A foreign divorce normally needs recognition by Statsforvalteren before you remarry in Norway. Registering your marital status as divorced with Skatteetaten is a separate task. There is a Nordic exception. Clarify which process you need before ordering documents.
Recognition or registration: which do you need?
Recognition determines whether the divorce can be relied on in Norway. Registration updates your information in Folkeregisteret, the National Population Register. Explain what you need the documents for.
Statsforvalteren, the central government’s representative in the county, handles applications to recognise foreign divorces. Skatteetaten, the Norwegian Tax Administration, maintains Folkeregisteret and checks the requirements before a new marriage.
| Situation | Where do you start? |
|---|---|
| You want to register that you are divorced | Check Skatteetaten’s document requirements for the country where you divorced. |
| You plan to remarry in Norway | Clarify recognition with Statsforvalteren, subject to the Nordic exception. |
| You are separated abroad and want to apply for divorce in Norway | First clarify recognition of the separation with Statsforvalteren. |
Skatteetaten explains that a foreign divorce can be registered through direct documentation or after recognition by Statsforvalteren. To have the divorce registered, you must be registered in Folkeregisteret with a fødselsnummer, a Norwegian national identity number. Updating your marital status alone is not everything you need for a new wedding.
SamfunnPrep has more explanations of Norwegian services and family life. This guide concerns a divorce already granted abroad.
Does the exception for Nordic divorces apply?
A Nordic exception may allow you to send documents directly to Skatteetaten. A divorce from a Nordic country is not enough on its own: citizenship and residence also matter.
Skatteetaten’s Population Register handbook describes a requirement that both parties be Nordic citizens. When proceedings begin, they must also have ties to at least two Nordic countries. The convention does not apply if either lives outside the Nordic region or is not a Nordic citizen.
If you have different citizenships or lived in different countries, ask the authorities to clarify the correct procedure. State the circumstances when the divorce proceedings began, not just where you live now. The rules and guidance in this article were checked on 2 November 2026.
Which documents show that the divorce is final?
You need documentation from the authority that granted the divorce. A judgment must be legally final, meaning that it can no longer be appealed through the ordinary procedure.
Statsforvalteren’s guidance describes a judgment or certificate from a public register. If the judgment does not show that it is final, you need separate confirmation. A divorce application does not prove that the divorce has actually been granted.
Gather every page of the decision before ordering a translation. Check that names and dates are legible and note any variations in the spelling of your name. Ask the recipient what is needed if a page or confirmation is missing.
The required document form depends on the recipient. Statsforvalteren accepts an original or a certified copy meeting its requirements. For direct registration, Skatteetaten requires original documents and does not accept electronic certificates.
Skatteetaten also asks for a covering letter stating who you are, what the case concerns and your return address. Documents are sent by post. Check the stated address before sending and keep your own copies for reference.
What do an apostille and legalisation confirm?
An apostille or legalisation confirms an official signature and the signatory’s capacity. It does not confirm that the contents are correct or that the divorce will automatically be recognised in Norway.
Skatteetaten’s explanation of apostilles and legalisation distinguishes two procedures. Apostilles are used between countries covered by the relevant Hague Convention. For foreign documents, obtain the stamp from the appropriate authority in the issuing country.
Where legalisation is required, the document normally passes through the issuing country’s foreign ministry and a Norwegian diplomatic or consular mission. Documents from Nordic authorities do not need an apostille.
Check the requirements for your particular country before paying for stamps. An apostille does not replace missing confirmation that a judgment is final. Nor does it resolve every documentation issue for countries where Norwegian authorities require further checks.
Must the documents be translated?
Translation requirements differ between Statsforvalteren and Skatteetaten. Ask the relevant recipient to confirm the language and document form before ordering.
Statsforvalteren’s guidance generally requires an authorised translation if the document is not in English or German. It also describes alternatives where a government-authorised translator is unavailable and does not require an apostille on the translation itself.
For direct registration, Skatteetaten specifies English or a Nordic language. A translation made in Norway must be done by a government-authorised translator. For a translation made abroad, Skatteetaten also requires an apostille or legalisation on the translation. The original must accompany it.
A useful question is: “I have a divorce document from this country, in this language. What translation will you accept in my case?” This clarifies the recipient’s requirements before you send anything.
How do you complete the application to Statsforvalteren?
Use the application form linked from Statsforvalteren’s current guidance. The application for recognition of a foreign divorce asks for more than your current address.
Have this information ready:
- your name, national identity number, current address and telephone number;
- your former spouse’s name;
- both addresses when you applied for divorce;
- your citizenships at the relevant time;
- the final divorce document and necessary attachments.
The same form is also used for a foreign separation or a judgment annulling a marriage. Annulment means that the marriage has been declared invalid. Describe the correct type of decision.
The form has a separate section on exemption from documenting the financial settlement, known as skifte. It applies to particular situations, not every applicant. Recognition of the divorce does not itself determine how your assets are divided.
If you live in Norway, send the application to Statsforvalteren for the area where you live or are staying. If you live abroad, the guidance names Statsforvalteren i Østfold, Buskerud, Oslo og Akershus as the recipient.
What should you check after sending it?
Read the reply from the authority handling the case and comply with any requests for further information. Do not plan on the assumption that submitting a form is the same as obtaining recognition.
Consider keeping a simple record of the sending date, attachments and case number. If you plan to remarry, clarify with Skatteetaten what remains before a prøvingsattest can be issued. This certificate shows that the conditions for entering into marriage have been checked.
If unsure whether a document is sufficient, refer to the letter you received. SamfunnPrep’s practical tools can help you navigate Norwegian services, while the authorities must clarify your individual case.
