What documents do I need to get married or enter a civil partnership in the United Kingdom?
This page explains which documents a person who is subject to immigration control (and who is not a European Economic Area (EEA) national or a Swiss national) needs in order to be able to come to the United Kingdom for marriage.
Applying from overseas
If you are currently outside the United Kingdom and are coming to the United Kingdom to get married or enter a civil partnership, the documents you require will depend on how long you intend to stay in the United Kingdom.
- If you are coming to the United Kingdom as a visitor for marriage or civil partnership you must get entry clearance (permission to enter) for a visit for marriage or a visit for civil partnership.
- If you are planning to travel to the United Kingdom to get married or register a civil partnership with someone already settled here and you plan to stay in the country afterwards, you will need entry clearance (permission to enter) as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner.
If you are applying for entry clearance as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner, both people involved must be aged 21 or over.
Before travelling you should apply for your entry clearance at a British diplomatic post (which issues the type of entry clearance you need) in the country where you normally live.
You will need to show evidence that you plan to enter into a marriage or civil partnership during the period for which you have been granted permission to stay (this will normally be six months).
The current fees for entry clearance as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner and as a marriage or civil partnership visitor are set out on the visa fees page of the visa services website.
The visa services website also contains further information about these types of entry clearance.
Applying in the United Kingdom
If you are already in the United Kingdom and do not have settled status (permission to live here permanently) you will need to apply to the Home Office for a certificate of approval before giving notice to a registrar to marry or register your civil partnership.
The certificate of approval requirement does not currently apply to marriages in the Anglican church in England and Wales.
Terms explained
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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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Visa services
Visa services, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH. If you are outside the United Kingdom, you should contact your nearest British diplomatic post.