If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, once you have married your Denmark fiance or you have lived together for one year as common-law partners, you can sponsor him or her for permanent residence in Canada.
Requirements To Get Married in Denmark
In order to marry a citizen of Denmark, you must demonstrate to the Danish government that you are eligible to do so. This includes:
- Original birth certificate, in case of a name change, official court decree
- Valid passport
- At least 3 days residency in Denmark by the wedding date
- Documents that are not in English must be translated into Danish first
- Proof that the couple are not related in anyway whether by blood, marriage of adoption
- Registration of family status, must not be older than 2 months
- Declaration of having children, whether natural, adopted or expecting children from another man or woman
- Verification of marital status as single
- Registration of address of residence, cannot be older than 2 months
- Valid proof of entry into Denmark
- Declaration forms obtained from marriage office in Denmark before arrival in the country
- Divorce decree if divorced, Danish authorities must approve foreign divorce decrees
Cost of Marriage in Denmark: €220
Costs Of A Denmark Wedding
Premium package: €1100
This price includes:
- Personal consultation by phone, email, Facebook with review of all documents.
- Completion of the 15 pages long Notice of Marriage.
- Control of documents required for marriage in Denmark
- All documents will be sent to the National ID-Center for final approval.
- Reservation of your Wedding Date.
- Reservation of hotel room (accomodation price isn’t included).
- Accompany you to the wedding ceremony in Esbjerg – and Varde Municipality.
The state fee of €220 is included in the price!
Extra Services
Legalization/apostille of your marriage certificate + shipment by post – 220 EURO.
The prices for these services are individual:
- Transfer from the airport or train station.
- Reserving and decoration of party-room / restaurant.
- Wedding ceremony outside City Hall.
- Barber.
- Professional photographer.
- Hairdresser.
Steps to get married
You can apply to get married in Copenhagen, elsewhere in Denmark or abroad as early as 4 months before your expected marriage date.
- To get married in Denmark or abroad, you need to fill in a notice of marriage (ægteskabserklæring) and have it approved. The earliest you can apply is four months before you wish to get married.
- When the notice of marriage is approved, a certificate of marital status (prøvelsesattest) will be issued if you are getting married in Denmark. If you are getting married abroad, a marriage licence (ægteskabsattest) will be issued.
- Marriage applications are either handled by the Agency of Family Law or the municipalities in Denmark. Where you apply depends on you and your partner’s nationalities or residence status in Denmark.
Marriage handled by the Agency of Family Law
You should apply through the Agency of Family Law if one or both of you:
- are not Danish or Nordic citizens
- do not have permanent residence in Denmark
- have not obtained a right of permanent residence in Denmark according to the Executive Order on EU Residence.
Marriage handled by the municipality
You should apply through the municipality where you and your partner are registered at (bopælskommune) if both of you are:
- Danish or Nordic citizens
- OR have permanent residence in Denmark
- OR have a right of permanent residence in Denmark according to the Executive Order on EU Residence
You both need NemID to complete the application online. You will receive a reply through your Digital Post (e-Boks).
Commonly observed local marriage customs in Denmark
Traditionally in Denmark, it is the man who proposes to his girlfriend, but the couple usually buys the wedding rings together as well as shares the cost. The cost of the wedding is also shared between the bride and groom.
The bride buys her own wedding gown and she is not supposed to be seen by the man before the wedding. The bride follows the tradition of wearing four things: something new, old, borrowed, and blue.
The bride and groom are supposed to sleep separately on the eve of the wedding day. In Denmark, most couples cohabit for several years before getting married.
Ceremony
On the day of the wedding day the groom arrives at church 30 min before the beginning of the wedding and the bride arrives 5 min before led by her father.
Many couples in Denmark however prefer a secular wedding at the city hall followed by a party afterwards.
When entering the church normally the maid of honor goes to the left and guest of the best man goes right.
After the wedding ceremony, friends and family throw rice at the couple as they leave the Church. Danish weddings are attended by a small number of invited guests, usually not more than 80.
The married couple goes through the photo sessions before everyone heads to the reception.
Reception
At dinner there are lots of speeches, songs, fun games, and dancing. There is protocol that has to be followed when giving the speeches first the bride’s father, groom, bride, family (groom’s family) then friends.
At the dinner ceremony, a lot of kissing is involved, if the groom leaves the room men are allowed to rush and kiss the bride, similarly when the bride leaves the room, ladies can also take turns to kiss the groom.
The newly married couple opens the first dance before midnight, a specific wedding Waltz is played. When the dance starts, all guests make a circle around the couple and slowly moving in on them while dancing.
After some time, the male guests lift the groom up and cut off the tips of his socks to symbolize his loyalty to his wife, the meaning is that he should never walk in the footsteps of other women.
