Can foreigners get married in Norway ?
You are a foreign citizen and you want to get married in Norway but you do not know if this is possible or how to proceed ? First of all, know that it is possible as a foreigner to get married in Norway.
In this article, we will see what are the procedures to follow for a marriage in Norway. Then, we will also see the alternatives if you do not wish to get legally married in Norway.
What is the rules for marriage in norway ?
Do I have the right to get legally married in Norway ?
Anyone who marries in Norway must have the legal right to be in the country. This issue is governed by legislation regulating foreigners. The person must prove during their application that they have the legal right to be in Norway on the day of their wedding. You will need to apply for residency or visit to Norway at this web site UDI, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration
For more information on marriage requirements in Norway, you can visit the Norwegian government website getting married in Norway, entitled to be in Norway.
What is the certificate of non-impediment to marriage (prøvingsattest)?
This is a mandatory certificate that allows you to request permission to get married in Norway. This certificate will be requested from you at the time of your marriage. It is validated by the Norwegian government. Without this certificate, no legal marriage will be possible in Norway.
How to get the certificate of non-impediment to marriage ?
If you are 2 foreign citizens residing in Norway
You’ll need to follow the official procedure to get married in Norway if you are foreign citizen and already live in Norway. You can check out this link to see the road to marriage step by step.
You may ask for the document proving that you are legally residing in Norway, I advise you to click here for more information on this document.
All the documents can be sent to the Skatteetaten and you will receive your certificate by post or on your Altinn space.
If you are 1 or 2 non-resident foreign citizens in Norway
If you are 1 or 2 foreign citizen with no permanent residence permit, you’ll have to submit more documentation to the Skatteetaten:
- separate personal statements for each of you
- witness statement (must be completed by a witness on each side)
- declaration of separation (if one of you is divorced)
- declaration of your identity (passport, birth certificate)
Please note, some countries may have specific requirements, you can consult the list here.
You will have to sent all documents to the Skatteetaten, consult this link to check the sending address.
You can apply for the certificate at the skatteetaten web site, right here.
How long does it take to get the certificate of non-impediment to marriage ?
Once the Norwegian Tax Administration checks whether you are eligible to get married in Norway, you will receive the certificate of non-impediment (prøvingsattest).
The processing time to get this certificate is quite long, it can take around 5-6 weeks, assuming everything is in order. Once obtained, your certificate will be valid for a period of 4 months. Knowing its deadlines will help you in planning your wedding.
What should I do once I have the certificate of non-impediment ?
The certificate of no impediment must be sent to the person responsible for the wedding. Before sending, make sure you have defined the time and date of your wedding. You can send the certificate digitally or by mail (encrypted email or a sealed envelope.)
How to get the Marriage certificate once you are married ?
What is a marriage certificate ?
The marriage certificate serves as proof to show that you are married with your partner. This marriage certificate also contains information about the date and location of your marriage.
The marriage certificate will be done in Norwegian or in a multilingual version: English, French, Spanish, German and Italian.
Where will I receive my marriage certificate ?
Anyone who marries in Norway or abroad receives confirmation once the marriage is registered with the tax office. If you are a Norwegian citizen, you will receive your certificate on your Altinn email box. If you do not live in Norway, your marriage certificate will be sent to your registered address.
How long does it take to get the marriage certificate in Norway?
The marriage certificate will be sent to you on a paper with a stamp an signature. The processing time can be up to two weeks plus portal delivery time before you receive the certificate.
Who can officiate a wedding in Norway ?
If you want to have a legal wedding ceremony in Norway, you must hire a licensed wedding celebrant. You have 3 options available to you: a religious officiant, a humanist or a civil wedding ceremony:
The religious officiant
You can contact the church and discuss dates and times. Please note that some religious officiants may travel to the location of your ceremony.
The Norwegian Humanist Association
Humanist officiants perform legal weddings for couples who do not believe in God and want a meaningful ceremony. The ceremonies are personalized to reflect the couple’s love story. To find out more, you can consult the Norwegian Humanist Association website.
The civil wedding ceremony
Norwegian municipalities are responsible for civil wedding ceremonies. You will need to go to the website of the municipality where you wish to get married and see wedding days and times. Please note that some mayors can also travel to the location of your ceremony, if it is in the countryside.
Can you get married symbolically in Norway?
Most of the time, foreign couples not residing in Norway choose to marry legally in their country. And then, they have their symbolic ceremony in Norway. This reduce considerably lighten the procedure and therefore to limit the stress. The only difficulty you will encounter is knowing where you will exchange your vows! The possibilities are endless in Norway. I offer in all my Elopement Packages support in planning your dream weeding. So I can help you find the perfect location for your ceremony in Norway.
And what about same-sex marriage in Norway?
Norway is one of the world’s best countries to be LGBTQ+. Indeed, Norway was the first Scandinavian country and the sixth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage since 2009.
If you want to go further, you can discover my ultimate guide on how to elope in Norway or also send me an email to tell me more about your dream day.