Getting Married in Denmark: A Step-by-Step Guide
For many international couples, getting married in Denmark is a practical way to hold a legally valid civil wedding without moving their lives to Denmark first. The process is clearly defined, but a successful application still depends on choosing the correct route, submitting the right evidence and planning the ceremony within the validity of the approval.
This guide explains the full journey - from the first eligibility check to receiving your Danish marriage certificate. Your exact document list will depend on your nationalities, where you live, how you may enter Denmark and whether either of you has been married before.
Before You Begin: Check the Basic Marriage Conditions
You must both satisfy the general conditions for marriage under Danish law. In most international cases, you will also need to show that you can enter and stay in Denmark lawfully for the ceremony.
• You must both be at least 18 years old.
• You must both be unmarried when the wedding takes place.
• Any earlier marriage must have legally ended through divorce, death or annulment.
• You must not be close relatives within the prohibited degrees.
• Your marriage must be genuine and not arranged solely to obtain residence rights.
• You must be able to enter Denmark legally, unless a specific exception applies.
Step 1: Find the Correct Application Route
Most foreign couples who live outside Denmark apply to the Danish Agency of Family Law for a Certificate of Marital Status, also known in Danish as a prøvelsesattest. This approval confirms that the legal conditions for your marriage have been examined.
A municipality handles the application instead when both partners are Danish or Nordic citizens, have permanent residence in Denmark, or have an indefinite right of residence under the Danish EU residence rules. Choosing the correct authority at the beginning prevents unnecessary delay.
Step 2: Build a Personal Document Checklist
There is no single document package that fits every couple. At a minimum, expect to provide valid identification and information about your right to enter and stay in Denmark. Depending on your circumstances, you may also need evidence of residence, a former divorce, the death of a former spouse or documents for children you have together.
Do not order, translate or legalise every document you can think of. First identify what applies to your case and to the country that issued each document. This saves both time and money.
Step 3: Prepare Clear Copies, Translations and Legalisation
Passport images must normally show every page, including blank pages and both covers, in colour and at a readable resolution. EU citizens using a national identity card should provide clear colour images of both sides.
Foreign documents that are not in Danish, English or German may need an authorised translation. The translation must also cover stamps, seals and any apostille or legalisation attached to the document. Some foreign documents require an apostille or full legalisation before the Agency can accept them.
Step 4: Choose a Town Hall or Ceremony Location
You are not limited to Copenhagen. International couples can choose among Danish municipalities, subject to each municipality's availability and local booking rules. Some offer classic town hall ceremonies, while others may offer outdoor, weekend or private-location options.
Popular dates and town halls can fill well in advance. Balance your preferred location with your travel dates, the four-month validity period and the municipality's rules for receiving or transferring your approval.
Step 5: Submit the Application and Pay the Official Fee
Both partners must complete and sign their parts of the marriage application. If you do not both use MitID, follow the Agency's signature instructions carefully.
The official fee for an application handled by the Danish Agency of Family Law is DKK 2,100 in 2026. The Agency cannot begin its assessment until it has received both parts of the application, the necessary information and the payment.
Step 6: Wait for the Application Review
For a complete case that meets the marriage conditions, the Agency states that a Certificate of Marital Status can generally be expected within five working days. This is a processing guideline, not a guaranteed wedding timeline.
If information is missing, unclear or inconsistent, the Agency may ask questions, request more documents or invite you to a meeting. A well-prepared first submission gives you the best chance of avoiding a longer additional-review process.
Step 7: Receive Your Certificate of Marital Status
Once approved, your Certificate of Marital Status is valid for no more than four months from its date of issue. Your ceremony must take place before it expires. If the certificate lapses, you normally need to apply again, provide the documents again and pay a new application fee.
A passport that expires soon can shorten the certificate's validity, so check all travel-document dates before you apply.
Step 8: Travel to Denmark and Present Original ID
Both partners must attend the wedding in person. Bring the original passport or accepted EU national identity card used for the application. The municipality may require an identity check before the ceremony, sometimes on an earlier working day, so confirm the local procedure before booking flights.
You must remain lawfully present in Denmark. A marriage approval does not replace a visa, residence permit or valid travel document.
Step 9: Attend the Civil Ceremony
A Danish civil wedding is usually simple, warm and relatively brief. Ceremony languages and interpreter rules vary by municipality. Many town halls can provide the two official witnesses, but this is not universal - particularly for some weekend or off-site ceremonies.
Ask the municipality in advance about guests, photography, accessibility, witnesses and language, especially if one of you does not understand the ceremony language.
Step 10: Receive and Use Your Marriage Certificate
After the wedding, the issuing municipality provides the official marriage certificate in an international version in Danish, English, German, French and Spanish.
If you need to register the marriage abroad, contact the receiving authority to ask whether it requires an apostille. A Danish marriage is legally concluded under Danish law, but registration and recognition procedures are decided by the country where you intend to use the certificate.
How Copenhagen Weddings Can Help
Copenhagen Weddings helps international couples understand their document requirements, prepare a complete application and coordinate the practical steps leading to the ceremony. Whether you want guidance or full application handling, we make the process easier to follow and help you avoid preventable mistakes.
Tell us your nationalities, countries of residence, previous marital status and preferred wedding period. We will help you identify the next practical step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we need to live in Denmark to get married there?
No. International couples can apply from abroad and travel to Denmark for the ceremony, provided they meet the marriage conditions and can enter and stay legally.
Can we choose any Danish town hall?
You may choose among municipalities that accept your ceremony and have availability. Each municipality controls its own dates, witnesses, document checks and ceremony options.
How quickly can we get married?
A complete application may be approved within the Agency's general five-working-day guideline, but document preparation and ceremony availability often determine the real timeline.