Copenhagen has become a popular destination for foreign couples seeking a civil marriage without bureaucratic hurdles. In 2024 alone, Copenhagen City Hall officiated approximately 8,000 wedding ceremonies, with 5,400 involving non-resident couples. This represents nearly double the number compared to five years ago, confirming a sharp rise in “marriage tourism” to Denmark.
While comparisons with Las Vegas have circulated in media reports, Danish officials and professionals reject the analogy. “You can’t just walk in slightly drunk and get married. There are procedures, applications, and checks,” says Rasmus Clarck Sørensen, director of the agency Getting Married in Denmark, which assisted over 2,600 couples last year.
Avoiding red tape in other countries
Couples often choose Denmark due to complex legal requirements in their countries of residence. In Germany, for example, one international couple, Giulia Raffaello from Italy and Shreyans Jain from India, faced a waiting period of 18 months to collect all required documents. Additionally, they struggled to obtain a marital status certificate from India.
“We were surprised it was still so complicated for an international couple to get married. Friends told us about Denmark, and the digital process convinced us,” said Raffaello. The couple valued the multilingual documentation offered by Danish authorities, which helped them register their marriage in three countries.
Similarly, Magdalena Kujawińska from Poland and her Colombian fiancé opted for Denmark after being unable to secure the necessary Colombian certificate within the three-month validity period. “In four days, we had the decision that the marriage could be done here,” she told AP.
A growing private sector
Denmark’s welcoming legal framework and high level of digitalisation have also given rise to a private wedding industry. Agencies like Getting Married in Denmark manage the entire process, including paperwork and scheduling ceremonies. A typical service package costs around €875 (approx. 6,500 DKK), covering documentation assistance and a municipal fee of over 2,000 DKK.
The process, while streamlined, is still subject to scrutiny. Couples must prove the authenticity of their relationship by providing joint travel records or photos. If doubts arise, they are invited to an in-person interview at the marriage office.
Cultural and legal factors
In many countries, marriage still plays a key legal role in defining parental rights. According to Sørensen, several couples rush to marry before childbirth, as fathers might not be listed on birth certificates unless legally married.
Denmark, by contrast, offers more flexibility. Couples can marry with just a valid passport and, if necessary, a tourist visa. The combination of legal simplicity, efficient administration, and international recognition of Danish marriage certificates continues to draw couples from around the world.
