If you’re planning to visit the UK to get married or enter into a civil partnership, you will need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa.
On arrival in the UK, a visitor coming to marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of this, must have a valid visa endorsed for this purpose, with the name of your fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner.
The Marriage Visitor visa caters specifically for individuals who wish to get married or register a civil partnership in the UK with a person who is not settled in the UK, i.e. they do not hold indefinite leave to remain and are not a British citizen.
It is not possible to get married if you have entered the UK on a standard visitor visa.
Do you need a Marriage Visitor visa?
A Marriage Visitor Visa is needed if you are a foreign national wanting to travel to the UK to get married or register a civil partnership, or to give notice of your intention to do so, and you intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit.
You will not need a Marriage Visitor Visa to get married in the UK if any one of the following applies:
- you have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
- you have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme but the decision is pending
- you are an Irish citizen
The Marriage Visitor Visa is not suitable for individuals who plan to stay or settle in the UK after they are married or have registered a civil partnership. It is also not available to individuals who qualify for British citizenship.
What does a Marriage Visitor Visa allow you to do?
Under the Marriage Visitor Visa, you are permitted to marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of arriving. The ceremony must take place at a licensed venue. You can also travel through the UK in transit to another country.
A Marriage Visitor Visa will only be issued for a maximum of six months. During that time, you will be expected to marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK and then return to your home country or country of residence. However, entry clearance officers have the discretion to issue a multiple entry visa, valid for up to one year, in cases where there will be a delay between giving notice and the marriage or civil partnership taking place.
With a Marriage Visitor Visa, you must not intend to live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or undertake any activities prohibited under the visa, such as work or study.
A Marriage Visitor Visa will also not permit you to switch to a different visa category while in the UK, nor to extend your visa. You will be required to leave the UK and return home to apply for a different type of visa once your existing visa expires.
There may be other visa options available to you in the event that you wish to live and work in the UK after you get married or enter into a civil partnership; take advice on your circumstances and potential alternative immigration routes.
As a Marriage Visitor Visa holder, you will also not be allowed to work, access public funds, or study for more than 30 days (although studying cannot be your primary reason for travel) during your stay.
Should I apply for the Marriage Visitor Visa or Fiancé Visa?
If you are planning to marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK you will need to carefully consider whether or not the Marriage Visitor Visa is the right visa for you.
If you are looking to remain in the UK after you get married or form a civil partnership, the Marriage Visit visa would not be appropriate and you will need to consider alternatives. For example, if your partner has settled status in the UK, such as ILR, you would look at the fiancé(e) visa.
By discussing different visa options with immigration specialists, you can identify the best available option to meet your immediate and long term needs.
Marriage Visitor visa requirements
To be eligible to come to the UK under the Marriage Visitor Visa, you must be:
- Aged 18 or over
- In a genuine relationship with your intended spouse or civil partner
- Free to marry or enter into a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership, in the UK within the validity period covered by their visa
- Intending to marry or form a civil partnership, or give notice of this
Note also that it is a legal requirement in the UK to provide at least 28 days’ notice of a marriage or civil partnership at a designated registry office.
To qualify for entry clearance to the UK as a visitor for the purpose of marriage or to form a civil partnership, you must also meet the following general UK visitor entry requirements:
- Be genuinely seeking entry to the UK for a limited period not exceeding six months and intend to leave at the end of your visit.
- Be in a position to support and accommodate yourself without recourse to public funds or taking employment in the UK.
- Be able to meet the cost of the return or onward journey to your home country or country of residence.
How to apply for a Marriage Visitor Visa
Provided you meet the eligibility requirements, you apply for a Marriage Visitor Visa before you visit. You should apply via the UK Home Office website no more than 3 months before you intend to travel.
The application process involves making and attending an appointment at a visa processing centre, which will be local to you. At the appointment, you will be required to provide your supporting documents and to explain, amongst other things, the purpose of your intended visit, together with details of your fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner and your future plans together.
You will also need to have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre. This is known as your ‘biometric information’.
Note that the application centre may retain your passport while your application is being processed.
Marriage Visitor Visa supporting documents
When applying for a Marriage Visitor Visa you will be required to submit a number of documents, including but not necessarily limited to, the following:
- Your original and current passport or other valid travel identification.
- Details of where you intend to stay and your travel plans.
- Details of the arrangements for notification of the marriage or civil partnership, such as a letter from the registry office.
- Details of the arrangements that have been made or are being made for your wedding or civil partnership to take place in the UK during your visit. This could include booking confirmation with the wedding venue and/or proof of any deposit monies paid.
- Documentary proof that you can support yourself during the entirety of your visit, for example, bank statements or payslips.
- Documentary proof of your future plans for your relationship, including where you intend to live once you have married or entered into a civil partnership.
Depending on your circumstances, you may also be required to provide further documentation. For example, where you have previously been married you may need to produce a decree absolute or death certificate for your former spouse to show that you are free to remarry or enter into a civil partnership.
How long is application processing?
You can submit your application for a Marriage Visitor Visa three months ahead of your intended date of travel to the UK. This is the earliest that you can apply and you should usually get a decision within 3 weeks, although processing times can vary depending on the caseload of the application centre or other issues impacting service delivery such as backlogs and any public health restrictions that may be in place at the time of your application.
Some processing centres offer fast-tracked processing for an additional charge.
Need assistance?
DavidsonMorris is a law firm specialising in UK immigration. We help individuals with their UK immigration needs, and can guide and support you through any Home Office process, including an application to visit the UK to get married. If you have a question about the Marriage Visitor Visa, please contact us.
Marriage Visit Visa FAQs
Can I marry in the UK on a visitor visa?
No, one of the conditions of the Standard Visitor Visa is that you must not intend to marry or enter into a civil partnership while in the UK. You must instead apply for a Marriage Visitor Visa.
How long does it take to get a marriage visitor visa?
It typically takes 3 weeks to receive a decision, although applicants should check with their local application centre to confirm current processing times.
How much is a marriage visitor visa UK?
A Marriage Visitor Visa for the UK currently costs £100.
Last updated: 1 November 2022
Author
Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified solicitor and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.
She is a recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on business migration and compliance risk management as well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient processing of applications.
Anne is an active public speaker, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals