carried out in another Nordic country, as long as both spouses were resident and had citizenships in a Nordic country at the time of the divorce.
- Have you been married before? If so, you must complete a declaration concerning division.
- Changing your name? If you wish to change your name/names in connection with the marriage, a notification of change of name must be submitted along with the other documents. Complete the form notification of change of name.
If you meet the requirements to get married, we'll issue a marriage license.
It's valid for four months and does not require a stamp or signature. We'll send the certificate to both of you in Altinn.
If you've opted out of digital communication, you'll receive it by post.
If you do not meet the requirements to get married, you’ll receive a letter in Altinn or by post. If you disagree with the decision, you can appeal to the County Governor where one of you lives.
You're responsible for sending the certificate to the person who will conduct the ceremony.
Remember to agree on a date and time for the wedding in advance.
You must present valid ID to the officiant – such as a passport, national ID card, driving licence, or bank card with photo.
Important information
We in the Tax Administration send you our best wishes for the day and your future together!
The officiant must send a marriage notification to the Tax Administration within three days of the wedding.
If you've changed your name and you’re going on a honeymoon abroad, make sure that the name in your passport matches the name on your ticket.
If the names do not match, you may experience problems when checking in. Need a new passport? Contact your local police station.
In that case, we recommend that you wait to change your name. In peak periods we need more time to process your case. And if you’re also getting a new passport, you might not have enough time. It’s not required by Norwegian law to change your name when you get married. It’s easy to change your name once you come back home.
Once your marriage is registered in the National Population Register, we’ll send a confirmation to both of you in Altinn. If you’re not using online services, the confirmation will be sent by post.
It may take a little time from when the officiant submits the notification until the marriage is officially registered. You can check our case processing times on our website.
If you need a marriage certificate, you can order one, after the marriage has been registered by the Tax Administration