How To Marry and Sponsor Your Spouse from Norway

If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, once you have married your Norwegian fiance or you have lived together for one year as common-law partners, you can sponsor him or her for permanent residence in Canada.

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Requirements And Documents To Get Married in Norway

If you, as a Canadian citizen, are getting married to Norwegian citizen in Norway, you must submit documentation to the Norwegian Tax Administration.

It normally takes five to six weeks to process applications if everything is in order. Allow plenty of time in case there are any errors or omissions in the application and you have to obtain further documentation from abroad. Norway has turned their “Registered Partnership Act” legislation into full gender-neutral marriages as of January 2009 which has made same-sex marriage requirements the same as opposite-sex marriage requirements.

Intending to marry a Norwegian citizen if you are a:

permanent resident in Norway, or
who has refugee status and has been granted asylum in Norway,

you should follow the same procedure as when two Norwegian citizens marry.

If you do not have a permanent residence permit in Norway or haven’t been granted asylum in Norway, then you must present the following documentation to the Norwegian Tax Administration:

Personal declaration
Statement by the sponsor
Declaration concerning division – if you have been married before. If it’s less than two years since the divorce was granted, then your partner can apply to the county governor for exemption from division if the most recent joint address was not in Norway. You can download the application form from fylkesmannen.no. If it’s more than two years since the divorce, your partner can use the personal declaration in Part III.
In the case of people who are divorced according to foreign law, the divorce must be recognised by the County Governor. You can download the application form from fylkesmannen.no. The requirement for recognition won’t apply if the divorce was carried out in another Nordic country, as long as both spouses were resident and had the citizenship of a Nordic country at the time of the divorce.
Documentation of name and age, e.g. passport or birth certificate. The documentation must consist of original documents or copies certified by a Norwegian public authority. When using a passport as documentation, we ask that you submit a copy certified by the Norwegian public authority, and not an original passport. Please note that the norwegian Notarius publicus cannot not certify copies of foreign documents. The birth certificate must be legalised/endorsed with an apostille stamp.
If you have been living in Norway for less than 5 years, a certificate from the authorities in your home country is required. This certificate must confirm that you are free to marry in Norway. At Bufdir you will find more information on how to proceed in the different countries. The certificate must have been issued in the last four months. Translation may be necessary unless the certificate is written in English, Danish or Swedish. The certificate must be the original and must be legalised/endorsed with an apostille.
If the certificates are translated, submit both the original and the translation.
Citizens from countries outside the Nordic region must submit documentation showing that they are legally resident in Norway. The documentation must consist of original documents or copies certified by a Norwegian public authority.

Documentation from a country outside the Nordic region must be legalised or endorsed with an apostille by the authorities in the country in which it was issued.

Send the documentation to:

Tax Administration Norway
P.O. Box 9200 Grønland
NO–0134 OSLO

Steps to get married

A foreigner must be staying in Norway legally in order to get married in the country, for example if you are in Norway on a visa visit, you are a foreign national who does not require a visa or because you have a valid residence permit.

If you are planning to get married in Norway, you can apply for a residence permit to enter into marriage (fiancé permit).

The content of the marriage permit

The purpose of this permit is to enable a foreigner to get married in Norway. The permit is valid for six months. The foreigner must live with his/her fiancé in Norway during this period. If the foreigner failed to get married in the course of six months, he/she must leave Norway.

A foreigner can apply for a fiancé permit if the person he/she is going to marry is a Norwegian citizen or lives in Norway and holds a permanent residence permit (settlement permit) or a residence permit that forms the basis for a permanent residence permit.

Your children cannot apply for family reunification with you while you are in Norway on a fiancé permit, as this permit does not constitute grounds for family reunification.

Before you apply, you need to find out if you can apply while you are staying in Norway, or if you need to apply from your home country.

You also need to find out whether you must fill out the application form online, or if you need to hand in a paper form.

Where to apply a marriage permit from Norway

If a foreigner is outside Norway he/she can hand in his/her application at a Norwegian embassy or consulate. In some countries a person can hand in the application at the Swedish or Danish embassy instead.
If the foreigner is in Norway, he/she can apply from the country if he/she has held another type of permit for the past nine months. The foreigner can also apply from Norway if he/she has skilled worker qualifications.

