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
The fastest way to apply for a certificate of no impediment to marriage, is to do so online.
The online form consists of both the personal declaration and the statement from your sponsor. 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:
The Tax Administration
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 sponsor does not have to be present when the couple enter into marriage.
- 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.
The Tax Administration will prepare what is known as a "certificate of no impediment" if you meet the requirements to enter into marriage. The certificate of no impediment is now valid without a stamp and signature.
The certificate will be sent to both of you in Altinn. If you’ve opted out of digital communication, you will receive it in the post.
The certificate is valid for 4 months.
If you do not meet the conditions for entering into marriage, you’ll receive a letter in Altinn or in the post. If you do not agree with the decision, you can appeal to the county governor where one of you lives.
The certificate of no impediment must be sent to the wedding official.
You can choose whether you send the certificate digitally or by post. The security of personal information in the certificate can be safeguarded by using encrypted e-mail or a sealed envelope.
Remember that you must agree on a time and date for the marriage with the wedding official beforehand.
You must legitimize yourselves to the wedding official by showing your passport, driver's licence or bank card with photo.
We in the Tax Administration send you our best wishes for the day and your future together!
The wedding official will send the marriage notification to the Tax Administration within three days after 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.
The Tax Administration will send a confirmation to your Altinn inbox. If you’re not electronic users, the confirmation will be sent to you by post.
Note: If neither of you are registered with a national identity number, but you’re marrying according to Norwegian law, the National Population Register will send you a marriage certificate by post.