Marriage

In order to get  married in Norway, you must complete a personal declaration and apply for a certificate or licence before you get married. The certificate or licence will be valid for 4 months after the date of issue.

Difference between a certificate of no impediment to marriage and a marriage licence

If you’re getting married in accordance with Norwegian law and the marriage is to take place at a Norwegian embassy or a Norwegian Church overseas (Sjømannskirken) then it’s a certificate of no impediment to marriage that you should apply for.

If you’re getting married in accordance with the laws of a foreign country, then apply for a marriage licence. It’s important to note that a marriage licence cannot be issued if you only have a D number. 

The fastest way is to apply online. You will need:

• BankID, BankID on mobile, Buypass or Commfides
• A statement by a sponsor or witness for each person who is getting married. The sponsor/witness must be someone who knows you.

You will also need to complete the following forms if one or more are relevant to either who is getting married.

• Application for a change of name - if either or both of you would like to change your name due to marriage, you need to apply to do so at the same time as when you are filling in the other forms.

Since Norwegian law does not require you to change your name upon marriage, you can wait to change your name especially since it may take longer to process your application during peak periods. The Norwegian Tax Administration recommends that you wait to change your name if you plan to travel soon after your wedding as you can apply to change your name after you return to Norway.

You may also wish to delay an application for a new name if you need to get a new passport as you may not have enough time to change your name first.

• Declaration concerning division

You must complete a declaration concerning division if you’ve been married before.

• Divorced according to foreign law

If a couple divorced according to foreign law, the divorce must be recognised by the County Governor (in Norwegian). This is not required if the divorce was carried out in another Nordic country, as long as both spouses were resident and had citizenships in a Nordic country at the time of the divorce.

If you prefer to apply manually, then complete the forms below and submit all of them together to:

Skatteetaten
Postboks 9200 Grønland
0134 Oslo
Norway

• Personal declaration – each person getting married must complete their own declaration.
• Statement by the sponsor – must be completed by two sponsors/witnesses – one for each of you. It must be a person who knows you. The sponsor’s citizenship is not relevant, but he/she must be over 18 years of age. The sponsor does not have to be present when the couple enters into marriage.
• In the case of people who are divorced according to foreign law, the divorce must be recognised by the County Governor (in Norwegian). The requirement for recognition does not apply if the divorce was carried out in another Nordic country, as long as both were residents and had citizenships in a Nordic country at the time of the divorce.
• Have you been married before? If so, you must complete a declaration concerning division.
• Changing your name? If you wish to change your name/names in connection with the marriage, a notification of change of name must be submitted along with the other documents. Complete the  notification of change of name form. 

Source: The Norwegian Tax Administration

If you’ve applied online and have met all the conditions, you will receive approval immediately and the certificate of no impediment will be sent to you via Altinn.

If you’ve applied manually, then it could take up to five weeks. You will receive a letter if it is found that some information is lacking.

Source: The Norwegian Tax Administration

The Tax Administration will prepare and issue a certificate of no impediment if you meet the requirements to enter into marriage. This certificate is valid without a stamp and signature and will be sent to one of you via Altinn. If you’ve opted out of digital communication, the bride/the youngest in a same-sex marriage will receive it in the post.

The certificate is valid for 4 months.

If you do not meet the conditions for entering into marriage, you’ll also be notified via Altinn or receive a letter in the post. If you do not agree with the decision, you can appeal to the county governor where one of you lives.

Source: The Norwegian Tax Administration

You must send the certificate of no impediment to the wedding official either digitally or by post.

It is important to note that you must agree on a time and date for the marriage with the wedding official beforehand.

You must also show an official ID of yourself to the wedding official - passport, driver’s license or bank card with a photo of yourself.

The wedding official will send the marriage notification to the Tax Administration within three days after the wedding.

If you’ve planned a honeymoon overseas after your wedding and you’ve changed your name, you must remember to get a new passport under your new name. 

The name in your passport should match the name on your ticket or you may experience problems checking in.

Contact your local police station or your embassy if you need a new passport.

Since Norwegian law does not require you to change your name upon marriage, you can wait to change your name especially since it may take longer to process your application during peak periods. The Norwegian Tax Administration recommends that you wait to change your name if you plan to travel soon after your wedding as you can apply to change your name after you return to Norway.

You may also wish to delay an application for a new name if you need to get a new passport as you may not have enough time to change your name first.

The Tax Administration will send a confirmation to your Altinn inbox. If you’re not an electronic user, the confirmation will be sent to you by post.

Note that if neither of you are registered with a national identity number, but you’re marrying according to Norwegian law, the National Population Register will send you a marriage certificate by post.