Getting Married in Germany: Where to Marry and What Changes

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Where you marry decides how much paperwork comes first. What changes afterwards is the same for every couple living in Germany: registration, tax class, health insurance, name and, for a partner from outside the EU, the residence permit.

Where to marry: Germany, Denmark or abroad

• At a German registry office (Standesamt): the usual route for couples who both have their papers in order. A partner who marries under foreign law brings a certificate of no impediment from their home country — or an exemption from the Higher Regional Court when that country does not issue one.
• In Denmark: the popular shortcut for couples living in Germany. Fewer documents and a fast decision, but town hall dates are scarce, and for a partner on a Schengen visa it can make the spouse permit slower. Getting married in Denmark from Germany.
• Anywhere else — Las Vegas, a beach in Greece, your partner’s home country: the marriage counts in Germany if the local rules were followed and both of you were free to marry. Married abroad: is your marriage valid in Germany?

After the wedding: what changes

• Registration and tax class: after a wedding abroad, German records don’t update themselves — show the certificate to the registration office and the tax office. How the classes compare: tax classes in Germany and the income tax calculator.
• Health insurance: a partner with little or no income can often be insured free of charge with the other in public health insurance — family health insurance.
• Residence permit: the marriage is the basis of the spouse visa or permit for a partner from outside the EU — spouse visa for Germany.
• Money: a joint bank account for rent and shared bills, and one liability insurance policy for both of you.

Marriage guides

• Getting married in Denmark from Germany: who decides, the fee, documents, town halls and what happens back home.
• Married abroad: when a foreign marriage counts in Germany, which certificate the authorities accept, and how to update tax class, name and residence permit.

More everyday topics, from Pfand to the radio tax, are on living in Germany.