4 Easy Steps to Get Married in Sweden
If you're planning to get married in Sweden, you're choosing an ideal destination for your European wedding. This guide will be particularly useful if you're planning to marry someone who isn't a resident of Sweden.
It focuses on the process of getting married in Stockholm, especially at Stockholm City Hall.
However, even if you're planning a wedding at a different venue, you'll find useful tips on the necessary documents to process.
My husband and I chose to have an intimate wedding celebration in Stockholm. Neither of us is Swedish, and I was the only one residing in Sweden at that time. We navigated the process of getting married in Sweden successfully, and now I'm eager to share our experience.
Travel & Accommodation Arrangements
If you're traveling to Sweden for your wedding, planning your trip and securing accommodation is important! Start by searching for flights early to secure the best deals on airfare. After booking your flight, focus on finding accommodations.
Stockholm City, small and with well-connected public transportation, offers relative ease in finding a suitable place to stay. Additionally, there are many options for traveling from the Arlanda airport to the city.
How to Get Married in Sweden - Stockholm City Hall
The process of booking a date and getting married in Sweden is straightforward, even if neither of you or just one of you, is registered in Sweden. In summary, the process involves:
- Book a wedding in Stockholm City Hall.
- Apply for a certificate of no impediment.
- Pay the fee of 1000 SEK.
- Submit the documents to Stockholm City Hall.
The requirements may vary depending on your specific circumstances in Sweden, so hopefully, this guide will give you a clearer idea of the process!
- Stockholm City Hall
1
Book a wedding in Stockholm City Hall
If you're planning to get married in Sweden, you can preliminarily book your wedding date about six months in advance. Confirmation will be issued once Skatteverket, the Swedish tax office, receives your documents.
If your preferred wedding date is already booked, you can select an alternative date. Make sure to provide a valid email address, as you will be notified if a slot becomes available on your preferred date.
There are three ways to book your wedding at Stockholm City Hall:
- Via online - https://etjanst.stockholm.se/bokavigsel
- Via email - vigsel@stockholm.se
- Vie phone - +46 8 508 29 330
Regardless of how you're booking, you will need to provide the following information to get married in Sweden:
- Name
- Birthdate
- Address
- Phone number
- Language of the ceremony and marriage certificate
2
Apply for a certificate of no impediment
Swedish law stipulates several impediments to marriage, including age restrictions, kinship, and current marital or civil partnership statuses. These are important factors to consider if you plan to get married in Sweden.
To start the process, you should fill out a form and submit it to the Swedish Tax Agency well in advance of your wedding date.
In some instances, the right to marry may need to be assessed under the laws of a country other than Sweden.
After the Swedish Tax Agency completes its review, you will receive two documents by mail:
- A certificate of no impediment.
- A wedding certificate form.
The certificate of no impediment is valid for four months and cannot be extended, making timely planning essential.
The steps to obtain this certificate, necessary to get married in Sweden, differ based on your status:
- Both partners are registered in the Swedish Population Register.
- Only one partner is registered in the Swedish Population Register.
- Neither partner is registered in the Swedish Population Register, but at least one is a Swedish citizen.
- Neither partner is a Swedish citizen or resident.
- Neither partner resides in Sweden, but one is a citizen of another Nordic country.
For more detailed information, consider visiting the official Skatteverket website to review the steps.
OUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE - Only one of us is listed in the Swedish Population Register
If only one of you is registered in Sweden, a personal visit to Skatteverket, along with the submission of additional documents, is required.
The typical processing time is around three months. In our case, Miguel had initially planned to arrive just two weeks before our wedding, so the long processing time was a concern.
In response, I contacted Skatteverket and informed them of Miguel’s travel date, and they permitted us to apply early.
To do this, you should complete the SKV 7880 form. In the 'Other Information' section, specify when you will visit Skatteverket.
If you are not registered in Sweden, you need to provide a certificate confirming your marital status and a copy of your passport.
When visiting Skatteverket, make sure to bring:
- The original copy of your Civil Status Certificate (in the Philippines, you can get your CENOMAR online).
- Your passport.
- The completed SKV 7880 application form.
Note: All documents from outside Sweden must be apostilled.
In our experience, I submitted the SKV 7880 form, along with a copy of Miguel's CENOMAR and passport, on November 28th.
We then made a personal appearance at Skatteverket on February 10th to submit everything. By February 14th, we had already received the documents, including the marriage certificate!
3
Pay the fee of 1000 SEK.
You will receive an invoice in your mailbox to pay the ceremony fee of 1000 SEK.
3
Submit the documents to Stockholm City Hall
Skatteverket will send you the certificate of no impediment (hindersprövning) along with the marriage certificate. To avoid cancellation, you will need to submit these documents at least 4 weeks prior to the ceremony.
Vigslar Stadshuset
105 35 Stockholm
Then, wait for a confirmation of your wedding ceremony to finalize your plans to get married in Sweden!
Insuring Your Journey
Given the importance of your big day, it's wise to have travel insurance. This provides a safety net against any unexpected incidents. Consider insuring your journey with reliable providers such as World Nomads or SafetyWing.
The Wedding Day
Our wedding day fell on a Saturday, and we were fortunate to have our ceremony in the Oval Room, led by a certified marriage officiant. As part of the preparations for getting married in Sweden, it's important to arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled ceremony, accompanied by your witnesses and guests. If you don't have any witnesses, don’t worry—the city hall staff can serve as witnesses.
A reminder: don’t forget your IDs! The ceremony itself is brief, lasting less than 5 minutes, and you'll receive your marriage certificate immediately afterward.
Our wedding occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, which unfortunately limited the number of friends and family who could celebrate with us. We even had to cancel our small post-wedding celebration due to the circumstances.
Here's a more personal blog post about our wedding experience in Stockholm during the pandemic!
Exploring Stockholm
Final Thoughts: How to Get Married in Sweden
Having a worry-free wedding in Sweden is completely achievable, thanks to the simple steps and minimal documentation required!
By following the tips in this post and ensuring all your paperwork is prepared in advance, your wedding in Sweden can be officiated easily and quickly.
We're thrilled to know this blog has been helpful for foreign couples planning to say 'I do' in this country. If you have any questions or concerns about getting married in Sweden, please don't hesitate to reach out!
