Iceland Marriage Laws

If you're dreaming of an epic, adventurous, and unique wedding day, Iceland is your wedding destination! Home to some of the most diverse landscapes in the world, Iceland is sure to have a ceremony location that meets your dreams and gives you the experience you're hoping for. From dreamy seaside cliffs to volcano summits, classic churches, and so much more, your Iceland wedding is sure to be an adventure!

Before you can immerse yourself in the wedding bliss, you have to deal with the not-so-fun parts of having a wedding, like legal requirements. That's where this guide comes in! You don't want to get all the way through your amazing elopement day and then realize it's not even legal. I've put together this short guide that walks you through the steps of getting married in Iceland and some tips to make the process go smoothly.

For more Iceland wedding planning help, check out our Ultimate Iceland Elopement Guide!

If you're traveling from a different country and don't want to worry about the legalities of getting married abroad, signing the paperwork at home is a great way to get it out of the way and make your Iceland elopement more stress-free! To do this all you have to do to is visit a local courthouse and sign the necessary paperwork there before heading to Iceland for your official elopement.

Getting legally married in Iceland as a foreigner can be a complicated process, so we generally recommend signing paperwork in your home country before flying to Iceland. Below is a breakdown of how to get married in Iceland legally.

How to get Legally Married in Iceland:

Iceland laws require all couples to be:

• 18 years or older
• Can not already be married to someone else
• Must have proof you are in Iceland legally (a boarding pass or passport stamp will work)

In order to get legally married in Iceland, both partners must submit a Certificate of Marital Status (in the U.S. these are referred to as single status affidavit) that proves both parties are “free to marry” and not currently wed. For US citizens, there is no federal authority that issues these certificates, so in order to obtain one you can contact your County Clerk's office and request a document that states you are currently not married. Not all states will provide these so check with your local authorities to see if it is possible, otherwise, you will be denied permission to marry once you get to Iceland. 

If you are able to receive the Certificate of Marital Status, you'll need to send a copy of that document to the National Registry Office in Reykjavik at least 4 weeks before your ceremony along with the other required documents. It is recommended to send these in earlier, just in case you are notified your paperwork is incomplete.

Required Documents to Get Legally Married in Iceland

• Both partner's valid passports
• Both partner's birth certificates
• Both partner's Certificate of Marital Status
• Marriage Notification (a copy of this document can be downloaded here)
• If divorced, you will need to bring your divorce papers
• If a widow or widower, you must provide official documentation stating the liabilities of the deceased have been finalized 

The National Registry Office only accepts the original copies of these documents, so once you arrive in Iceland you will need to bring the original of these to the Registry Office at least 5 days before your wedding date. At this time you can also receive your witness paperwork from the Registry Office which can be returned after your ceremony. A civil ceremony in Iceland costs about $80.

To get up-to-date information, you can contact gifting@syslumenn.is or visit https://www.syslumenn.is/thjonusta/fjolskyldumal/civil-marriage/