Getting Married In Iceland As A Foreigner. The Ultimate Guide 2025

Everything you need to know about getting married in Iceland

Hello, friends! Daria here.

Today I’d like to tell you all about getting married in Iceland. I know it may seem daunting for anyone coming here from abroad, and there are a few myths and misconceptions floating around, but let me reassure you right away – it’s not as scary as you may imagine. And if you want to skip the legalities altogether, please read on, as there will be some information on the symbolic marriage ceremony as well.

I’ll walk you though all the possible ways you can get married in Iceland and lay out the step-by-step guide on what you need to do + how to make sure you and your partner have a smooth and stress-free experience. Sounds good? Let’s go!

Who can get married in Iceland

Short answer? Anyone! Seriously, how cool is that? There are no residency requirements for getting legally married here, and Iceland is incredibly LGBTQ+ friendly – everyone is welcome. As long as you submit the required paperwork in time, you can tie the knot without any trouble. And you are not restricted to courthouses or churches, in fact a lot of ceremonies happen outside. Trust me when I say this: there is no shortage in stunning locations to say “I do” on this enchanting island.

An important thing to note here, for a wedding to be legally binding in Iceland, it must be officiated by an authorized celebrant. While in some countries like the US, friends or photographers can become ordained to perform weddings, that is not the case in Iceland. Only registered religious leaders, humanist or pagan celebrants, and district commissioners can legally marry couples here. If you’re dreaming of a legal wedding, make sure you have the right officiant in place!

Legal wedding ceremonies in Iceland

Church Wedding (Religious Ceremony)

For couples who want a religious ceremony, Iceland offers a variety of options beyond just Lutheran services. While the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland is the national church and the most common choice, there are also Catholic, Orthodox, and other Christian denominations available. Additionally, some churches and religious groups may accommodate interfaith or mixed-belief couples.

Officiant: a priest or pastor from a recognized religious organization
Location Flexibility: while most church weddings occur in traditional Icelandic churches, outdoor ceremonies have gained popularity and can be held where a suitable location is found
Atmosphere: from grand historic churches to small, turf-roofed chapels in the countryside, there’s a range of beautiful venues for religious ceremonies to choose from
Good to know: additional fees for the private usage of the church may occur

Secular Wedding (Non-Religious Ceremony)

For those who prefer a non-religious yet meaningful ceremony, Siðmennt, the Humanist Association of Iceland, offers beautiful, personalized weddings. These ceremonies focus on love, values, and the couple’s unique journey without adding any religious connotation to it. You’ll want to find a celebrant located in the region you plan to elope in. Each officiant has their unique style and approach, and they will happily add any of your personal touches or preferences to your ceremony. For example, hand-fasting has become a very common thing to include in recent years.

Officiant: a certified humanist celebrant
Cost: the price for the service is 90.000 ISK | 660 USD
Location Flexibility: can be held anywhere (just make sure your chosen officiant is willing to travel / hike)
Good to know: some picturesque spots are located on private land, and you might need to ask for permission + pay a small fee to use them (this concerns especially larger wedding groups)

Ásatrú Wedding (Norse Pagan Ceremony)

Looking for something ancient and deeply connected to Icelandic heritage? The Ásatrú Fellowship offers traditional Norse pagan ceremonies, involving chants in Old Norse, blessings from the gods, drinking from a ceremonial horn and other beautiful rituals (and no, you don’t have to be a pagan to qualify!)
We absolutely love Ásatrú ceremonies and can’t recommend them enough to couples who want to bind the celebration of their commitment to Iceland’s local traditions.

Officiant: a goði (pagan priest)
Cost: the price for the service is 90.000 ISK | 660 USD
Location Flexibility: can be held anywhere (as long as your priest is willing to travel / hike)
Good to know: there are only two goði (pagan priests) conducting these ceremonies in English, so make sure to get in touch and secure your date rather sooner than later

Courthouse Wedding (Civil Ceremony)

If you want to keep it really simple, you can have a quick and fully legal ceremony at the District Commissioner’s office. It costs 11,000 ISK | 82 USD, and the fee applies to ceremonies conducted during office hours. I will be honest, we haven’t had the chance to document a courthouse ceremony yet – probably, because it feels a tad uninspired in comparison to all other options at couples’ disposal. However, if you aim for something fast and easy, with no frills (and inside!), this could be a good choice.

Symbolic wedding ceremonies in Iceland

If jumping through the legal Icelandic hoops seems too complicated, or you intend to get legally married at home, a symbolic ceremony will allow you to avoid the potential stress and plan for whatever you and your partner desire. You can involve a friend or an officiant from your home country, or go for an intimate vows exchange, just the two of you. And in case you’re wondering, both Humanist and Pagan Icelandic officiants are available for the symbolic ceremony as well.
As a bonus, choosing a legal marriage at home and a symbolic one in Iceland can “soften the blow” towards family and loved ones and make them feel included in your celebration.

Officiant: anyone you want – or skip it altogether
Cost: free of charge
Location Flexibility: can be held anywhere outside – in front of a waterfall, on a black sand beach, on top of a mountain – you name it!
Good to know: if your chosen location is on private land, it’s always a good idea to ask for permission – and in some rare cases you may need to pay a small fee

How to Get Legally Married in Iceland (The Process Explained)

So, instead of copy-pasting whatever floats on the world wide web (spoiler alert, it’s not always correct), I decided to go straight to the source, and talked to one of the local officiants that we work with on a regular basis. Here is what he had to say.

Apply through Sýslumaður, the District Commissioner’s office – regardless of what kind of ceremony you’re going with. Since the paperwork varies by country, you’ll need to check directly with them to find out exactly what documents are required for your nationality.
In most cases it will be your birth certificates, certificate of marital status (a document confirming that neither of you are currently married), divorce/death certificate (if applicable) and valid passports for both partners (important: if you are a citizen of a country outside the EEA/EFTA, you may have to apply for a visa. You can quickly double-check this here). Make sure you have enough time – at least 4 weeks before your date.
Receive a Könnunarvottorð – after your documents are submitted and processed, you will get a legal permit to get married in Iceland. The officiant takes over the paperwork at that point.
Get married and have the best time while you’re at it, no matter which ceremony you’ve chosen!
After the ceremony your officiant will submit the paperwork to Þjóðskrá (Iceland’s National Registry). You cannot do this yourselves. At this point your marriage is legal (yay!)
Receive Your Marriage Certificate – it takes 2–3 weeks, and the certificate will be sent to your home address, so there’s no need to stay in Iceland for it.

Final thoughts

As you can see, having a knowledgeable officiant is the key to making the legal marriage process smooth and stress-free. And since you need one to legally marry in Iceland anyway, it’s a win-win! If you’re not fully convinced, here’s some reassurance – over the years, we’ve documented beautiful ceremonies for couples from the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, and Europe, and not once have we heard of major issues with paperwork. With the right guidance, it’s all completely doable.

Or, in case legal marriage is not for you, there are plenty of beautiful options for a meaningful symbolic ceremony in Iceland.
Most importantly, whichever way you decide to get married, choose the one that feels right for you.

Thank you for reading and until next time!