Getting Married in Norway

Eloping in Norway?

If you'd like to get married on your next Norway vacation or are planning to elope in Norway on short notice, keep the following Norwegian marriage requirements and regulations in mind:

What eloping couples will need to do:

• Bring valid passports and birth certificates.
• A marriage license from your home state or country must be obtained to certify that there is no hindrance for the marriage.
• Contact the minister or County Court Judge in the area where you want to get married, in order to receive a Norwegian authorization of Marriage.
• Count on a two week waiting period after having contacted the minister or County Court Judge.
• License costs are very low (if any).

If you are not residing in Norway at the time of your marriage application and do not have a Norwegian personal identification number, applications are carried out by the Office of the National Registrar (Sentralkontor for folkeregistrering) in Oslo. Procedures for civil marriage ceremonies in Norway are conducted by a Notary Public. As a first step, contact the City Recorder's Office (byfogdembete) or District Court (tingrett) where you intend to get married, or contact one of the Norwegian embassies worldwide for further details.

FUN FACT: Traditional Norwegian brides wear includes a silver or silver and gold crown, hung with small spoon-shaped bangles.

For gay/lesbian couples wanting to get married in Norway: "Gender Neutral Marriage":

Norway is an open-minded country and has turned their "Registered Partnership Act" legislation into full gender-neutral marriages as of January 2009. Thus, the documentation required to do a same-sex marriage are identical to the marriage requirements shown above.

If you're interested in eloping in a different Scandinavian country, take a look at these articles as well:

• Getting Married in Sweden
• Getting Married in Iceland
• Getting Married in Denmark
• Getting Married in Finland