Getting Married In Sweden As A Foreigner? Here’s What To Consider
Great view from King Oscar's Terrace, Oscarsterassen, at Skansen, the world’s oldest open-air museum. In the background The Vasa Museum and The Nordic Museum (Nordiska museet).
Getting married in Sweden as a foreigner can be a thrilling and unforgettable adventure! The combination of the country’s natural beauty, rich historical tradition, and ultramodern architecture means that getting married in Sweden offers a one-of-a-kind experience for any couple, no matter what kind of wedding you’re looking for. Plus, it’s incredibly clean and safe so you can relax and fully enjoy your experience, soaking in everything Sweden has to offer.
However, if you’re a couple from outside the country who’s planning on getting married in Sweden, it’s important to know how to get married in Sweden to ensure that you’re complying with all the country’s marriage laws and regulations.
The good news is that while paperwork and logistics are never fun to deal with, the requirements for getting married in Sweden are quick and easy to take care of. With just a bit of care and patience, you can have all the boring bureaucratic stuff taken care of quickly and painlessly so that you can start focusing on all the fun and excitement of planning your wedding in Sweden.
If you’re getting married in Sweden as a foreigner, just use this handy guide and before you know it you’ll be ready for the Swedish wedding of your dreams. Here’s how to get married in Sweden as a foreigner!
Can A Foreigner Get Married In Sweden?
Yes! Sweden welcomes couples from all over the world, and the types of marriage in Sweden are limited only by your imagination. However, if you’re travelling to Sweden to get married from outside of the country, there are some marriage laws in Sweden you’ll need to keep in mind before your big day.
American-Hungarian wedding couple getting married in Stockholm City Hall. I loved this wedding!
What Are The Requirements To Get Married In Sweden As A Foreigner?
Fortunately, the types of documents you need to get married in Sweden as a foreigner are not too different from getting married in pretty much any other country. With proper planning, gathering the documents you need can be a pretty streamlined and straightforward process.
In order to get married in Sweden, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:
Birth Certificate:
This is necessary to confirm that you are above 18 years old, the minimum legal marriage age in Sweden.
Valid Passport:
Valid, government-issued identification is essential for travelling in any foreign country, and Sweden is no exception! Make sure your passport is up-to-date, and make plans to renew it if it’s expiring soon.
A Document Affirming You’re Not Already Married:
Unfortunately for anyone attempting to accumulate several dozen husbands/wifes, Sweden requires foreigners planning to get married in the country present a document confirming that they are not already married. Many countries keep a national marriage wedding registry and can provide foreigners planning to get married in Sweden with an official statement attesting to their unmarried status.
It’s important to note that if you’re from the United States and are planning on getting married in Sweden as a foreigner, you should keep in mind that the U.S. has no national wedding registry. In some U.S. states and counties, the government might be able to issue you something called a “Record Of No Record,” an official document that states that you are currently unmarried. You can look into obtaining a Record Of No Record by checking with your local County Clerk’s Office.
However, if you’re a U.S. citizen planning to get married in Sweden as a foreigner and you find yourself running into difficulties obtaining a Record Of No Record, there’s no need to worry!
The Swedish government is aware that it’s sometimes difficult for United States citizens to obtain these documents, and if you check with the Swedish tax authorities (who are less intimidating than they sound!) and explain that you’ve been unable to obtain an official document affirming your unmarried status, they will most likely waive this requirement.
A Swedish Marriage Certificate:
When it comes to how to get married in Sweden, one of the most important requirements is a Swedish marriage certificate. What does a Swedish marriage certificate look like? It’s a little bit different from a marriage certificate in most other countries. A Swedish marriage certificate is a very particular type of document called a “Certificate Of No Impediment,” or, in Swedish, a Hindersprövning. This document certifies that there are no legal circumstances that disqualify you from getting married in Sweden as a foreigner.
A Swedish marriage certificate can be obtained by contacting your good friends at the Swedish Tax Agency (again, don’t let their official-sounding title scare you off — the process is easier than it sounds!). You can contact them by email at vigsel@stockholm.se or over the phone at +46 (0)8-508 29 330 (and don’t worry, their English is very good!).
Once you submit the necessary documents like your birth certificate and proof that you’re not already married, the Swedish Tax Agency will send you your official Hindersprövning, which will certify that you are legally eligible to get married in Sweden as a foreigner!
Arrange A Civil Ceremony:
In Sweden, for a marriage to be valid it must be certified in a civil ceremony. These can take place at the local branch of the Swedish Tax Agency in whatever part of the country you’re planning on getting married. If you’re planning a Stockholm wedding, I wholeheartedly recommend having your civil ceremony at Stockholm City Hall.
As I mention in my ultimate guide to getting married in Stockholm, City Hall is one of the coolest places in the whole city, and is way more exciting and romantic than the term “city hall” might suggest. You can still have a religious wedding ceremony, or any other personalised wedding ceremony, after the civil ceremony takes place, but in Sweden, this part is necessary for the wedding to be recognized legally.
Stockholm City Hall view from the water. The ceremony takes place in the high tower.
Where Are The Best Places For Foreigners To Get Married In Sweden?
It all depends on what kind of wedding you’re planning! For nature lovers with adventurous spirits, Swedish Lapland, which lies just above the Arctic Circle, is well-known for vast, snowy landscapes, breathtaking mountains, and unforgettable views of the Northern Lights.
If you’re looking to get married in the heart of a modern city, I definitely recommend considering a Stockholm wedding. Stockholm truly offers the best of everything that Sweden has to offer, from gorgeous natural landscapes to historic buildings and ultramodern architecture.
Check out my ultimate guide to getting married in Stockholm for more information on this amazing city. No matter what kind of wedding you’re dreaming of, Stockholm is sure to have what you’re looking for.
Start Planning Your Wedding In Sweden Today!
If you’re planning on travelling to Sweden for your wedding and are looking for a wedding photographer in Stockholm or any other region of this amazing country, then let’s chat!
Get in touch any time and together we can make sure all the dull paperwork is taken care of as soon as possible so that we can get to work doing the fun stuff: Planning the Swedish wedding of your dreams.
September love in Rosendals Terass, Djurgården.