Marriages and civil partnerships in England and Wales
If you or your partner are from outside the UK or Ireland
You must apply for a visa to come to the UK to give notice, get married or form a civil partnership, unless one of the following is true:
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you are a British or Irish citizen
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you have indefinite leave to remain in the UK
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you have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
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you applied to the EU Settlement Scheme on or before 30 June 2021
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you are already in the UK on a visa that lasts longer than 6 months
If you’re already in the UK on a visa that lasts longer than 6 months, you might need to tell the Home Office that you’ve got married or formed a civil partnership.
If you need to apply for a visa
The visa or permit you need depends on where your partner is from and whether you want to live in the UK after your ceremony.
You can apply for:
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a marriage visitor visa - if you’re not going to live in the UK and will stay less than 6 months
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a family visa - to live permanently in the UK if your partner is a British citizen, settled in the UK, has refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK
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a family permit - to join your family member from the EU, EEA or Switzerland in the UK
You cannot give notice, get married or form a civil partnership on a Standard Visitor visa.
If you give notice without the right visa, the immigration authorities at the Home Office will be told.
The Home Office might:
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ask questions about you and your relationship - if this happens you may need to wait up to 70 days before getting married or forming a civil partnership
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decide not to approve your notice - if this happens you cannot get married or form a civil partnership in the UK