Documents Needed to Get Married in Denmark
The documents needed to get married in Denmark depend on both partners' nationalities, countries of residence, travel status and personal history. A couple who has never been married and can travel visa-free may need a much simpler file than a couple with earlier marriages, several countries of residence or documents issued outside Europe.
The safest approach is to create a case-specific checklist before ordering certificates or translations. The Danish Agency of Family Law decides whether each document is sufficient, and it may request additional information when needed.
Core Documents for Most International Couples
1. Valid Passport or EU National Identity Card
A valid passport can be used by applicants of any nationality. EU citizens may use a valid national identity card where it is accepted as a travel document. Provide clear colour images of every passport page, including blank pages and the front and back covers, or both sides of the EU identity card.
2. Proof of Lawful Entry and Stay
Both partners must normally be able to enter and remain in Denmark lawfully. Evidence may include citizenship, a valid Schengen visa, visa-free status, a Danish residence permit, a residence permit from another Schengen country, an EU residence document or evidence of entry dates.
3. Marriage Application and Signed Declarations
Both partners must provide accurate information and sign the required application declarations. You confirm, among other things, that the information and documents submitted are true. If you are not signing with MitID, follow the instructions for handwritten signatures exactly.
Documents You May Need
The following documents are not required in every application. They become relevant because of your answers, your country of residence or an earlier life event.
• Residence certificate, rental documentation or other evidence of a joint address abroad.
• Final divorce decree if either partner has been married before.
• Death certificate if a former spouse has died.
• Court judgment if an earlier marriage was annulled.
• Birth certificates for children you have together.
• Relationship Documentation.
• Section 11b declaration in certain cases involving a Danish or Nordic citizen, or a person with qualifying residence in Denmark, and a partner with temporary residence grounds.
• Military orders or a commander's letter where military status affects residence or travel documentation.
• Official evidence explaining a change of name or other mismatch between current ID and older certificates.
Do You Need a Birth Certificate or Single-Status Certificate?
Birth certificates for the two adult partners are not part of the core document list in most ordinary international applications. Birth certificates may, however, be required for joint children.
A separate single-status certificate or Certificate of No Impediment is not a standard requirement for most international applications. Your signed declarations and the rest of the application provide the relevant marital-status information. The Agency can still request additional evidence in an individual case, so do not order or legalise a single-status certificate unless it is specifically required for your circumstances.
If You Were Previously Married
You must prove that every previous marriage has legally ended. The document must be final and issued by the competent authority. Depending on the issuing country, a divorce decree, death certificate or annulment judgment may require an apostille or full legalisation before it can be accepted in Denmark.
Submit the document in its original language together with the required translation. Make sure names, dates, court stamps and finality statements are visible.
If You Have Children Together or Share an Address
The application may ask for birth certificates for your joint children and evidence of a shared address abroad. These documents help establish your family and residence information. A residence certificate, tenancy document or other official record may be suitable, depending on the country.
If the Agency has questions about whether the relationship is genuine, it may ask for further information such as the history of your relationship, visits, travel records, communication or photographs. Send focused, dated evidence that explains the relationship clearly rather than an unstructured mass of files.
Passport Rules for Non-EU/EEA Citizens
For entry into Denmark, a non-EU/EEA passport or approved travel document must generally be valid for at least three months beyond the intended departure, contain at least two blank pages and have been issued within the previous ten years. A passport with limited remaining validity may result in a shorter validity period for the Certificate of Marital Status.
Translation Requirements
Foreign documents must be translated into Danish, English or German by an authorised translator when a translation is required. The translation should cover the entire document, including stamps, seals, annotations, legalisation text and apostille endorsements.
Submit both the original-language document and the translation. Complete the translation and any required apostille or legalisation before submitting the marriage application.
Apostille and Legalisation of Foreign Documents
Whether a foreign family-law document needs authentication depends on the issuing country and document type. Documents from many European countries and from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey and Great Britain are often accepted without an apostille, while listed exceptions and many documents from other countries require an apostille or full legalisation.
An apostille for a foreign document must be obtained in the country that issued the document. The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not apostille documents issued abroad.
How to Photograph Your Documents
• Show the complete document and all four corners.
• Photograph every passport page, including blank pages and both covers.
• Use colour images, even lighting and the highest practical resolution.
• Hold the camera directly above the page and avoid glare or shadows.
• Check that names, numbers, stamps and small text are sharp.
• Avoid uploading live photos from iPhone.
Let Us Check Your Case Before You Apply
Copenhagen Weddings can review your circumstances, create a tailored document list and help you prepare the application in the correct format. A careful document check before submission is usually much easier than responding to an avoidable request for additional information later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we both need a passport?
A passport is accepted for all nationalities. An EU citizen may instead use a valid national identity card where it is accepted for travel.
Do documents have to be in English?
Documents may be accepted in Danish, English or German. Other languages generally require an authorised translation, including translations of stamps and apostilles.
Can the Agency ask for more documents?
Yes. The list depends on your answers and the issuing countries, and the Agency can request more information if it cannot decide the case from the initial submission.
