Copenhagen has been accumulating an excessive amount of funds from wedding ceremonies over a prolonged period.
Copenhagen Municipality to Refund Overcharged Couples in Marriage Ceremony Fees
In a series of events that have come to light, it has been revealed that Copenhagen Municipality in Denmark has been overcharging couples for civil marriage ceremonies since 2018. The error, which went undetected for several years, has resulted in thousands of couples being charged more than the legally permitted amount.
According to the latest updates, approximately 12,000 couples, many of whom are believed to be from Germany, have been overcharged 1,500 Danish Kroner (around 200 Euros) each. Of the 8,000 civil marriages recorded last year by the municipality, 5,000 involved foreigners.
The illegal practice was stopped in the spring of 2025, and the culture department of Copenhagen municipality has confirmed the error. Culture Mayor Mia Nyegaard expressed her regret for the error in a statement, stating that the municipality is actively contacting those who overpaid and arranging refunds. Many couples have already received compensation, and the process is ongoing to ensure all affected parties are reimbursed.
The overcharging arose because the municipality applied incorrect fee rates for these services. Foreign nationals who want to get married in Germany must present an affidavit of marriageability. However, if the home country does not issue an affidavit of marriageability, one must be exempted from this obligation in Germany. Exemption from this requirement in Copenhagen requires several current documents.
Denmark is popular for its relatively liberal regulations on marriages, especially for couples with unusual circumstances in other countries, such as one partner not having a permanent residence permit or not meeting high German authorities' requirements. Copenhagen, much like Las Vegas in the US, has become a popular destination for couples to get married.
The responsible committee is currently deciding how to proceed, as the refunds pose a financial challenge. Germany recognises marriages from Denmark, so the overcharging does not affect the validity of the marriages. However, the municipality now has to refund around 23 million Danish Kroner (around three million Euros) to the affected couples.
The situation highlights the importance of transparency and accuracy in administrative processes, and the municipality is working diligently to rectify the error and ensure that all affected couples are reimbursed.
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