Before your wedding: consideration of impediments to marriage
Before you can get married in Sweden, you must apply to the Swedish Tax Agency for consideration of impediments to marriage. The application is free of charge. To apply, you fill in a form and send it to us. It is important to apply in good time, well before the wedding
Under Swedish law, the following are considered impediments to marriage:
- Age: if either of you is under 18 years old, you cannot get married.
- Kinship: if you are closely related, you cannot marry each other.
- If either of you is already married or has a registered civil partner, you cannot get married.
In certain situations, your right to marry must be assessed according to the law of a country other than Sweden.
When the Swedish Tax Agency has completed its consideration of impediments to marriage, two documents will be posted to your home address: a certificate of no impediment; and a wedding certificate form which your marriage officiant must fill in. Your certificate of no impediment will be valid for four months. This time period cannot be extended. If you do not get married within four months, you will need to reapply for consideration of impediments to marriage.
Please contact your marriage officiant in good time, and submit the documents that you receive from the Swedish Tax Agency to the relevant party well in advance of the ceremony. Please keep in mind that organisations that perform marriage ceremonies – such as municipalities – often need to receive these documents at an early stage in order to start planning. After the ceremony, the marriage officiant will fill in the relevant details on your wedding certificate form and send it to the Swedish Tax Agency.
How to apply for a consideration of impediments to marriage
You can apply to the Swedish Tax Agency for consideration of impediments to marriage by filling in form SKV 7880 (which is in Swedish), and posting it to us at the address stated on the form. Alternatively, you can hand it in at a Swedish state service centre. Depending on your situation, you might need to submit further documents to confirm your entitlement to get married.
Processing times: how long does it take?
Depending on your situation, the following rules apply:
We are both listed in the Swedish Population Register
If both of you are listed in the Swedish Population Register, you can apply for consideration of impediments to marriage by filling in form SKV 7880 (which is in Swedish). Please sign the form and post the original to the Swedish Tax Agency. Alternatively, you can hand it in at a Swedish state service centre.
If you have previously been married, you are likely to be listed as a divorcee, widow or widower in the Swedish Population Register. If not, you will need to prove that your previous marriage has ended. You can do this by providing a divorce decree or a death certificate for your former spouse. You can post this document to the Swedish Tax Agency or hand it in at a state service centre. The same applies if you have previously been in a registered civil partnership.
You can print out form SKV 7880 or request a paper copy via our e-service.
One of us is not listed in the Swedish Population Register
If one of you is not registered as living in Sweden, you must submit documentation issued by a public authority in your country of residence proving that there is no impediment to your marriage under Swedish law. This applies if you do not have a personal identity number, or if you have a personal identity number but are no longer listed in the Swedish Population Register.
You need to prove that you are over 18 years old, that you are not closely related to your future spouse, and that you are not currently married. You can do so in the following ways:
- You can prove that you are over 18 years old by showing a passport or an equivalent identity document that states your date of birth. You can post this document to the Swedish Tax Agency or hand it in at a state service centre.
- You can prove that you are not closely related to your future spouse through a formal written statement: a sworn affidavit (affirmation). An affidavit section is included in the application form SKV 7880.
- You can prove that you are not married by showing a marital status certificate issued by a public authority in your country of residence. This certificate must have been issued recently: preferably within the past four months.
If you have been married before, you need to prove that your previous marriage has ended. You can do this by showing a divorce decree or your former spouse’s death certificate. You can post this document to the Swedish Tax Agency or hand it in at a state service centre. The same applies if you have previously been in a registered civil partnership.
Neither of us is listed in the Swedish Population Register, but at least one of us is a Swedish citizen
You must both submit documentation issued by a public authority in your country of residence proving that there is no impediment to your marriage under Swedish law. This also applies if you have previously been listed in the Swedish Population Register and have a personal identity number, but have since been deregistered. You both need to prove that you are over 18 years old, that you are not closely related, and that you are not currently married. You can do this in the following ways:
- You can prove that you are over 18 years old by showing a passport or an equivalent identity document that states your date of birth. You can post this document to the Swedish Tax Agency or hand it in at a state service centre.
