How To Marry and Sponsor Your Spouse from Sweden

If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, once you have married your Swedish 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 To Get Married in Sweden

Certified birth certificates,
passports,
Certificate of No Impediment
The Certificate of No Impediment (hindersprövning) may need to be posted for 21 days prior to your marriage. You also need to confirm your wedding date and location with a marriage officiant about a month prior to your marriage.
Proof that you are both single and free to marry via a single status affidavit.

Since most of the Consular Services are not providing this form any more in the country, then you should consult an attorney or the services of a notary (notarius publicus) in Sweden.

In Sweden, the proof of single status is apparently different from the Certificate of No Impediment, and both documents are required.

A copy of your country’s marriage license laws.

Ask your country’s appropriate office to give you a certified extract of the marriage laws in your city or home country for that matter. The regulations must be stamped, dated, signed, and certified by an authorized official. The Swedish tax authorities may ask for a translation of the regulations.

Death certificate and Divorce Decree

If your spouse died, you need to provide a certified, notarized copy of the death certificate. If you are divorced, you need to provide a certified, notarized copy of your final decree of divorce.

You have to be 18 years of age to get married in Sweden.

In Sweden you can be married either in a civil or a religious ceremony. You can have your civil ceremony at a local district court or city hall. Note that a marriage license in Sweden is valid for 4 months.

Documents required to get married in Sweden

In order to marry a citizen of Sweden, you must demonstrate to the Swedish government that you are eligible to do so. This includes:

Proof of country of birth
Proof of single status
Proof of age requirement

You do not have to be a resident of Sweden to get married there. Sweden requires that you provide certain documents in order to be allowed to get married in the country.

Costs

As in many other western countries, the average cost of a wedding in Sweden has increased over recent years as more and more couples opt for lavish ceremonies with open bars, extravagant dresses, and all the trimmings.

The hindersprövning is free, and in some cases it’s also free to have the wedding ceremony itself. It’s usually free to have a religious ceremony at a Swedish church if one or both partners is a member of the Church of Sweden. To find out about potential costs for other religious weddings, couples should contact the mosque, synagogue, or religious association which would be responsible.

Civil ceremonies are also usually free or subject to an administrative fee (which is often around 500 kronor or less), although the couple will usually be asked to pay travel expenses for the officiant if the ceremony takes place outside the city hall.

Steps to get married

A marriage ceremony in Sweden can take place either in a church or before a civil authority. The Marriage Code and other statutes involving spouses is gender-neutral.

Documentation

Before the ceremony you need to get a marriage license from the local Swedish Tax Office in the area where the wedding is taking place. It is essential to contact the Tax Office well in advance since you must visit in person. The procedure can take some time and you need to make sure that you have the correct documents. Your marriage licence is valid for four months from the date of issue

The Swedish Tax Office’s website

In order to apply for a marriage license British citizens living in the UK need to obtain a Certificate of No Impediment from their local Registry Office. Citizens from other countries need to provide documentation that they are free to marry according to the laws of their home country.

Swedish citizens registered as living abroad and getting married in Sweden must apply for their marriage license in Sweden. A Swedish citizen/other non UK citizen who has lived in the UK for a longer period of time might be asked by the Swedish Tax Office to produce an additional certificate of civil status, a No trace of Marriage. The certificate is issued by the General Register Office.

The General Register Office’s website

Marriage in a church

If the parties wish to get married in a church before a vicar, they should contact the vicar well in advance for information on what is required and to make the necessary arrangements. A marriage in a church belonging to the Church of Sweden is a legally valid ceremony.

The Church of Sweden’s website

Marriage before a civil authority

The Local County Administrative Boards appoint the civil marriage officiants. Swedish civil marriage officiants are appointed by the local County Administrative Boards.

In Stockholm, a marriage can take place at the Stockholm City Hall

Commonly observed local marriage customs in Sweden

The Swedish wedding day: Swedish weddings, or bröllop, typically take place in an afternoon ceremony. As a common Swedish custom, the couple usually walks down the aisle together. It’s quite rare that the father of the bride gives his daughter away, after all, that would be a very patriarchal gesture for this rather egalitarian society.

