With complete documents, Familieretshuset usually decides within 5 working days; after that, the municipality's date sets the pace. This checklist follows the Danish Familieretshuset's requirements and takes you in five phases from the first research to the marriage certificate.
Phase 1: Preparation (week 1)
Do the eligibility check
Which documents does your specific case need? Which ones not? Our free eligibility check shows you.
Decide on location
Tønder, Copenhagen or Ærø? Or another registry office near the border? Factors: travel, photo wishes, budget and free dates.
Set date window
Pick a window of four weeks; that leaves the authorities some room.
Build document list
The basic documents, plus further ones depending on marital status and origin; the overview is in our document list.
Phase 2: Document procurement (from week 2)
How long this phase takes depends on where your documents come from: German or Austrian certificates often arrive quickly, documents from third countries take considerably longer depending on the country.
Order fresh original certificates
Only what your case needs: divorce decree, death certificate, birth certificates of joint children if applicable. Your own birth certificate and civil-status proof only if Familieretshuset requests them.
Prepare proof of legal stay
For partners from outside the EU: a residence card from a Schengen state or a visa. Apply for the visa before the AFL application, because since 10 April 2026 the visa, the EES calculator printout and flight tickets belong in the application.
Request apostille
If needed for third-country documents; our apostille guide explains how.
Certified translations
If the original is not in German, English or Danish; the translation must also cover the apostille stamp. More in our guide to certified translation.
Scan in high resolution
In colour and clearly readable as PDF; from the passport all pages including covers and blank pages, from the ID card both sides. Familieretshuset reviews the scans.
Phase 3: Application
Online application familieretshuset.dk
You start the application on Familieretshuset's English page; without MitID you create a user account by e-mail. Each partner fills in their own part, at the latest 14 days after the start, otherwise the agency closes the case and you pay again.
Upload scans
All documents in one step.
Pay AFL fee
DKK 2,100 (about €281) per couple, directly in the online application by card or wallet (e.g. Apple Pay or MobilePay); it is not refunded.
Wait for response
With complete documents usually within 5 working days (as of October 2026). On a follow-up request: respond quickly; Familieretshuset is then currently processing applications received in August 2026, so a follow-up costs around 2 months (as of 18 October 2026).
Phase 4: Travel and ceremony
From complete documents it usually takes 3–6 weeks until the ceremony if you are flexible about the municipality, otherwise considerably longer. The real bottleneck is the municipality's date: Tønder and Aabenraa release dates exactly 60 days ahead, Ærø offers a date within 10 weeks according to its Danish page, Copenhagen states a waiting time of up to 4 months. Over the turn of the year, Tønder (24.12.2026 to 03.01.2027) and Aabenraa (23.12.2026 to 03.01.2027) hold no weddings. Which municipality has dates right now is shown in our overview of current free wedding dates; the comparison of the rules is in our guide to registry office waiting times.
Book registry-office date
Right after Familieretshuset confirmation; in Tønder and Aabenraa via the link that comes with the approval. The approval goes to the municipality named in your application; if it has no date left, only Familieretshuset can forward it to another municipality (with us as a change of municipality, €99.99, once included in Complete).
Book hotel and ferry
For Ærø: reserve car ferry weeks in advance.
Clarify witness situation
Bring two witnesses with ID or ask the municipality: many municipalities provide the witnesses free of charge, but not at every time (Tønder, for example, only in the mornings). When you need your own is explained in our guide to witnesses.
Travel and ceremony
Bring the originals. In Copenhagen, couples without a Danish CPR number must appear in person at City Hall at the earliest 5 working days and at the latest one working day before the wedding (for a Monday or Saturday wedding, the Friday before). You usually receive the multilingual international marriage certificates right after the ceremony.
Phase 5: Follow-up in DE/AT/CH
- Register at the German registry office in the marriage register (optional, cost depends on the registry office)
- Tax office: apply for the tax class with the international marriage certificate; after a wedding abroad it does not switch to IV/IV automatically
- Inform health insurance, pension insurance, employer
- For a third-country partner: apply for family-reunification visa
- Apply for name change (if desired)
Last minute: the fastest realistic option
The shortest route: in the first three days you settle the check, the place and the document list and see which municipality has free dates; booking only happens after the approval. By day 10 you order the certificates your case needs. As soon as everything is complete, you apply; Familieretshuset usually decides complete applications within 5 working days (as of October 2026). With the approval you book the date, then hotel and travel.
If you have a fixed deadline, for example because of a visa, talk to us directly. We check honestly whether your preferred date is realistic with complete documents and a free municipality date; we don't promise deadlines that Familieretshuset and the municipality don't commit to. If you want to hand over phases 2 to 4, book the Complete package, with a deposit from €450 if you like.