- You can prove that you are not closely related to your future spouse through a formal written statement: a sworn affidavit (affirmation). An affidavit section is included in the application form SKV 7880.
- You can prove that you are not married by showing a marital status certificate issued by a public authority in your country of residence. This certificate must have been issued recently: preferably within the past four months.
If you have been married before, you need to prove that your previous marriage has ended. You can do this by showing a divorce decree or a death certificate for your former spouse. The same applies if you have previously been in a registered civil partnership.
Neither of us is a Swedish citizen or resident in Sweden
You both need to submit documentation issued by a public authority in your country of residence proving that there is no impediment to your marriage under Swedish law. This also applies if you have previously been listed in the Swedish Population Register and have a personal identity number, but have since been deregistered. You both need to prove that you are over 18 years old, that you are not closely related, and that you are not currently married. You can do this in the following ways:
- You can prove that you are over 18 years old by showing a passport or an equivalent identity document that states your date of birth. You can post this document to the Swedish Tax Agency or hand it in at a state service centre.
- You can prove that you are not closely related to your future spouse through a formal written statement: a sworn affidavit (affirmation). An affidavit section is included in the application form SKV 7880.
- You can prove that you are not married by showing a marital status certificate issued by a public authority in your country of residence. You can post this document to the Swedish Tax Agency or hand it in at a state service centre. This certificate must have been issued recently: preferably within the past four months.
If you have been married before, you need to prove that your previous marriage has ended. You can do this by showing a divorce decree or a death certificate for your former spouse. The same applies if you have previously been in a registered civil partnership.
In order to get married in Sweden, you must also both prove that you are permitted to marry under the law of your country of citizenship or residence. If you have dual citizenship and residence, you can request for the consideration of impediments to marriage to be based on either country’s legislation. The proof required could be any of the following:
- documentation stating your citizenship or country of residence, such as a passport or residence certificate
- a document issued by a public authority in your country of citizenship or residence, stating that there is no impediment to your marriage under that country’s law
- a document issued by a public authority or embassy in your country of citizenship or residence stating which impediment(s) exist under that country’s law
If you are required to meet certain requirements by law – according to current legislation in your country of citizenship or residence – you might need to submit documentation to the Swedish Tax Agency demonstrating that you have fulfilled these requirements. Such documentation could include a medical certificate or written permission from a guardian. Please make sure you obtain all the necessary documentation before you apply for consideration of impediments to marriage in Sweden.
Neither of us is resident in Sweden and one of us is a citizen of another Nordic country
If one of you is a citizen of another Nordic country (Denmark, Finland, Iceland or Norway) – but neither is resident in Sweden – the Swedish Tax Agency will require proof of eligibility to marry under the law of the Nordic country in question. The proof required could be any of the following:
- a document – such as a passport – that shows you are a citizen of another Nordic country
- a document that proves your eligibility to marry under the law of the Nordic country in question.
Certificate of no impediment to marriage from another Nordic country
If you have been granted a certificate of no impediment to marriage in another Nordic country, this certificate is also valid for getting married in Sweden. This applies regardless of your citizenship. You do not need to apply for a further consideration of impediments to marriage in Sweden. You can give the certificate of no impediment directly to your marriage officiant. A certificate of no impediment granted in Sweden is also valid in the other Nordic countries.
Change of surname
Our processing times vary depending on the population registration matter you need help with, and whether any further investigation or additional information is required. We process each case in order of receipt and do not give any cases priority over others.
Consideration of impediments to marriage when both parties are listed in the Swedish Population Register: 1 week
If you apply for consideration of impediments to marriage, and you and your partner are both listed in the Swedish Population Register, it will take about 1 week for your case to be assigned to an administrator.
Consideration of impediments to marriage when only one of you is listed in the Swedish Population Register: 2 weeks
If you apply for consideration of impediments to marriage, and only one of you is listed in the Swedish Population Register, it will take about 2 weeks for your case to be assigned to an administrator.
Consideration of impediments to marriage when neither of you is a Swedish citizen or resident in Sweden: 8 weeks
If you apply for consideration of impediments to marriage, and none of you is a Swedish citizen or resident in Sweden, it will take about 8 weeks for your case to be assigned to an administrator.