How Long Does It Take to Get Married in Denmark?
A straightforward marriage application can be processed quickly, but the complete journey takes more than the authority's review time. You also need to prepare documents, wait for a suitable ceremony date, arrange travel and, in some cases, obtain an apostille after the wedding.
The most useful timeline is therefore not a single number. It is a sequence of stages, each with different factors that can speed up or delay your plans.
The Short Answer
The Danish Agency of Family Law states that, as a general rule, it can issue a Certificate of Marital Status within five working days when it has received both partners' application, the fee and all necessary information, and the couple meets the conditions for marriage.
Five working days is not a promise that you can hold the wedding within one week. Missing documents, follow-up questions and limited town hall availability can extend the overall process considerably.
Stage 1: Preparing Your Documents
For a simple case with valid passports and readily available residence evidence, preparation may take only a few days. It can take several weeks if you need a final divorce decree, an authorised translation, an apostille or legalisation from another country.
Check document names, dates and validity before submission. The fastest application is usually the one that is complete the first time.
Stage 2: Application Review
The five-working-day guideline applies to complete cases. The review does not properly begin until both partners have submitted their part and the official fee has been registered. If both parts are not received within the Agency's deadline, the case may be closed and a new paid application may be necessary.
If the Agency asks for more information, your case enters a different and less predictable timeline. Additional review can take substantially longer than the initial guideline, especially if documents must be obtained from abroad or the Agency needs to assess the relationship in more detail.
Stage 3: Certificate Validity
The Certificate of Marital Status is valid for no more than four months from the date it is issued. Your wedding must take place inside that period. This is why applying extremely early is not always helpful: the approval could expire before your preferred ceremony date.
If the certificate expires, you generally need to submit a new application, provide the documentation again and pay the current fee again.
Stage 4: Booking the Ceremony
Ceremony availability is independent of the Agency's processing time. A smaller municipality may offer a suitable date quickly, while a popular town hall or Saturday in peak season may be booked weeks or months ahead.
Remain flexible about location, weekday and time of day if speed matters. Before confirming travel, verify that the municipality has received or accepted the approval and that the appointment is firmly booked.
Stage 5: Travel and Identity Check
Each municipality sets its own practical procedure. Some ask to see original passports on the wedding day; others require the couple to present them on an earlier working day. Build this into your travel dates instead of assuming that arrival immediately before the ceremony will be sufficient.
Stage 6: Apostille After the Wedding
If the receiving country requires an apostille, add time after the ceremony. The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs may legalise an eligible physical document during an in-person visit, while documents sent by mail or courier have an official processing estimate of five to seven working days after receipt, excluding delivery time and possible busy periods.
Realistic Planning Scenarios
• Straightforward and flexible: Documents are ready, the application is complete and the couple can accept a weekday ceremony in more than one municipality. The process may move quickly, but travel should still be booked with sensible flexibility.
• Typical planned wedding: Allow time for document collection, approval and a preferred town hall date. Six to ten weeks is a more comfortable planning window for many couples, although it is not an official guarantee.
• Complex documentation: Previous marriages, difficult-to-obtain certificates, legalisation, inconsistent personal details or relationship questions can require several months of preparation and review.
How to Avoid Unnecessary Delays
• Use a personalised document checklist rather than a generic list.
• Make sure both partners submit their application parts promptly.
• Pay the government fee through a method that can be matched to the case.
• Send complete, sharp colour images in the requested format.
• Translate and authenticate foreign documents before applying when required.
• Answer names, dates, addresses and relationship questions consistently.
• Consider several municipalities and weekday dates.
• Do not buy non-refundable travel until the ceremony is confirmed.
Plan Your Wedding Timeline With Copenhagen Weddings
We can help you identify which stage is likely to control your timeline: documents, authority review, town hall availability or post-wedding legalisation. With that overview, you can plan a realistic wedding period instead of relying on the shortest advertised processing time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is approval guaranteed within five working days?
No. The guideline applies when the application is complete and the legal conditions are met. Requests for additional information create a longer timeline.
Can we book the wedding before approval?
Booking policies vary. Some municipalities may discuss availability, but a ceremony cannot proceed without a valid Certificate of Marital Status.
How long is the approval valid?
The certificate is valid for no more than four months from issue and can be shorter if, for example, a travel document expires sooner.