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Planning a wedding abroad can feel both exciting and overwhelming, even more so when considering the paperwork and procedures that have to be taken into account before you reach your wedding day. Yet, this is where Denmark stands apart from others.
Denmark is one of Europe’s easiest and most romantic places for international couples to get married. The process is actually extremely straightforward: when you know the right steps!
This is your expert guide; your step by step process on how the entire marriage process works – starting from this very moment, right through to when you leave Denmark with your wedding certificates, ready to begin your new life together as a married couple
Whether you want to apply to the Danish government yourself or use an experienced agency like ours, this guide will show you exactly what to expect, and how to make the entire process as smooth, stress-free, and memorable as possible. ❤️
Step 1 — Obtain a Free Documentation List
Find out exactly which documents you and your partner will need to get married in Denmark. Getting this right from the very beginning is key to ensuring a smooth process moving forwards.
Step 2 — Decide to Use an Agency, or Not
You have 2 choices; apply directly to the Danish Agency of Family Law (AFL) or choose to have the guidance of a professional agency throughout the process.
This decision depends on how confident you feel with document handling and formal government submissions.
Step 3 — Gather and Prepare Your Documents
Collect your required documents and make sure they meet the AFL’s standards.
The tiny details matter more than you think, and taking time to prepare all your documents correctly, helps avoid questions or delays later on.
Step 4 — Submit Your Marriage Application
Once your documents are ready, it’s time to submit your application to the AFL to be processed. If everything is complete and submitted correctly, then you will receive an approval within five business days.
Step 5 — Book Your Ceremony Date
Once your application is approved by the AFL, you can then go ahead and book your wedding date at the town hall you selected on your application.
Step 6 — Get Married and Receive Your Certificates
Arrive in Denmark, present your travel documentation, and get married!
You’ll receive your international wedding certificates right after your wedding!
Read on for more in depth information about each of these steps, helpful insights and what to expect at each stage of the process!
Step 1 — Get Your Free Documentation List
The process begins by finding out exactly which documents you and your partner need to marry in Denmark. You simply need to get in touch – our Advisor Team will assess your details and provide you with a personalised preliminary free documentation list
You can also learn more about the required documents here.
If you have any questions at all after reviewing your preliminary documents list, you can ask as many questions as you need from our Advisor Team. They will explain how the process works and answer all of your questions – we want you to feel fully confident before you begin.
Step 2 — If Using an Agency, Decide Which Service is Right For You
After receiving your documentation list, you may then decide you’d like to proceed with using the help of an agency for making your application to the AFL.
Now it’s time to choose the right service for you!
- The Complete Service. Depending on how much support you want, you can choose a service where we manage everything for you; arrange and preparing your documents, submitting your application to the Agency of Family Law for you, handle all communication with the AFL re your application, as well as booking your wedding date at the town hall of your choice.
- The Essential Service. You receive all the benefits of our guidance on collecting your documentation, which we will then prepare for you to ensure they adhere to the correct AFL submission format. We will also give you step by step guidance on how exactly to make your application, as well as how to book the ceremony for your marriage in Denmark. This service is perfect for couples who want to keep costs down, and that feel confident in managing their own application.
The level of service you need is up to you!
Step 3 — Preparing Your Documents & File; Ready for the AFL
It’s now time to get your documents ready to make your application. Upon deciding to work with our team, you will receive our comprehensive & detailed documentation list from our Documents Team. This will include:
- Full information on each specific document you need to provide
- Detailed information on where to get legalisation of certain documents (where applicable).
- Instruction on how you should prepare and send the documents required to us
- Legal forms you need to complete and sign as part of your marriage application
- Information on each of the town halls in Denmark that will help you decide the best place for your wedding, based on your time frame and availability.
We’ll be totally honest here – document gathering and getting your file ready is the unglamorous and, quite frankly, boring part of the process. But, it’s also crucial!
Getting the documents right can be time consuming and can feel frustrating sometimes but your dedicated Documents Advisor is here every step of the way to answer all your questions and guide you through the whole process.
Learn more about the AFL and why getting your documents right the first time is so crucial (yet more difficult than might initially seem).
Step 4 — Submitting Your Application to the AFL
Once your documents have been collected and your file is ready, it’s time to apply to the Agency of Family Law (AFL) for your marriage approval.
Submitting your application correctly is a crucial stage of the process and if you are not absolutely confident with making online applications, handling government forms etc, and you have chosen to use the ‘full-service’ of an agency, like our Complete Service, then the application submission will be done for you.
If you have chosen to handle the application directly yourselves, then the application you must do so very carefully. If the application is not made 100% correctly it will result in the AFL asking questions.
As soon as questions are asked, the application you made is essentially put to the bottom of the pile while the AFL deals with other new applications meaning long delays occur. These delays can be up to 6 months long during busy seasons.
So getting the application exactly right the very first time is imperative for smooth and quick processing. Most approvals arrive within five working days when all documents have been submitted correctly.
