What is a certificate of approval?
This page contains advice on certificates of approval for marriage (COA), following both the judgement of the High Court on 10 April 2006 and the Court of Appeal on 23 May 2007. If you plan to get married in the United Kingdom and think you may require a COA you should read the Important information regarding Certificate of Approval for marriage or civil partnership application (PDF 162K opens in a new window).
If you plan to get married or register your civil partnership in the United Kingdom and you are subject to immigration control while in the United Kingdom, you may need to apply for a certificate of approval.
The rules on certificate of approval do not apply to you if you:
- are a British citizen; or
- are a national of a country in the European Economic Area (EEA); or
- are the family member of an EEA national and have right of residence in the United Kingdom but are not yourself an EEA national; or
- have in your passport a certificate of entitlement giving you right of abode in the United Kingdom; or
- are not subject to immigration control.
If you are coming to the United Kingdom from overseas to get married or register your civil partnership, before you can give a registrar notice to marry or register your civil partnership you must have in your passport:
- fiancé(e) entry clearance; or
- proposed civil partner entry clearance; or
- marriage visitor entry clearance; or
- civil partnership visitor entry clearance.
If you are already in the United Kingdom, before giving a registrar notice to marry or register your civil partnership you will need to:
- have settled status in the United Kingdom; or
- obtain a certificate of approval .
Whether you are overseas or already in the United Kingdom, you will need to give a registrar at a designated register office notice to marry or register your civil partnership.
If you think you may need to apply for a certificate of approval, you should read the Important information regarding Certificate of Approval for marriage or civil partnership applications (PDF 162K opens in new window) before making your application.
If you are applying for a certificate of approval in the United Kingdom, you will need to complete the application form for a certificate. You can download the form and the related guidance from the right side of this page.
It is not possible to apply for a certificate of approval if you are outside the United Kingdom.
Application forms
Certificate of Approval for marriage or civil partnership in the United Kingdom
Terms explained
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British citizen
British citizens have the right to live in the United Kingdom permanently and are free to leave and re-enter the country at any time. British citizenship is given to people who have a close connection with the United Kingdom, which includes the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. A close connection may be by birth, adoption, descent, marriage, registration or naturalisation.
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European Economic Area
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Irish Republic, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are not members of the European Union (EU) but citizens of these countries have the same rights to enter, live in and work in the United Kingdom as EU citizens.
Policy & Law
Internet links
Contact
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Immigration enquiry bureau
0870 606 7766
UK Border Agency Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Road, Croydon, Surrey, CR9 2BY
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Visa services
Visa services, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, King Charles Street, London, SW1A 2AH. If you are outside the United Kingdom you should contact you nearest British diplomatic post.