Getting Married in Finland

[Bexcapova]

I am Irish, and marrying a Finn in April 2016. I need to have my Freedom To Marry Certificate witnessed, and, according to the Irish Embassy's home page, this should be possible at the embassy: a witness can be "a diplomatic or consular officer of Ireland". https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/finlan ... rtnership/ However, when I called the embassy I was not given any clear answers, it seems they do not know.... Has anyone had this experience before? Help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! Rebecca

[betelgeuse]

I am Irish, and marrying a Finn in April 2016. I need to have my Freedom To Marry Certificate witnessed, and, according to the Irish Embassy's home page, this should be possible at the embassy: a witness can be "a diplomatic or consular officer of Ireland". https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/finlan ... rtnership/ However, when I called the embassy I was not given any clear answers, it seems they do not know.... Has anyone had this experience before? Help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! Rebecca

The certificate is valid for four months in Finland. You can also do it in Ireland if you are coming to Finland only close to the date. However, the embassy process seems relatively straightforward.

http://www.maistraatti.fi/fi/Palvelut/v ... 20tutkinta

[Bexcapova]

Thanks! I live in Finland permanently. It still is not clear to me: a) can I have the todistus laillistettu at the Irish Embassy in Helsinki (or MUST I go to a notaari) and b) do I need my official documents translated into Finnish (this is very unclear, sometimes I have read that I need the documents translated into Finnish or Swedish, other times I have read that they must be translated into Finnish, Swedish or English.... I would expect that they know at the Embassy, but they do not know, so I do not know whom to ask!

[betelgeuse]

Thanks! I live in Finland permanently. It still is not clear to me: a) can I have the todistus laillistettu at the Irish Embassy in Helsinki (or MUST I go to a notaari) and b) do I need my official documents translated into Finnish (this is very unclear, sometimes I have read that I need the documents translated into Finnish or Swedish, other times I have read that they must be translated into Finnish, Swedish or English.... I would expect that they know at the Embassy, but they do not know, so I do not know whom to ask!

As a Finnish resident, Finnish officials can issue you the certificate.

http://www.suomi.fi/suomifi/suomi/asioi ... _44_fi_sv/

If your marital status is properly documented in the population register, nothing is needed from the Irish officials. Otherwise they should be able to assist you with what kind of documents are needed from the embassy. English documents do not need to be translated.

http://www.maistraatti.fi/fi/Palvelut/o ... svelvoite/

"Ulkomaisen asiakirjan täytyy olla alkuperäinen tai virallisesti oikeaksi todistettu jäljennös, ja se tulee käännättää joko suomeksi, ruotsiksi tai englanniksi."

Because Ireland is part of the Hague convention, the documents must have apostille.

https://www.hcch.net/en/states/authorit ... 3/?aid=325

[Bexcapova]

thanks so much for your help. Do ALL the documents need an apostille? (I have the original of all documents here already)

Rebecca

[betelgeuse]

thanks so much for your help. Do ALL the documents need an apostille? (I have the original of all documents here already)

Define all the documents. The default is that all foreign documents need it (or grand legalisation for countries not part of the convention).