Marriage

HOW?
Both partners are single (have never been married before)
You can make an appointment over the phone and bring all your documents to the registration. Please be aware that if you arrive without an appointment it may not be possible for you to contract a civil marriage in Tønder in the same week, as the capacity is limited. We recommend that you make an appointment in advance.

You can also send your documents beforehand - either by E-Mail or by post- in this case you will have to consider a case-working period of 1-2 weeks.

One or both partners have been married before
All the documents must be sent in advance. Please note that you will have to consider a case-working period of 1-2 weeks.

FURTHER PROCEDURE
The documents that you send to us will be checked and approved, whereupon you will get a reply with further information.
Upon receipt of this information you have to call us and make an appointment for the personal registration at the Registry Office in Tønder. The registration and the wedding take place in the same week.

Please note that both partners have to be present at the registration and at the wedding.

WHERE?
The personal registration takes place across the street from the Tønder Town Hall, at:
Jomfrustien 8. 1st floor
6270 Tønder 

There is a car park in front of the building. Please note that there is a time limit on the parking and that A PARKING DISC IS REQUIRED.

At the registration as well as at the wedding we can ask for an interpreter for you at your expense.

RESIDENCE / ACCOMODATION
While the Registry office is undertaking the final case working on your papers - this means from the personal registration to the wedding - you MUST stay in Tønder Kommune. Please contact the Tourist office for further information regarding accommodation. Alternatively you can also look for accomodation yourself.

Days for personal registration and days/places for the wedding:
Registration Monday = Marriage Thursday: Tønder – every week
Registration Tuesday = Marriage Friday: Løgumkloster – every week.

Marriage on the day of the registration is NOT possible

• Travel document: Passport, identity card or the like
• Proof of legal stay in Denmark - if necessary (depending on nationality):
  • Visa
  • Residence permit
  • Fiktionsbescheinigung (§81, Abs. 4)
  • Entry stamp to the Schengen States
  • or the like
• Certificate of marital status (no older than four months) from all the places you have lived since you were old enough to get married as well as from your present place of residence (if different).
  The certificate of marital status must state:
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Address
  • Citizenship
  • Marital status (important!)

The certificate must be translated into Danish, English or German if in another language.

• Birth certificate - if unable to obtain one, showing the valid travel document stating place of birth will be sufficient.
• Instead of a "Certificate of marital status" American and English soldiers, who are stationed in Germany, must hand in a "Permission for marriage" stating their present marital status and address issued by the Commander. You must also be able to prove legal stay in Denmark.

NB! Legalization of all documents can be required.

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR COUPLES WHERE ONE OR BOTH PARTNERS HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN MARRIED:

• Divorce decree
  Complete original divorce decree, legally signed. The endorsement must bear the text "The Decree of Divorce has not been and cannot be appealed to a higher court. The parties are free to remarry". Only decrees and certificates from the latest marriage should be submitted.
  The Registry office must approve the divorce decree before you can get an appointment. The decree should be submitted in original and in a translated version, if not issued in Danish, English or German. Translations alone are not sufficient.

• Death certificate
  Death certificates must be approved before you can get an appointment. The certificate should be submitted in original and in a translated version, if not issued in Danish, English or German. Translations alone are not sufficient.

NB! Divorce decrees and Death certificates issued in countries outside the European Union (with exception of the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, a.o.) must be presented in original with a legalization/apostille. The complete legalization must also be translated and handed in.

TRANSLATIONS
The documents (or approved copies of these) must all be translated by a sworn interpreter into German, English or Danish, if in a different language, and together with the originals either sent or personally brought to us. Translations of the documents alone are not sufficient documentation.

Legalization/Apostille

• Legalization: Tripartite verification of the original document (not copy of the original) via the Interior Ministry and The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country as well as the Danish or German Embassy.
• Apostille: Single verification of the original document (not copy of the original) via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country.