Step 5 — Receive Approval from the AFL
The AFL must, by law, respond to all marriage applications within 5 business days, so you will know very quickly if your application has been approved or not.
If the AFL approves your file, you can move forward with booking your wedding. Congratulations!
However, if questions arise and the AFL has asked you to submit additional information or documentation, then your advisor (or you, if you applied directly) will need to respond before your case will continue to be processed.
There are significant delays involved (sometimes as much as 6 months) when questions are asked.
Step 6 — Book and Plan Your Wedding Day
Your application has been approved! Congratulations! 🙂 It’s now time to contact the town hall and book your wedding date!
The timescales for how long it takes to get a ceremony date confirmed with the town halls does vary depending on which town hall you choose, but it tends to take anywhere between 24 hours and 10 days to get your wedding date confirmed.
If you have taken our Complete Service, then your Advisor will contact you via email and open up the dialogue with you regarding potential dates for your wedding.
If you have taken our Essential Service then upon approval of your application by the AFL, we will send you all the information and instructions you need so that you can contact the town hall directly to book your wedding date in Denmark.
If the date you want is not available, then you will work with our Wedding Day Team to discuss alternative options or for our Essential couples, you will discuss the other options directly with the town hall.
Step 7 — Arrive in Denmark and Present your Documents!
Everything is ready and in place – it’s nearly time for you to get married! But there is one more very small, but very important bureaucratic procedure to go through before you can get married.
Once you’ve arrived in Denmark for your wedding ceremony, you each need to present your travel documents to the town hall. Some town halls request document check takes place one working day prior to the date of your wedding, some that will conduct this process on the same day.
Step 8 — It’s time to get married in Denmark!
Once the document check is completed, you’re all set. It’s time to get married!! So exciting! 😀
The ceremony itself is quite fast, and usually lasts around 5 minutes! The registrar will say a few words (in either English or German) depending on which language you have requested the ceremony to be held in.
You can wear whatever you want for your wedding; you don’t have to dress up, but you can if you want to.
You can say some very short vows and exchange rings if you wish, but this is up to you and not a requirement. The ceremony for your marriage in Denmark can be incredibly simple, if that is what you prefer.
Then you and your partner will sign the required documents – you are now officially married!
Step 9 — Your wedding certificates
Immediately after your wedding ceremony, you and your partner will be given two copies of your International Wedding Certificate. These are free of charge.
Learn about the Danish international marriage certificate
If you need them legalised (apostille stamped) for use abroad, this can be arranged in Denmark, either by completing this part of the process directly yourselves or asking your wedding agency to take care of this for you.
Learn about legalising your marriage certificate
Please note if you need your certificate to be stamped at your embassy in Copenhagen, you will likely need to carry out this attestation directly yourselves.
Step 10 - After your Wedding
You’ve completed the process! Huge congratulations to you both on becoming a married couple! 🥰
Many couples choose to spend a few extra days exploring Denmark and enjoying this very special time together, before heading home.
We’re always happy to recommend local spots we feel you might like to check out while you’re here; restaurants, tourist attractions and the like. Please just ask!
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Married in Denmark
1. How long does it take to get approval from the Danish Agency of Family Law (AFL)?
Most couples receive approval within five business days — provided the application is complete and correct.
If the AFL asks for extra documentation, it can lead to delays of several months, so preparing your documents properly from the start is very important.
2. Can we apply directly to the AFL, without using an agency?
Yes. You can apply directly to the Danish Agency of Family Law yourself. However, small document errors or missing details can cause significant delays. Many couples therefore choose to use an agency for peace of mind and to avoid the risk of rejections or long waiting times.
3. What documents are needed to get married in Denmark?
The exact requirements depend on your individual circumstances such as citizenship, residence, and marital status.
That’s why our Advisor Team offers a free personalised documentation list — it shows exactly what you’ll need as a couple to apply successfully.
4. How soon can we get married after receiving approval?
Once your AFL approval is granted, you can immediately contact your chosen town hall to book your ceremony.
Depending on the town hall, confirmation usually takes between 24 hours and 10 days.
5. Can LGBTQ+ couples and international couples get married in Denmark?
Absolutely. Denmark has been welcoming international and same-sex couples for many years.
All couples — regardless of nationality, gender, or religion — have equal rights to marry here.
6. Will our Danish marriage certificate be valid abroad?
Yes. You’ll receive two international marriage certificates right after your ceremony.
If your home country requires an apostille or embassy attestation, this can easily be arranged in Denmark — either directly by you or through your wedding agency. Make sure to check with your local authorities to find out what they might need.
7. When is the best time to start the process?
We recommend starting about 6–8 weeks before your preferred wedding date.
This gives plenty of time to prepare documents, receive AFL approval, and arrange travel — though it can often be done faster with the right help.
Ready to Start the Process?
Your first step is easy – simply request your free documentation list.
We’ll help you understand exactly what’s needed and guide you every step of the way.
