You can get married in Sweden or abroad. Depending on where you choose to get married, you need to submit different types of information to the Swedish Tax Agency so we can determine whether your marriage can be authorised and registered in Sweden.
Before you can get married in Sweden, you must apply to the Swedish Tax Agency for consideration of impediments to marriage. We will then issue you with a certificate of no impediment to marriage. When you have received this certificate, you must give it to your marriage officiant (the person conducting the ceremony).
You can get married in the presence of:
This person must be authorised to act as a marriage officiant. A Swedish government agency must have decided that this person can act as a marriage officiant. Either the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency (“Kammarkollegiet”) or the County Administrative Board can reach this decision.
When you are married, the marriage officiant will inform the Swedish Tax Agency.
In some countries, there are marriage officiants who are authorised by the Swedish Government to conduct wedding ceremonies abroad. You must check for yourself whether there is an authorised Swedish marriage officiant in the country in which you want to get married. Before you can get married, you must apply to the Swedish Tax Agency for consideration of impediments to marriage.
Find out more on the websites of the Swedish Government and the Church of Sweden.
If you get married abroad in the presence of a Swedish marriage officiant, this person will inform the Swedish Tax Agency that the marriage has taken place.
You must find out which requirements you have to fulfil in order to get married in the country in question. In some countries, you may need a marriage licence issued by the Swedish Tax Agency. Please apply to the Swedish Tax Agency for a marriage licence if you need one.
After getting married abroad, you need to inform the Swedish Tax Agency. You can do this by sending us a letter. Alternatively, you can visit a Swedish state service centre in person.
You must provide the following information:
To facilitate the registration process, it’s a good idea to attach a copy of a document confirming that you are married. It’s also helpful to include copies of your passports or proof of identity documents. We will contact you if we need any additional information.
Please send the details above to the Swedish Tax Agency at the following address:
Skatteverket
Folkbokföringen
205 30 Malmö
The Swedish Tax Agency will assess whether your marriage is valid in Sweden. We will notify you when we have reached a decision.
You can only get married at a foreign embassy in Sweden if the Swedish Government has authorised its embassy staff to conduct wedding ceremonies in Sweden. If you get married at an embassy that has not been granted this authorisation, your marriage will not be valid in Sweden. Please contact the Government Offices of Sweden (“Regeringskansliet”) for further information about which embassies are authorised to hold wedding ceremonies.
If you and/or your spouse wish to change your surname when you are married, you must apply separately for a name change.
You can convert your registered civil partnership into a marriage by notifying the Swedish Tax Agency. You can do this by sending us a letter. Alternatively, you can visit a Swedish state service centre in person.
You must provide the following information:
Another way to convert your registered civil partnership into a marriage is through a wedding ceremony conducted by an authorised marriage officiant. If you are in a registered civil partnership, you do not need to apply for consideration of impediments to marriage. Your marriage officiant will inform the Swedish Tax Agency of your wedding.
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.
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 7 weeks for your case to be assigned to an administrator.
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 10 weeks for your case to be assigned to an administrator.
If you apply for a marriage licence, it will take about 2 weeks for your case to be assigned to an administrator.
If you were married in Sweden, it will take about 2 weeks for your case to be assigned to an administrator.
If you were married in a country other than Sweden, it will take about 10 weeks for your case to be assigned to an administrator after you have submitted your marriage certificate to the Swedish Tax Agency.