At around 2am, a night course is served to replenish the guests partying all night.
Possible Challenges for Getting Married in Denmark
- Every country has its own laws that apply to its citizens marrying a person from a different country. Getting married to a Danish citizen with the goal of eventually bringing them to Canada to live is a process with many steps. The Danish government imposes strict requirements on foreigners who marry Danes as an indirect way of discouraging Danish citizens from moving to other countries.
- Persons under the age of 18 may not contract marriage without permission from the Marriage Office.
- Persons who are applying for asylum cannot get married in Denmark.
- There is a fee for marriage if both parts have permanent address outside Denmark. Please contact the City of Copenhagen directly to find the current fee.
- Registered partnership (same sex marriage) can only be entered if at least one of the persons is a Danish citizen or if both persons live in Denmark and have had permanent address in Denmark for the last two years.
- Non-residents pay a fee of 500 Danish Kroner (DKK) to get married in Denmark.
- In Denmark, pro forma marriage is prohibited. This means that the marriage must not be entered into if there is reason to suspect that the purpose of the marriage is to obtain the right of residence in Denmark, an EU country, in Switzerland or in another country covered by the European Economic Area.
- Because of the prohibition against pro forma marriage, we will inquire about your personal relationship, e.g. how long you have known each other, where you met each other, whether you have children together, whether you live or have previously lived together etc.
Sponsoring Your Spouse From Denmark To Canada
Questions commonly asked at sponsorship interviews
Communications between the two of you
- When and where did you meet your spouse for the first time?
- Who initiated contact?
- How often did you contact each other before your first meeting in person? How did you communicate? Where is your proof?
- How often did you talk on the phone?
- Do you have phone bills, e-mails, cards, etc., and can I see them?
Visiting Canada (if applicable)
- Where (which airport) did you first Land in Canada? What date?
- How many times have you been to Canada? How long did you stay each time?
- Have you ever stayed in Canada without status (i.e. after your visa has expired)?
- Why did you overstay?
- What did you do to rectify the situation?
- When did you leave Canada the last time? / When did you leave Canada when you didn’t have status? How long did you leave?
- Have you been admitted back into Canada with legal status since?
- Have you been issued any kind of document that authorizes you to live in Canada since you were without status? If yes what type and when is the expiry date?
- Has your spouse been to visit you in your home country? When?
- How many times has your spouse been to visit you?
- Where did your spouse land when they visited you? (Which Airport?)
- Did your spouse ever go to your home country prior to your relationship?
- Did you go to Canada prior to your relationship with your spouse?
Relationship Questions
- What is your husband’s/wife’s/partner’s name?
- What do you call him/her?
- How old is your spouse/partner? What is your spouse’s birth date?
- What colour are his/her eyes and hair?
- Does your spouse colour his/her hair?
- Does your spouse wear glasses or contact lenses?
- Does your spouse have any distinguishing features (birth marks, scars, disfigurements of the body)?
- Where was your spouse born? Which country and city?
- Does your spouse have any allergies?
- What is your religion?
- What is the religion of your spouse?
- When you and your spouse were dating what would you do together?
- Do you have any hobbies? Describe them.
- Does your spouse have any hobbies? Describe them.
- What type of music do you enjoy?
- What type of music does your spouse enjoy?
- What kind of movies do you enjoy?
- What kind of movies does your spouse enjoy?
- What kind of books do you read?
- What kind of books does your spouse read?
- Have you and your spouse ever exchanged gifts? Describe them.
- Please explain the type of relationship you have had since your first meeting.
- What makes your relationship with your spouse different from that of a female/male friend?
- Does your spouse support you financially?
- If I refuse this application what will you do?
Education
- Where did your spouse go to school? (Elementary and high school)
- How many years of school did your spouse Complete?
- What degrees or formal training does your spouse have?
- In terms of education, would you say that you and your spouse’s educational background are compatible?
Employment
- Where did you work in your home country before coming to Canada?
- What is the name of the company? What position did you hold? How long did you work there?
- What did the job entail?
- Did you like your job?
- What was the salary?
- What do you intend to do when you come to Canada?
- What degrees or formal training do you have?
- What degrees or formal training does your spouse have?
- Where does your spouse work? What’s the name of the company? How does he/she travel to work?
- How long has your spouse worked there?
- What does the job entail?
- does your spouse like his or her job?
- What is the salary?
Living Situation
- Where does your spouse live?
- Whom does your spouse live with?
- Does anyone else live in your household other than your spouse and children?
- At what addresses have you lived at with your spouse?
- Did you own any Property with your spouse?
- What type of accommodation do you live in? House, condo or apartment?
- Is it rental or do you own it? If rented, how long is your lease? Are you both on the lease?
