Get married in Denmark start here.

Denmark is one of the most accessible places in Europe to legally marry as an international couple. Two foreigners can apply without living in the country, the process is administered by a single national authority, Familieretshuset , and decisions on complete applications typically arrive within 5 working days.

This page is the overview. It links to every other page on the site so you can drill into whatever applies to your situation. If you'd rather skip the reading, the Document Checker gives you a tailored checklist in under a minute.

The process in one paragraph

You and your partner submit one joint application to Familieretshuset with proof of identity, civil status, and where relevant, proof of legal stay, divorce decrees, or birth certificates of shared children. If the application is complete and you meet the conditions, you receive a Certificate of Marital Status (Prøvelsesattest). That certificate is valid for 4 months. Inside that window you choose a Danish municipality, book a wedding date, attend the civil ceremony, and receive your marriage certificate.

Who this is for

• Two EU/EEA citizens living anywhere in the EU.
• Binational couples where one or both partners are non-EU.
• UK, US, and other non-EU citizens who plan their wedding in Denmark.
• Same-sex couples, Denmark recognises same-sex marriage on equal footing.

The basic legal requirements

The requirements are short. Both parties must be at least 18, unmarried (or legally free to remarry), not closely related, and able to provide identity documentation. Where relevant, proof of legal stay in Denmark is required. See marriage requirements for the full list.

The documents you'll need

Every couple's paperwork is different. Passports are always required; everything else depends on your situation: residence, citizenship, previous marriages, shared children. Documents in languages other than Danish, English, or German must be translated by an authorised translator, and many foreign documents require an apostille. See required documents for the situation-by-situation breakdown.

Fees and timing

The official application fee is DKK 2.100, paid to Familieretshuset. This fee is reviewed annually. Complete applications are typically processed within 5 working days. Appointment availability varies by municipality, popular municipalities have reported strong demand in 2025. Full breakdown on fees and processing time.

How SimpleMarriage helps

We help international couples prepare the application correctly the first time: situation review, a tailored document checklist, completeness review before submission, and guidance on wedding-date availability. Final approval rests with Familieretshuset. See application support.