Denmark Marriage Requirements for Foreigners

Denmark accepts marriage applications from couples of all nationalities, regardless of country of residence. You do not need to live in Denmark, hold a Danish visa, or have any prior connection to the country.

Both opposite-sex and same-sex couples are welcome. Denmark has recognised same-sex marriage since 2012.

The key requirements are:

• Both partners must be at least 18 years old
• Neither partner can be currently married
• The couple cannot be closely related
• Both partners must consent freely to the marriage

The exact documents required depend on your nationality and personal situation. Below is a general overview of what most couples need:

Passports

Valid passports for both partners. All pages must be scanned — including blank pages, front cover, and back cover. Scans must be in full colour, high resolution, with no fingers, shadows, or cropped edges.

Birth Certificates

Original or certified copies of birth certificates for both partners. These may need to be apostilled or legalised depending on the issuing country.

Proof of Civil Status

Documentation confirming that both partners are legally free to marry. This could be a certificate of no impediment, a single status affidavit, or equivalent document from your home country.

Divorce Decree (If Applicable)

If either partner was previously married, a final divorce decree is required. The document must be complete, signed, stamped, and show legal finalisation. Apostille or legalisation may be needed depending on the issuing country.

Translations

Documents not in Danish, English, or German must be accompanied by certified translations.

Relationship Evidence

The Danish government may require evidence of your relationship. This typically includes 3–5 photos together from different occasions, and a brief factual timeline of your relationship.

• ✗Incomplete passport scans (missing pages, low resolution, cropped edges)
• ✗Name mismatches between documents
• ✗Missing apostille or legalisation on foreign documents
• ✗Expired documents
• ✗Incomplete divorce decrees (missing pages or signatures)
• ✗Uncertified translations

We review every document before submission to catch these issues early. This is the single most important step in avoiding delays.

The marriage application is submitted to the Danish government for approval. Once a complete and correctly structured application is submitted, approval typically takes 5–10 working days.

After approval, the municipality coordinates your ceremony date and logistics. You only need to travel to Denmark for the ceremony itself — everything else is handled remotely.

Your Danish marriage certificate is internationally recognised. With apostille legalisation, it is valid in over 100 countries.