The Swedish Parliament has passed a law prohibiting marriages between first cousins and certain other close relatives, effective from July 1, 2026. The legislation aims to prevent forced marriages and strengthen the protection of individual rights and personal freedom.
Under the new law, marriages covered by this prohibition that are entered into outside Sweden after the law takes effect will generally not be recognized as legally valid in Sweden.
However, marriages that were legally registered before the law came into force will remain valid and will not be affected by the new legislation.
Source: Swedish Parliament.
