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.
When applying for a marriage licence, you must submit a personal declaration and a statement by the sponsor(s).
Tip!
It’s a good idea to allow plenty of time for your marriage licence application, especially if you need to obtain additional documents. View case processing times.
Once approved, the marriage licence is valid for four months.
To apply online:
- Both partners and both sponsors must be able to log in using BankID or similar.
- You must have the national identity numbers for the couple to be married and the sponsors. available
- You must send any additional information by post.
The online form consists of a personal declaration and a statement by the sponsor(s). The statement by the sponsor must be completed by two sponsors/witnesses, one for each of you. The sponsors must be at least 18 years old.
If one or both of you have previously been married, you must also submit a declaration of division.
Norwegian citizens who’ve moved from Norway must submit documents from their country of residence proving their marital status in order to be granted a marriage licence.
You must submit additional information by post.
If you're unable to apply online, you’ll need to apply using paper forms. You must submit the completed forms and required supporting documents together to:
Skatteetaten
Postboks 9200 Grønland
0134 Oslo
The following must be completed:
- A personal declaration
- Each partner must complete their own personal declaration.
- Statement by the sponsor(s)
- The person you choose as your sponsor must complete the statement by the sponsor.
- The parties to the marriage cannot act as each other’s sponsors. Sponsors must be at least 18 years old. The person completing the statement by the sponsor does not have to be the same person who witnesses the ceremony.
- If one or both of you have previously been married, you must also submit a declaration of division.
- Norwegian citizens who’ve moved from Norway must submit documents from their country of residence proving their marital status in order to be granted a marriage licence.
If you’d like to change your name in connection with your marriage, you can apply for a name change at the same time as you apply for the marriage licence.
If you apply online for a marriage licence, you can apply for a name change as part of the same application.
Norwegian law does not require you to change your name when you get married. If you’re planning to travel shortly after the wedding, we recommend waiting to change your name until after your trip. If you’d still like to change your name, make sure you allow enough time for case processing and to order a new passport.
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.
All of us at the Tax Administration wish you happiness on your special day and all the best for the future!
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