The apostille is a typical pitfall in getting married in Denmark, yet the rule is simple: documents from Germany, Austria or Switzerland usually need none, documents from many countries outside Europe do.
This is about your own documents for the application to Familieretshuset. The apostille on your Danish marriage certificate after the wedding is a different topic, see Apostille on a Danish marriage certificate.
What is an apostille anyway?
The apostille is an international authentication under the 1961 Hague Convention. It confirms that the stamp and signature on a document are genuine. It replaces the lengthy classic legalisation. For documents from many countries outside Europe it is the prerequisite for Danish authorities to accept them; documents from states that have not joined the Convention must be legalised instead.
Do I need an apostille?
What matters is the country that issued the document, not your nationality. The basis is Familieretshuset's documentation requirements:
Usually no apostille
- Germany, Austria, Switzerland
- Rest of Europe incl. the UK, except the countries in the second list
- USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand
- Turkey
Apostille or legalisation required
- Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo
- Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
- All other countries outside Europe, e.g. Brazil, India, South Korea
Which documents are apostilled?
Whether an apostille is needed at all is decided by the issuing country (see above). If your documents come from a country with an apostille requirement, this typically concerns the following documents; which ones you need overall is explained in the documents guide:
- Divorce decree with legal-force note (if divorced)
- Death certificate of the partner (if widowed)
- Birth certificates of joint children (if you have children)
- Proof of residence, if you live together outside Denmark
Your own birth certificates and a civil-status or single-status certificate are needed only if Familieretshuset requests them in an individual case; the same apostille rule then applies to them.
Where do you get the apostille?
An apostille is always issued by an authority of the country the document comes from. For documents from Germany, Austria and Switzerland you usually don't need one for Denmark; here are the competent offices for orientation anyway. Cost and duration depend on the office:
| Country | Responsible authority | Cost per document | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Regional government office of the federal state | €20–25 | 1–4 weeks |
| Austria | Office of the state government | €20–36 | 1–3 weeks |
| Switzerland | State chancellery of the canton | CHF 20–30 | 1–2 weeks |
For documents from countries with an apostille requirement (e.g. Brazil, India, Ukraine), an authority in the issuing country is responsible; cost and duration vary there. What applies to your country is shown in our overview of the rules by country of origin.
How the procurement works
Example: a Germany × Brazil couple who must submit two Brazilian certificates, such as the birth certificates of joint children. Brazilian certificates need an apostille; German ones would need none for Denmark.
Order fresh certificates
Request the Brazilian certificates from the competent office in Brazil; if you live together in Germany, add proof of residence from the residents' office, which needs no apostille. Your own birth certificates and a single-status certificate are needed only if Familieretshuset requests them.
Request apostille (Brazilian side)
At the competent office in Brazil: an apostille is always issued by an authority of the country the document comes from.
Certified translation
A sworn translator translates the apostilled Brazilian documents into German or English.
Submission to Familieretshuset
Online application with all scans. Familieretshuset usually decides complete applications within 5 working days (as of October 2026).
The typical mistakes
Two mistakes cost the most time. The first is a missing apostille or translation: Familieretshuset then requests it, and after follow-up requests it is currently processing applications received in August 2026, so around 2 months later (as of 18 October 2026). The second is unnecessary documents: anyone submitting documents from Germany, Austria or Switzerland usually needs no apostille, and Familieretshuset asks for a single-status certificate only in individual cases; both save money and time.
What does the apostille cost in total?
For a binational couple (DE × third country with an apostille requirement) with two third-country documents as in the example, realistically expect €40–120 in apostille fees, €120–280 for certified translations and, if needed, €25–80 for the divorce decree. Altogether that comes to about €160–480. Single couples without joint children often need no apostilled certificate at all.
