Sweden’s parliament has approved a new law banning marriages between cousins and other close relatives, with the measure set to take effect on July 1, 2026.
The reform, passed by the Swedish Riksdag on Tuesday, will also mean that such marriages conducted abroad will generally no longer be recognised in Sweden.
The legislation was introduced by the government following an investigation into consanguineous marriages and their links to forced marriage, family pressure, and so-called “honour”-related violence. The initiative was backed by the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats party.
Sweden BANS cousin marriage! 🇸🇪
The Riksdag just passed the Sweden Democrats’ proposal: cousin and close-relative marriages are now ILLEGAL.
No more genetic risks. No more parallel norms. Swedish values apply to EVERYONE.
Common sense victory! 💪 https://t.co/jU3W8tU1yI
— Charlie Weimers MEP 🇸🇪 (@weimers) May 26, 2026
Under the new rules, Sweden will prohibit marriages between cousins as well as certain other close family relationships, including some involving relatives by marriage and adoption arrangements that lawmakers said had created legal loopholes.
The Swedish government said the reform was primarily aimed at protecting individual freedom and preventing coercion within tightly controlled family structures, particularly among young women.
Although medical concerns surrounding hereditary genetic disorders linked to cousin marriage were part of the wider public debate, Swedish authorities focused their official case on social and legal arguments rather than health risks.
The issue has become increasingly prominent in Sweden amid wider debates over immigration, integration, parallel social structures, and honour-based violence.
Sweden joins a small but growing number of European countries tightening restrictions on cousin marriage. Norway has already introduced a similar ban, while the issue remains under debate in the United Kingdom. In many other European countries, including France, Spain, and Belgium, cousin marriage remains legal.
During the legislative process, Swedish officials also debated whether marriages legally conducted abroad should continue to be recognised domestically. The government ultimately adopted a compromise approach, applying the new restrictions to future cases without affecting existing marriages.