Marriage

About marriage

According to Icelandic laws, spouses have equal rights and have equal obligations towards each other and their children. Each spouse is responsible for their assets and liabilities. Assets can be marital property or private.

The electronic application for an examination certificate is available for couples that are born in Iceland, with Icelandic ID number. The electronic application process collects all supporting documents and makes payment for both supporting documents and the issuing of survey certificates. Note that:

E-mail addresses and telephone numbers of applicants and two witnesses must be registered in the application process.
After the application process is completed, applicants and witnesses will be sent the application for electronic signature.
Applications shall not be processed until electronic signatures from both spouses and two persons have been received.
Published certificates of no impediment will be sent to applicants’ mailboxes on www.island.is. It is the responsibility of applicants to deliver the certificate to the officiant before the ceremony.
If the applicant does not have legal residence in Iceland, they need to submit a certificate of marital status from the country where the legal address is registered.

Information provided about the estimated date of marriage is not an appointment for a marriage ceremony. Applicants are required to contact the officiant directly to determine the place and time for the wedding ceremony.

Married couples are equally entitled to marriage and have equal obligations towards each other and their children. Each spouse is responsible for his or her assets and liabilities, but the assets of the spouse may be divided into matrimonial and separate property.

Examination of impediments (the issuance of a Certificate of no impediment to marriage)

Before two persons can enter into a marriage, an examination must be performed to see whether the conditions for marriage are met. The District Commissioner is responsible for the examination of marriage impediments.

The necessary documents must be submitted in advance, before the marriage takes place and the processing time may vary between offices. It is recommended to contact the relevant office to gather information on this.

Electronic application for an examination certificate

Request for examination of marriage conditions

If couples are unable to use the electronic application process, a case may be instituted by the District Commissioner by filling in the form available below and sending it, together with supporting documents to the e-mail address of gifting@syslumenn.is.

Couples will then receive instructions by e-mail about their next steps.

Payment information (if requested using form)

ISK 4,800 must be paid for the issuance of the examination certificate by transferring to the account of the District Commissioner of Westman Islands nr. 0582-26-2, ID no. 490169-7339. Please note that bank charges and service charges for foreign transfers are added to the fee for issuing an examination certificate.

The application form and all supporting documents must be submitted in original

A marriage report must be completed and submitted to the next District Commissioner.
A copy of the ID must be sent. There must be a certified photocopy of the passport in the case of a foreign citizen.

Marriage Notification

PDF

The marriage report must be certified by two persons answering that they guarantee that there is no obstacle to the marriage of the persons concerned. Respondents who sign the marriage report are not required to attend the marriage.

Attachment documents

The following attachments must be submitted with the marriage notification:

Birth certificate of both individuals
Certificate of marital status for both individuals
a copy of passport, driving licence or ID card

A certificate of marital status may not be more than 12 weeks old when it is submitted.

In addition, if the spouse has been married beforehand, the licence of the District Commissioner shall be submitted for divorce or judgment in this respect. If the previous marriage ended with the death of the spouse, documentation must be submitted confirming the end of the estate's settlement.

In case of a married couple being domiciled abroad, similar documentation shall be submitted by a foreign authority.

The above is available for married couples with Icelandic ID numbers and electronic documents to apply for their survey certificates by electronic means. The electronic application process collects all supporting documents and makes payment for both supporting documents and the issuing of survey certificates. Note that:

E-mail addresses and telephone numbers of married couples and two best-responders must be registered in the application process.
After the application process is completed, married couples and best men will be sent the application for electronic signature.
Applications shall not be processed until electronic signatures from both spouses and two persons have been received.
Therefore, it is important that marriage material and best-sellers follow e-mail.
Published survey certificates will be sent to married couples' mailboxes on Iceland.is. It is the responsibility of married persons to deliver to the dedicatee the survey certificate before the marriage.

Information provided on the scheduled date of ordination is not time records for marriage. Married couples shall apply directly to the ordination bodies to determine a place and time for marriage.

Conditions for entering into a marriage

The conditions for marriage are:

Neither of the marrying couple may be a descendant of the other nor siblings. The same applies to an adoptive parent and an adopted child unless the adoption has been revoked.
Both parties must have reached the age of 18.
Both parties must be legally competent.
A former marriage must be formally terminated by a divorce. Those who are separated cannot enter into a marriage.

Main matrimonial rights and responsibilities

The general rule is that married couples shall have their legal domicile in the same place.
Children born to married parents enjoy both of them at birth, and married couples have equal obligations towards each other and towards their children.
The general rule is that the assets and liabilities of the spouses are the matrimonial or mutual inheritance , which is divided into two halves if the marriage is terminated .
A spouse may not sell or mortgage certain property without the consent of the other spouse.
Certain property may be considered separate property of another spouse and shall not be exchanged at the end of the marriage. A private property unit may arise from the provisions of law or from the conclusion of the contracts known as a purchase contract.
Married couples are considered to be each other's legal heirs. The surviving spouse in a marriage may, subject to certain conditions, be married.

Supporting documents

Along with the Marriage Notification form, both parties must submit:

Birth certificate
Certificate of marital status

Identification documents must also be produced: passport, driving licence or ID card

A Certificate of marital status may not be older than 12 weeks when it is submitted.

If you are a foreign citizen or residing abroad, and your country does not issue a Certificate of marital status, you need to bring a certified confirmation from the relevant authority stating that. If this is the case then both persons will have to give a formal declaration about their marital status.

If either person has been married before, additional documents must be submitted, such as divorce papers. If the previous marriage ended with the passing of a spouse, documentation must be submitted, confirming the end of the estate's settlement.

If the couple meets the above mentioned requirements, a certificate of no impediments is issued and certified on the Marriage Notification form by the District Commissioner

Matrimonial rights and responsibilities according to Icelandic laws

The general rule is that married couples shall have their legal domicile in the same place.
Married couples have equal obligations towards each other and any children they may have together, in which case they share custody.
The general rule is that assets and liabilities are shared equally between the spouses and are divided equally if the marriage is terminated.
A spouse may not sell or mortgage certain properties without the consent of the other spouse.
Certain assets may be considered private property of one spouse and if so, will not be divided equally if the marriage is terminated. These assets are decided by law or by the conclusion of a contract known as a prenuptial agreement.
Married couples are considered to be each other's legal heirs. The surviving spouse may apply for a delay of the estates settlement if certain conditions are met.