Getting Married in Denmark: The Document Checklist AFL Actually Approves (2026)
AFL rejected your application?
40% of international couples get rejected on first submission. Usually for incomplete passport scans or missing apostilles.
Here's the checklist that gets AFL approval in one round.
(Based on 100+ couples I've photographed + my own application that got rejected because of passport photos.)
Get the AFL-Approved Checklist
I photographed my own wedding documents wrong.
Professional photographer. Shoots weddings for a living. And I still managed to mess up the passport photos for our AFL application.
My husband is Danish. I'm Chinese. We filled out the AFL form, paid DKK 2,100 (non-refundable), uploaded our documents.
And then we waited.
And waited.
AFL sent a letter: resubmit. The passport photo was incomplete — I'd only photographed the ID page. They need every single page, in color, including the blank ones.
Processing restarted from zero.
We waited two extra months.
That's when I created this checklist.
Get the AFL-Approved Document Checklist
Everything you need for a complete, correct AFL application—the first time.
- Complete document list (what you need + what you don't)
- Power of Attorney — if a third party is submitting on your behalf
- Declaration of Truth + Section 11b templates
- Bilingual (English/Chinese)
- Bonus: Document Photo Tips — the exact specs AFL expects, so your passport photos don't become a detour
Downloaded by 500+ international couples planning Denmark weddings.
What Documents You Actually Need
The AFL checklist breaks into three categories.
- Valid passport (every page, color)
- Birth certificate with apostille
- Proof of address
- AFL digital form
- Payment (DKK 2,100)
- Divorce decree with apostille
- Death certificate (if widowed)
- Single status certificate (removed 2019)
- Police clearance
AFL processing takes 5 working days. Wedding dates are booked out 3 months ahead.
If you're planning a wedding in the next 3 months, download this now. Delays from rejected applications can push your potential wedding dates 2+ months extra.
The Passport Photo Mistake (And How to Avoid It)
This is the one that cost us two months.
AFL requires a scan or photo of every single page of your passport. Not just the ID page. Not just the pages with stamps.
Every page. Including the blank ones.
The file must be:
In color (even if your passport pages are black and white)
Clear and readable
Without glare or shadows
Showing the full page, not cropped
One incomplete page = rejected application = processing restarts from zero.
Use your phone. Take the photo in natural light. Make sure every page is flat and in frame.
It doesn't need to be professionally scanned. It just needs to be complete.
How Long AFL Processing Takes
AFL states 5 work days after they receive a complete application.
In practice:
Complete application: 5 work days
Additional documents requested: add 1-2 months per round (sometimes even longer during peak season )
Summer (June-August): add 2-3 weeks for holiday schedules
The timeline starts when AFL confirms they received your complete application — not when you submit it.
Check your email. If you don't get an acknowledgment within 3-5 business days, follow up.
Common AFL Application Mistakes
From working with international couples and going through this myself:
Passport scans are incomplete. One missing page restarts the clock.
Birth certificates aren't apostilled. If your country is part of the Hague Convention, you need an apostille. If not, you need legalization from the Danish embassy. A standard certified copy isn't enough.
Previous marriage documents are missing. If either of you was married before, AFL needs proof that marriage ended — divorce decree or death certificate, apostilled.
The application form has typos. Your name must match your passport exactly. Middle names, hyphens, spacing — everything. One character off = rejected.
They don't follow up. If you haven't heard from AFL within 5 business days, email them. Sometimes applications sit in a queue because one small thing is unclear.
FAQ: AFL Application & Denmark Marriage
Do I need to be in Denmark to apply to AFL?
No. You can submit from anywhere. You only need to be in Denmark for the ceremony itself.
Can I get married in Denmark on a tourist visa?
Yes. Denmark doesn't require you to be a resident. Enter on a tourist visa (or visa-free if your nationality allows) and get married during your visit.
How much does it cost to get married in Denmark?
AFL application: DKK 2,100 (non-refundable). Civil ceremony: DKK 1,350 at Copenhagen City Hall, or varies by location. Apostille and translation costs depend on your home country.
Do I need a Danish address to apply?
No. Provide an address abroad. AFL will send correspondence to whatever address you list.
What if my documents aren't in English or Danish?
Documents in other languages must be translated by an authorized translator and apostilled or legalized.
How long is the AFL approval valid?
Your AFL approval (prøvelsesattest) is valid for 4 months from the date of issue. You must get married within that window.
Once Your Documents Are Approved
The AFL approval is the legal requirement.
But you still need to figure out what your wedding day looks like — timeline, photography, whether you're doing portraits after the ceremony or keeping it short.
I photograph Copenhagen City Hall weddings and coordinate the full day for international couples.
Ready to Book Your Copenhagen Wedding?
You've handled the documents. You know the timeline.
Now you need someone who can photograph your day and coordinate logistics so you're not managing vendors from abroad the week before your wedding.
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