The foreigner must register his/her application online if he/she apply from Norway or through a Norwegian embassy. A foreigner cannot register his/her application online if he/she hand in the application at a Swedish or Danish embassy.

Before you can get married in Norway, the population register (the Norwegian Tax Administration) will check whether the conditions for marriage are met and issue a certificate. If you as a foreign national are planning to get married in Norway, the population register will require you to provide documentation from your home country (certificate of non-impediment to marriage) that, among other things, proves you are unmarried. Contact the population register to find out what documentation from your home country is required for you to get married in Norway.

After you have married, you must apply for family immigration with your spouse to be able to stay in Norway. You must apply for family immigration prior to the expiry of your fiancé permit, and you can stay in Norway while your application is being processed.

You can travel into and out of Norway for as long as the fiancé permit is valid, and you can also work in the country.

Commonly observed Norwegian marriage customs

Norway is a very beautiful country of snow-capped mountains and beautiful long narrow lakes known as fjords. There are few places that are more beautiful to hold a wedding.

Norwegian weddings today look similar to those of the U.S. and other European countries. The typical bride wears a long white dress and her groom will have on a black tuxedo. Of course, there are still brides who wear their bundas! Weddings happen both in the church and in a civil ceremony at the city hall. The majority of weddings in Norway are much smaller in size compared to American weddings. The bride and groom will invite those family and friends that are closest to them. Children are generally not invited unless, of course, the children belong to the bride or groom.

Traditional dress also includes a “bunad” which is a folk costume accented with floral embroidery.

Dinner & Toasts
After the ceremony, a sit-down dinner will follow. The courses can be served to each guest or it may be a smørgåsbord or koldtbord (cold table) where guests can help themselves. Dinners usually last several hours because of the addition of toasts and songs to the bride and groom. This is a wonderful and personal part of the wedding day that is full of both tears and laughter. The toastmaster will introduce each person who wants to speak.

Following dinner, the wedding cake may be cut and the guests can help themselves to the variety of cakes and coffee and an after-dinner drink. In Norway, the bride and groom can ask friends and family to supply supplemental cakes for the cake table. Bløtkake (cream cake), Kransekake, almond cake, cheesecake, and chocolate cakes are among the many and delicious.

Cake

The dance will be next on the list with the bride and groom kicking it off. There will be another chance to eat again later once everyone has danced away dinner. The nattmat (night food) menu is much simpler and could consist of sausages, soup with bread, or sandwiches. This way the guests won’t go away hungry in the wee hours of morning.

The gift would traditionally be a Solje Crown Brooch, but today the choices could be any kind of jewellery, a watch, a trip, or something for their new home. Today it is also common for the bride to give a morgengave to her groom.

Then at the end, two small fir trees are planted on either side of the door to the couple’s home as a symbol of the children to come.

Sponsoring Your Spouse From Norway To Canada

Questions commonly asked at sponsorship interviews in Norway

Communications between sponsor and applicant

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 enter 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 from Norway

Not Applicable

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 Norwegian Applicants

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 from Norway is 12 months.

Marriage Statistics in Norway

The average age at marriage was 39.3 years old for men in Norway in 2019, and 36.1 years old for women.

Are documents issued in this country issued in any language other than English or French? If so, what language(s)?

Official documents from Norway are issued in the Norwegian language and will require translation to be used in a sponsorship application for Canada.

Unique Sponsorship Application Requirements from Norway

Additional forms? If so, what are they?

Norway – Additional forms for residents

There are no extra forms for this country.

Additional documents, If so, what are they?

Norway – Instruction(s) for documents

There are currently no special instructions for documents for this country

Is a TRV required for a person from this country to enter Canada if they wanted to do In-Canada sponsorship?

If you want to bring your Norwegian spouse or partner to live in Canada, you must then file a sponsorship application for them to become a permanent resident. If they would like to visit you in Canada while their application is in process, they must also apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).