Getting married abroad

Are you planning to get married outside Finland? The requirements for marriage vary from country to country. Before making arrangements, find out which documents you need, which rules apply to your wedding ceremony and how to have your marriage registered in Finland.

What do you need to do before the wedding?

If you are a Finnish citizen or live in Finland, you may need official documents from Finland to get married abroad. The requirements depend on the country where you plan to marry.

Before making arrangements:

• Check the local requirements. Contact the authorities responsible for marriages in the country where you plan to get married. Ask which documents you and your partner need and whether the documents must be translated or authenticated.
• Obtain the necessary certificates. You may need a certificate confirming that there are no legal impediments to your marriage, or a certificate confirming your right to marry abroad. In Finland, these certificates are issued by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV).
• Allow enough time. Obtaining documents, translations and any required authentication can take time. Check the requirements well in advance.

For official guidance, see the Finnish authorities’ information on getting married abroad and certificates from the Population Information System.

Can you have a church wedding abroad?

The possibilities for a church wedding depend on the country, the church and the applicable rules.

In some countries, a civil marriage must take place before a religious ceremony. In others, a religious ceremony may have legal recognition if certain conditions are met.

Some Finnish Evangelical Lutheran clergy serving Finnish communities abroad are authorised to officiate at marriages under Finnish law in specified countries. The arrangements and requirements vary by country.

If you wish to have a wedding ceremony conducted by a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, contact the relevant Finnish congregation abroad or your local parish in Finland well in advance. They can explain which options are available for your situation.

A Finnish embassy cannot officiate at a wedding. However, a Finnish embassy or consulate may be able to advise you on the official documents required for use abroad.

Registering your marriage in Finland

If you are a Finnish citizen and get married abroad, you must notify the Finnish authorities so that your marriage can be entered in the Finnish Population Information System.

You will generally need to submit your marriage certificate and any required authentication or translation. The requirements depend on the country where the marriage took place and the documents issued there.

You can submit the notification to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV). You may also be able to submit it through a Finnish mission abroad.

Check the current requirements and instructions on the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland’s website.

Planning a church wedding? Your local parish can also advise you on church-related arrangements and help you find out which options are available.