How to Get Married in Iceland

My husband and I often talk about renewing our vows every 5-10 years, and doing it in a special place. One of the spots that of course always comes up, is Iceland. Then I saw these gorgeous photos from a small wedding in Iceland and realized it was not only a great place for us to renew our vows, but it was also a wonderful place for other couples to hold a destination wedding. If you’re thinking about getting married in Iceland, here’s what you need to know.

Civil weddings in Iceland are handled by the District Commissioners (Sýslumenn). If you don’t live in Iceland, you fill out the Marriage Notification form and email it with your supporting documents to gifting@syslumenn.is; processing times vary, so send it well ahead of your date and follow the instructions they email back. The form must be signed by two witnesses who do not have to show up in person. The witnesses confirm that there is no obstacle to the marriage (for example, that neither of you is already married).

Each of you needs a birth certificate, a certificate of marital status that is no more than 12 weeks old when you submit it, and a copy of your passport (foreign citizens need a copy certified by a notary). If your country doesn’t issue a certificate of marital status, bring a certified confirmation from the relevant authority saying so. If you have been married before, you have to present your divorce papers, and if you are widowed, you’ll need documents confirming that. There’s a 6,700 ISK fee for the examination certificate as of 2026, and the form and supporting documents must be originals. Both partners must also be over 18 years old.

Note that the application requires two witnesses’ signatures. They do not have to be at the wedding itself. You can download the application form from the Ísland.is marriage page. The date you give on the form is not a booking, so you’ll need to arrange the time and place of the ceremony directly with whoever is marrying you.

In the capital area, the District Commissioner’s office is at Hlíðasmári 1 in Kópavogur (tel. +354 458 2000), and you can book a civil ceremony there through the Noona booking system. It’s a government office, which is not a terribly exciting setting. For this reason, most couples who want to have a more traditional wedding in Iceland choose to have the civil procedure done here and then have the wedding ceremony held after at another location.

If you want to get married at Hallgrimskirkja, at least one of you must belong to the National Church of Iceland, and you’ll need to arrange the legal paperwork with the District Commissioner first. Contact:
Hallgrímskirkja
Hallgrímstorg 1
101 Reykjavík, Iceland
e-mail: athafnir@hallgrimskirkja.is

Photo by Ben Hussman