- How much is the rent?
- Who makes sure the bills are paid? How much do you pay for Cable/phone/hydro etc.?
Marriage (if applicable)
- When and where did the marriage proposal take place?
- Was your marriage arranged?
- When did you get married?
- Where did you get married?
- Who was at the wedding?
- How many people were at the ceremony?
- What day was the ceremony held on?
- Who performed the ceremony?
- Do you have pictures of the ceremony?
- Who was at the ceremony from your side?
- Who was at the ceremony from your spouse’s side?
- Were any friends present?
- Were your parents at the wedding? If not, why not?
- Where your spouse’s parents at the wedding? If not, why not?
- Were your spouse’s parents aware of the wedding? If not, why not?
- Was a reception held? When and where was it held?
- Who was present at the reception?
- Did you receive any wedding gifts? Describe them.
- Did you on a honeymoon? Where did you go and for how long?
- Can you show me pictures and receipts from the honeymoon, wedding and reception?
- Have you or your spouse been married before?
- Why was that relationship ended?
- Who initiated the divorce?
- What were the reasons for the divorce?
- What was the date the marriage was dissolved?
- Why did you marry your spouse?
- Since your marriage have you seen your spouse? If not, why not?
- Tell me why this marriage or relationship is genuine.
- Why were you so rushed to be married? How do you explain that?
Family members
- Do you have any children form a previous relationship? If so what is their relationship like with your spouse?
- What are their names and date of birth?
- Who has Custody of these children?
- Do you have visitation rights/spend time with them at your home or there’s?
- How often do you see your children?
- Does your current spouse have any children from a previous relationship? If yes
- What are their names and date of birth?
- Who has Custody of these children?
- Does your spouse have visitation rights/spend time with them?
- How often does your spouse see their children?
- Do you have any children from your current marriage?
- How many children?
- What are the names and birth dates?
- Where are the children now?
- Who looks after the children?
- How many brothers and sisters does your spouse have?
- What relatives does your spouse have in Canada?
- What relatives do you have in Canada?
- What are their names and where do they live?
- What relatives does your spouse have outside of Canada?
- What relatives do you have outside of Canada?
- Has your spouse met any of your relatives or friends? Who have they met and when did they meet them?
- Have you met any of your spouse’s relatives or friends? Whom have you met and when did you meet them?
Miscellaneous
- Did you get married to get to Canada?
- Did your spouse pay you to go to Canada?
- Did anyone pay you to go to Canada?
- Did you pay your spouse to sponsor you?
- If yes, How much?
Cultural practices which may be challenging in sponsorship applications/interviews, such as:
In Denmark, pro forma marriage is prohibited. This means that the marriage must not be entered into if there is reason to suspect that the purpose of the marriage is to obtain the right of residence in Denmark, an EU country, in Switzerland or in another country covered by the European Economic Area. Because of the prohibition against pro forma marriage, we will inquire about your personal relationship, e.g. how long you have known each other, where you met each other, whether you have children together, whether you live or have previously lived together etc.
What kind of documents are frequently requested?
Checklist
- Document Checklist – Spouse (including dependent children of spouse) [IMM 5533] (PDF, 3.7 MB)
- Use your checklist to make sure you include all the forms and documents you need.
- Place the checklist on top, as a cover page for your application package
Sponsorship Application Forms for Danish Applicants
Forms for the sponsor to fill out
- Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344) (PDF, 588.96 KB)
- Sponsorship Evaluation and Relationship Questionnaire (IMM 5532) (PDF, 2.21 MB)
- Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] (PDF, 648.31 KB)
For the person being sponsored (principal applicant):
- Generic Application Form for Canada [IMM 0008] (PDF, 652 KB)
- Additional Dependants/Declaration [IMM 0008DEP] (PDF, 433.80 KB)
- Additional Family Information [IMM 5406] (PDF, 570.00 KB)
- Schedule A – Background/Declaration [eIMM 5669] (PDF, 597.99 KB)
Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] (PDF, 648.31 KB)
Longer processing times than the official government listing of 12 months?
Both inside and outside Canada, the estimated time for spousal sponsorship is 12 months. However, it is stated in most websites that processing time outside Canada is less than inside Canada.
Do people in this country engage in arranged marriages/matchmaking? Or are marriages usually love marriages?
In contrast with America’s male-oriented gender bias, Denmark’s high level of male-female equality fosters behavior that transcends the gender barriers set by less egalitarian societies. As a feminine culture, Danes have more flexible gender roles, which allows them to be more relaxed when considering romantic relationships. The absence of pressure to fulfill certain gender-based stereotypes fosters a liberal attitude toward sex, dating, and marriage.
