Foreign nationals

If you are planning to get married or register a partnership in the UK and you are subject to immigration control whilst in the UK, you will need to follow new rules.
If you are a British citizen, a national of a country in the European Economic Area (EEA) or you have a certificate of entitlement giving you right of abode in the UK in your passport, you are not subject to immigration control. These new rules do not apply to you.

If you are coming to the UK from overseas to get married, you must have either a fiancé or fiancée or marriage visitor visa in your passport in order to give notice to marry to a Registrar. Read section 2 for more details.

If you are already in the UK, you will need to either have settled status in the UK, or apply to the Home Office for a certificate of approval before giving notice to marry to a Registrar. Read section 3 for more details.

Whether you are overseas or already in the UK, you will need to give notice of marriage to a Registrar at a designated Register Office. Read section 4 for more details.

Section 2 - I am overseas and want to get married in the UK

Section 3 - I am in the UK and want to get married here

Section 4 - Giving notice at a designated Register Office

Section 5 - Religious ceremonies

Section 6 - Registering a Civil Partnership

For more information about certificates of approval write to:

Immigration and Nationality Directorate
Lunar House
40 Wellesley Road
CROYDON
CR9 2BY
Telephone: 0870 606 7766 (General enquiries)
0870 241 0645 (Application forms)
Email: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
UK Border Agency website

For more information about visas write to:

UKvisas
LONDON
SW1A 2AH
Telephone: 00 44 (0)20 7008 8438 (General enquiries)
00 44 (0)20 7008 8308 (Application forms)
Email: www.ukvisas.gov.uk/enquiries
UK Visas website