Can I get married or register a civil partnership in the United Kingdom?
This page explains whether you can get married or register a civil partnership in the United Kingdom.
If you and your future husband, wife or civil partner are both in the United Kingdom but at least one of you is subject to immigration control, you will need to get a certificate of approval before you can get married or register a civil partnership in this country (except in the case of some religious marriage ceremonies - see below).
If either of you is not already in the United Kingdom, you will need other documents before you can come here to get married or register your civil partnership. The documents you need will depend on whether you want to stay in the United Kingdom after your marriage or civil partnership.
You can find out more about certificates of approval and other documents on the What documents do I need? page.
You and your partner will not need a certificate of approval or other documents if each of you meets one of the following conditions:
- you are a British citizen; or
- you are a national of a country in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, or the family member of a national of the EEA who has the right of residence in the United Kingdom; or
- you have a certificate of entitlement in your passport giving you the right to live in the United Kingdom; or
- you are not subject to immigration control.
Religious ceremonies
The rules on certificates of approval do not currently apply if you plan to get married at an Anglican church in England or Wales, after marriage banns or with a religious licence. To find out more, you should contact a member of the clergy at the church where you plan to get married.
If you plan to marry in any other form of religious ceremony, you will need to contact the people who will be conducting the ceremony. The rules on certificates of approval do apply if you marry in any religious ceremony outside the Anglican church.