Forced marriage means that a person is forced into marriage by means of unfair pressure, threats or other physical or mental violence. Coercing somebody into getting married against their own will is a violation of human rights as well as of Norwegian law.
Forced marriage is a criminal offence
In Norway it is prohibited to force anybody to get married. A forced marriage may therefore be made invalid and dissolved. The person who forces somebody into a marriage, or who contributes to do so, risks being fined or sentenced to prison for up to 6 years.
A forced marriage is illegal even though it has been entered into abroad. If a person residing in Norway has threatened anybody to contract marriage while they are on holiday in the country of origin, this, too, is a criminal offence.
Control of family immigration
It is the responsibility of the immigration authorities to prevent anybody from getting a residence permit in Norway through a forced marriage. An application for family immigration may thus be rejected if we suspect that the marriage has been contracted against the will of one of the parties, or if the spouse residing in Norway does not consent to the applicant being granted such a permit.
The Directorate of Immigration (UDI) has several ways of obtaining information about a possibly forced marriage, including interviewing the person with whom family immigration is applied for. If the person in Norway is under the age of 25, and the applicant is citizen of a country where he or she needs a visa to travel to Norway, the interview with the spouse in Norway IS as of 1st August 2009 compulsory. Based on the information we have, UDI may also assess whether it is likely that the marriage may have been contracted against the will of one of the parties.
Collaboration against forced marriage
Cases in which there is reason to believe the marriage has been contracted by force may lead to challenging considerations. The security of the person who has been married against his or her will is one of the challenges. Most of those who state that they have been subject to coercion, do not want, for instance, this information to be used in the wording of the decision since they fear sanctions from the family. Furthermore, it is up to the authorities to prove that the marriage has been contracted by force.
It is important to UDI to ensure the security of persons subject to forced marriage. We collaborate closely with other government services in the handling of such cases, among others through the Expert Team for the Prevention of Forced Marriage – an interdepartmental professional team consisting of representatives from UDI, the Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDi), the National Police Directorate (POD), and the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufdir). The expert team is a consultative body for front line services dealing with specific cases of forced marriage and honour based violence.
Advice on forced marriage
Do you need information, advice or guidance about forced marriage?
All public employees are obliged to help youth threatened with or at risk of forced marriage. To improve the efforts, the quality and the competence in this field, the work is coordinated through the Expert Team for the Prevention of Forced Marriage. The team will ensure good cooperation between public departments and non-governmental organisations that, in various ways, get in touch with persons who are at risk of forced marriage. The Expert Team may help you to find persons to talk to where you live. Send an e-mail (
kompetanseteamet@imdi.no) or call telephone number 478 09 050.
Several organisations may also assist:
- The Red Cross Hotline on forced marriage and genital mutilation provides advice and guidance on how to handle forced marriage or honour based violence. Telephone number 815 55 201.
- SEIF – Selvhjelp for flyktninger og innvandrere (Self help for refugees and immigrant) provide information and practical assistance for young people who fear forced marriage, or who have been married against their own will. Telephone number 22 03 48 30.
- The MiRA Resource Centre for immigrant and refugee women offers emergency assistance and guidance for girls and women who fear forced marriage, or who have been married against their own will. Telephone number 22 11 69 20.
- The HANA Centre against Forced Marriage is operated by the Iraqi Kurdish Organisation for Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Norway (IKAF). The Centre provides assistance and guidance to persons who feel at risk of, or who are being threatened with being married against their will. Telephone 24 14 99 09 or 993 89 114.
- You may also contact the local child welfare services or the police. The Child Welfare Emergency Unit in Oslo has a 24-hour hotline, 22 70 55 80. The telephone number to contact the police is 02800. If necessary, you may call the police emergency number 112.
