Marriage requirements in Denmark.

Denmark's marriage requirements are short, clear, and applied uniformly through a single national authority, Familieretshuset. The bar to clear is not the difficulty of the rules but the completeness of your application.

Age

Both parties must be at least 18 years old at the time of marriage.

Civil status

Both parties must be unmarried, or legally free to remarry. A previous marriage must have ended through divorce, death, or annulment before a new marriage can take place. You will need to provide official documentation of that prior status.

Identity

Every applicant needs to provide identity documentation. Passports are universally accepted; EU/EEA national ID cards can supplement a passport for EU citizens. Bring all pages of the passport, including the cover, in the form the application calls for (usually clear scans or copies).

Legal stay in Denmark

Where applicable, you will be asked to demonstrate that you are legally in Denmark at the time of the application or the wedding. EU/EEA citizens generally rely on their passport or national ID; non-EU partners may need to demonstrate legal entry, a valid visa, or residence rights separately.

Family relationship

Marriage between close relatives is not permitted. This is unlikely to apply to most couples but the requirement exists.

Foreign documents

Documents issued outside Denmark may need translation into Danish, English, or German by an authorised translator. Documents from countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention typically need an apostille; documents from other countries may need full diplomatic legalisation. UK and US documents almost always require an apostille. See required documents for the breakdown.

The authority's decision

Final approval rests with Familieretshuset. Meeting the requirements above is necessary but not a guarantee, the authority assesses each application on its merits. We can help you prepare the strongest possible case before you submit. Try the Document Checker for a personalised view.