Getting Married in Sweden

Eloping in Sweden?

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

What eloping couples will need:

• Passports and certified Birth Certificates.
• Document showing requirements for marriage in the couple's home state.
• Proof of being free to marry: This is in the form of an affidavit that may be signed at one of the Swedish embassies worldwide or before an American consular officer at the Embassy in Stockholm.
• If applicable, previously married partners will need to show a divorce decree for any previous marriages.

For detailed information, contact the Swedish Tax Administration (Skatteverket) at phone number +46 200 270 73498. Also, a marriage officiant should be contacted as soon as possible to organize a time and date. After the marriage has been performed, contact the Swedish Tax Authority. Bring the document from the ceremony (Vigselbevis) in order to obtain the official registration of your marriage.

FUN FACT: In traditional Swedish weddings, the bride's mother gives the bride a gold coin to go in her right shoe, and the bride's father puts a silver coin in her left shoe.

For gay/lesbian couples wanting to get married in Sweden:

Sweden used to have a "Registered Partnership Act" similar to the same-sex partnerships in Denmark and Norway. However, as of May 1, 2009, Sweden has adopted a gender-neutral marriage law which lets same-sex couples get married the exact same way other couples do. Simply take a look at the 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 Iceland
• Getting Married in Norway
• Getting Married in Denmark
• Getting Married in Finland