Denmark also has a very high divorce rate, with nearly 45 percent of all marriages resulting in divorce. The lack of pressure to marry in combination with the social normalcy of divorce breeds healthy relationships, which could explain the Dane’s tendency toward public displays of affection.
Denmark is one of a growing number of countries that have passed laws criminalizing forced marriage. But, in spite of a 2008 amendment designed to strengthen Denmark’s forced marriage legislation by increasing the punishment from two to four years of prison, nobody has ever been convicted under the Danish law. According to PhD student Sabba Mirza, quoted in The Copenhagen Post:
All the organisations that are working in the field say that there is an increase in the number of [forced] marriages. So when there are no cases for the courts then it could indicate that the rules aren’t good enough.
Advocates have identified two key problems thwarting authorities’ efforts to intervene in forced marriage cases, shortcomings that could explain why the law isn’t having its intended effect. First, Denmark’s forced marriage law applies only to marriages that are formally recognized by the Danish government, whereas many forced marriages are conducted privately and never officially registered.
A second major flaw in the Danish law is that it focuses on preventing non-consensual marriages induced by physical force, whereas most forced marriages are the result of acute psychological coercion. “[T]he law should be widened so that it also includes psychological pressure,” says Mirza, “which in many cases can be far more oppressive than real violence.” Peter Skaarup of the Danish People’s Party (Dansk Folkeparti) agrees: “I think the situation would definitely change if we broadened the criteria for how we define ‘force’,” Skaarup told Politiken, “It may help create a mentality change in the parallel societies where this happens and we know through studies that social control is often forced through social and psychological pressure and not just violence.”
Frontline responders in other countries that, like Denmark, have criminalized forced marriage complain that criminal consequences have actually deterred victims from reporting their parents and loved ones to police. A spokesperson for Hemat Gryffe Women’s Aid, a Glasgow safe house for forced marriage victims, told The Scotsman:
We supported 14 women last year, most of whom are quite young, aged 16 to 21. They suddenly find papers saying they’re going to another country, or the wedding starts getting discussed among the family. However, you cannot criminalise the family because then the women will not come forward. They won’t want their parents or aunts or uncles put in jail. The purpose of the bill must be to impose civil order, to prevent the marriage going ahead.
And, a recent study by Dr Aisha Gill at Roehampton University concluded, “For many victims it is crucial that seeking help does not prevent future reconciliation with their families, especially their parents. In this regard, criminalisation may actively discourage many victims and potential victims from speaking out about the abuse/coercion they are facing.” Lord Lester, who introduced the UK’s civil Forced Marriage bill into Parliament, has consistently advocated for a strictly civil approach. The BBC Ethics Guide quotes him as saying that the criminal process “has not proved to be an effective way of tackling a major social problem.” However, Prime Minister David Cameron and some Members of Parliament continue to push for criminalization, arguing that criminalization would take the burden off of the victim and place it on the state.
Even victims are divided on the civil-versus-criminal debate. Forced-marriage survivor Jasvinder Sanghera, who supports criminalization, told The Observer that victims will only report violations if they are made to understand that they bear no blame. “Victims are saying we need the full protection of the law,” says Sanghera, “We’re trying to create a cultural responsibility here. It’s our duty to bring this above ground … This is an offence that is not to be tolerated, an offence that can – and does – end in violence, rape and murder.” Conversely, forced-marriage survivor, Sameem Ali, adamantly opposes criminalization, saying “No young person wants to turn their parents in and get them into trouble.”
GJI forced marriage initiative director Julia Alanen cautions that “Criminalizing forced marriage could inspire contempt and distrust among the very victims, families, and communities whose cooperation is most critical to ending this harmful practice. The United States and other countries that are only just beginning to develop a legislative response to forced marriage will do well to consider lessons learned in Denmark and other sovereign states with well-established forced-marriage protection regimes.”
Are documents issued in Denmark issued in any language other than English or French? If so, what language(s)?
The Danish international marriage certificate you receive after your wedding in Denmark is written in four languages – Danish, English, French and Spanish. It is valid worldwide but, in some countries, they do ask for it to be legalized with the Apostille. If you would like to use your marriage certificate for administration in foreign offices, this usually requires that the document is legalized for such use. Not all places require this, but it is advised that you check with the office you intend to use it at first, to know for sure.
Town halls around Denmark have different processing times, they also have different document requirements so the length of time it takes to gain confirmation that your documents have been accepted, once they are with the officials at the town hall, can vary.
Unique Sponsorship Application Requirements from Denmark
Denmark – Additional forms for residents
- There are no extra forms for Denmark.
Is a TRV required for a person from Denmark to enter Canada for In-Canada sponsorship?
Danish citizens are not required to get a visa to enter Canada, which makes it easy for them to enter Canada as a visitor and apply for inland sponsorship.