Am I allowed to get married in Norway?
Yes — from age 18, and there is no exception or exemption from the age limit. Before the wedding you must obtain a certificate of no impediment from the Tax Administration, confirming that the conditions are met. The certificate is valid for four months, and this is where people slip: apply too early and it expires before the ceremony, apply too late and you will not have it in time. The ceremony must be conducted by an authorised officiant — a judge, a notary, or a registered religious or belief officiant. Both of you must be unmarried and marry voluntarily. Same-sex marriage has been legal since 1 January 2009. Without a valid certificate the marriage is not registered — and then you are not married.
📋 The rules
- Age limit 18, no exceptions
- You must have a certificate of no impediment from the Tax Administration (valid 4 months)
- The ceremony must be by an authorised officiant
- Both must be unmarried and marry voluntarily
- Same-sex marriage legal since 2009
🔓 Exceptions
- Foreign citizens must provide extra documentation
- Approved religious and belief communities can conduct a legally binding ceremony
- A marriage abroad can be recognised if the conditions are met
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Forced marriage is punishable under Penal Code §253 with up to 6 years prison, and marriage under 18 is punishable whatever the parties themselves say. The consequence most people should note, though, is an entirely undramatic one: a marriage entered without a valid certificate of no impediment is not registered, and then it is not valid either. The ceremony can have taken place with rings, guests and an officiant, without you being married in the eyes of the law. If the certificate has run past its four months, you must apply again and do the ceremony over.
📎 Official sources
- Tax Administration · Marriage →
- Marriage Act · Lovdata →
- Tax Administration · Certificate of no impediment →
❓ Frequently asked
How old must I be to marry?
18. There is no exception or exemption from the age limit, as some other countries have. Marriage under 18 is punishable, also when both parties say they want it, and parental consent changes nothing.
What is a certificate of no impediment?
A certificate from the Tax Administration confirming that you meet the conditions for marrying. It is valid for four months, so the ceremony must happen within that window — if it expires, you must apply for a new one.
Who can marry us?
An authorised officiant: a judge, a notary, or a registered religious or belief officiant. Approved religious and belief communities can therefore conduct a ceremony that is legally binding, not merely ceremonial.
Is same-sex marriage legal?
Yes, since 1 January 2009. The Marriage Act is gender-neutral, and exactly the same conditions apply: age 18, a certificate of no impediment from the Tax Administration and a ceremony conducted by an authorised officiant.
What is the penalty for forced marriage?
Up to 6 years prison under Penal Code §253. The requirement that both marry voluntarily is therefore not a formality, but a condition for the marriage being valid at all.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “am I allowed to marry norway”
- “marriage age limit 18 norway”
- “certificate no impediment tax administration”
- “authorised officiant norway”
- “same-sex marriage norway”
- “forced marriage penalty”