Marriages in accordance with foreign law – step-by-step
If you intend to marry in accordance with foreign law, you must check with the authorities in the relevant country to find out what documentation they will require.
The basic conditions to have your marriage recognised in Norway, state that:
- both parties must be present at the solemnisation (wedding ceremony)
- both parties must be over the age of 18
- neither party can already be married
- the parties must not be closely related to each other. This means that they must not be siblings or relatives in a direct line of ascent or descent. Marriage between relatives cannot be entered into if they are cousins or closer relatives than cousins.
If the country where you intend to marry requires a license to solemnise your marriage, we can issue a marriage license. A marriage license will prove that, according to Norwegian law, there is nothing that is hindering you from getting married. To issue a marriage license, the Norwegian Tax Administration must verify that the conditions for marriage have been met.
If both of you are resident in Norway
If both of you are resident in Norway, the Tax Administration will usually verify that the conditions for marriage have been met for both parties.
Even if you’re resident in Norway as a foreign citizen, you may not need a marriage license from Norwegian authorities.
If you’re a foreign citizen living in Norway, you must usually provide a marriage licence from the authorities in your country of citizenship.
Check with the authorities in the country where you’re getting married to find out what type of documentation you need.
If you only have a d-number, you cannot obtain a certificate of no impediment to marriage.
Norwegian citizen and foreign citizen who is not resident in Norway
If you’re a Norwegian citizen marrying a foreign citizen who is not resident in Norway or who does not have any other connection with Norway, the Tax Administration can usually only verify that the conditions for marriage have been met for you.
Your future spouse must submit the documentation from their country of citizenship to the authorities in the country where you are getting married.
This means that the applicable documentation requirements for verification in Norway only apply to you.
Norwegian citizen who is not resident in Norway
Norwegian citizens who have moved away from Norway must usually provide documentation of marital status from their country of residence in order to be issued a certificate of no impediment to marriage or a marriage license.
The fastest way to apply for a marriage license, is to do so online.
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.
If you have previously been married, see information about a declaration concerning division.
If you're unable to apply online, you’ll need to apply on paper.
You must submit the completed forms and required supporting documents to:
Skatteetaten
Postboks 9200 Grønland
0134 Oslo
Norway
Forms you must submit
- Declaration by the parties to the marriage prior to verification of compliance with the conditions for marriage
- The person who is getting married must complete the form.
- In some cases, your future spouse must confirm that they are familiar with the information you have provided in your personal declaration by signing it.
- Statement by the sponsor
- The person you choose as your sponsor must complete the statement by the sponsor.
- Declaration concerning division
- If you have previously been married, you must complete a declaration concerning division. The form is divided into three sections. Complete the section that applies to your situation.
- Information about your future spouse
- We need some information about the person you are going to marry in order for us to issue a certificate of no impediment to marriage.
If the application for a marriage licence is approved, you’ll receive a confirmation via Altinn or by post. We’ll also send the licence to the County Governor or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for it to be endorsed with an apostille or legalisation.
The actual licence will be sent to you by post after being endorsed with apostille or legalisation.
You must forward the marriage license to the solemniser yourself and agree upon a time for the wedding ceremony.
The license is valid for 4 months.
All of us at the Tax Administration wish you happiness on your special day and all the best for the future!
To have your marriage registered in Norway, you must submit a declaration concerning the marriage and the original marriage certificate.
Read more about what you need to provide proof of:
Once the marriage has been recognised in Norway, it will be registered in the National Population Register. We’ll send you an overview of the registered information. On “My page” you will find your spouse’s name and date of birth and the change in your marital status.
See case processing times for solemnisation of marriage in accordance with foreign law