If the marriage cannot be recognised in Norway, UDI will evaluate whether the conditions for a permit as a cohabitant are fulfilled or whether a permit can be issued for the purpose of marrying in Norway.

If UDI grants a residence permit following an application for family immigration, and your marriage is not recognised in Norway, UDI will register your civil status as unspecified.

Applications to the County Governor for the recognition of a marriage abroad

If the marriage cannot be recognised in Norway, it is possible to apply for recognition from the County Governor. The County Governor can recognise the marriage, provided there are strong grounds for doing so. More information is available on the County Governor’s page, Subsequent validation of a marriage (external website).

If you want to obtain a family-immigration permit following the rules for a spouse, you should apply for recognition from the County Governor before you apply for family immigration. If the County Governor has recognised your marriage, your marriage can also establish the basis for a family-immigration permit as a spouse.

Rules for the recognition of marriage abroad

The rules for recognising marriages entered into abroad are set out in the Marriage Act (external website), which was amended on 1 January 2025. Marriages entered into prior to 1 January 2025 will be covered by the rules in place before the Marriage Act was amended.

Marriages abroad entered into before 1 January 2025

• If you married each other before either of you came to Norway, you must both have been at least 16 years old at the time of the marriage.
• If one of you is Norwegian or was living in Norway when you married, you must both have been at least 18 years old and present during the ceremony, and neither of you can be married to another person at the same time.

Marriages abroad entered into after 1 January 2025

• If you married each other before either of you came to Norway, you must both have been at least 18 years old at the time of the marriage.
• If one of you is Norwegian or was living in Norway when you married, you must both have been at least 18 years old, you must both have been present during the ceremony, neither of you can be married to another person at the same time, and you cannot be cousins or more closely related than cousins. Marriages between cousins or between people more closely related than cousins are recognised where required in accordance with the EEA agreement.