The bridal crown: This is an age-old tradition for Swedish brides, although not as common today and often substituted with a modern tiara or veil. However, traditionally the bride would wear a garland of myrtle leaves on her head (a symbol of innocence) often accompanied with the traditional Swedish wedding folk costume.

Simplistic wedding entourage: Swedes, in general, tend to have a very minimalistic approach to weddings. Rather than selecting a Maid of Honor with four or five bridesmaids and a Best Man with a couple of ushers, Swedes keep it simple. The Swedish bride and groom will normally have one bridesmaid and one best man. After the ceremony, the couple is greeted by their family and friends who kindly throw ‘uncooked’ rice on the couple.

An old Swedish wedding custom: Swedes have an adorable tradition where the bride, on her wedding day, carries coins in her shoes. ‘One silver coin in her left shoe from her father, and one gold coin in her right from her mother are used to ensure that she will never go without.

Swedish wedding rings: Traditionally a Swedish bride will wear three bands, one for her engagement, one for marriage, and one for motherhood.

The Swedish bridal bouquet: In Sweden the lucky bride gets to keep her bouquet – Swedish wedding customs don’t have a history of tossing it away!

Swedish wedding speeches: During the reception, the normally subdued Swedish persona is thrown out the door, as any guest that wishes to give a speech is allowed to at any time. Although this part is often planned (no one wants a drunken relative taking over), expect the speeches to stretch out over the whole dinner!

The kissing tradition: No, not just between the bride and groom, in fact as a guest you might just be lucky enough to plant a kiss on the bride or groom yourself! Tradition has it that if the groom leaves the room for any reason, then the other men at the wedding are allowed to kiss the bride! And vice versa! A unique Swedish tradition without a doubt.

Nowadays the bride and groom may also ring a bell. If it is the groom doing it, he will be announcing that it’s time for all men in the party to stand up and dash over to kiss the bride on the cheek or if it’s the bride who rang it, then all women in the party shall stand up and hurry to kiss the groom. This causes quite a commotion as 50% of the wedding guests suddenly get up and stream towards the groom or bride.

“Snapsvisor”: Traditional Swedish wedding folk songs of course! As is common practice in just about every Swedish celebration, the custom of drinking a snaps (vodka heavenly flavoured with things like anis/elderberry/cumin) and belting out silly songs is of course ever present at the Swedish wedding dinner. Don’t stress out if you don’t know the Swedish songs, each table will usually have a printout of the lyrics (or, if you’re lucky, a tipsy Swede who is happy to teach you). Plus, after a couple of shots of snaps you’ll be fluent. But if you’re really keen on learning the “Bröllopsfest” songs, then this link will help prepare you.

Common-law partnership in Sweden: The man or woman in an unregistered partnership is referred to as one’s “sambo” in Sweden or as an “avoliitto” in Finland. These terms do not have derogatory connotations. Love & Marriage: Scandinavian style: http://www.nordicreach.com/its_about/lifestyle/135/

Sponsoring Your Spouse From Sweden to Canada

Questions commonly asked at sponsorship interviews in Sweden

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?

Visiting Canada (if applicable)

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 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 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

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?
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:

The chance of divorce increases the larger the cultural difference between Sweden and the foreign spouses country of origin, based on the categories in the World Values Survey.

Sweden is an outlier in terms of values – both one of the most secular countries in the world, and one of the ones which most prizes “self expression”.

This means the culture gap is more likely to be significant when foreigners marry a Swede than it is if they marry someone from a country a place such as Italy, which sits more or less in the middle of the values chart.

https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/6760885

Sponsorship Application Forms for Swedish Applicants

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

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)

Processing time for sponsorship application from Sweden

Both inside and outside Canada, the estimated time for spousal sponsorship is 12 months.

Arranged/Forced Marriage in Sweden

The Swedish Agency for Youth and Civil Society’ survey shows that approximately 70,000 youths are at risk of being married to someone against their will. Involuntary arranged marriages: http://eng.mucf.se/involuntary-arranged-marriages

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

In general, the documents are given in Swedish Language. They need to be translated for a Canadian sponsorship application.

Unique Sponsorship Application Requirements from Sweden

Additional forms

Sweden – Additional forms for residents

There are no extra forms for this country.

Additional documents

Sweden – Instruction(s) for documents

There are currently no special instructions for documents for this country

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

If you want to bring your Swedish 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).