Special visitor, marriage or civil partnership visit (not settlement): VAT06
Published 9 October 2013
© Crown copyright 2013
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1. VAT6.1 What is the requirement?
The applicant must meet the requirements of paragraphs 41 - 46 relating to visitors and meet the specific criteria set out in paragraphs 56D to 56F of the Immigration Rules.
Applicants will need to show evidence that arrangements have been made for either the notification of the ceremony or for the ceremony to take place during the period for which leave is granted (which will be 6 months).
Couples may get married or register a civil partnership in any location licensed for the purpose of marriage or civil partnership.
Where civil preliminaries are required, visitors will need to show their entry clearance to the registrar before giving notice of marriage or civil partnership.
Marriage visitors who are marrying in an Anglican church, where there are religious preliminaries, are not required to show their entry clearance to a member of the clergy. However, all nationals (except EEA and Swiss nationals) still require a marriage or civil partnership visit entry clearance before travelling to the UK.
2. VAT6.2 Is entry clearance mandatory?
Yes. Entry clearance is mandatory for all nationalities, except for EEA and Swiss nationals.
People coming to the UK to marry or enter a civil partnership should be dealt with as visitors if they do not intend to live in the UK. If they intend to live in the UK after marriage / entering into a civil partnership, see the Settlement Section.
People wishing to come to the UK to give notice of marriage / civil partnership, which can be done up to 12 months before the ceremony, must also obtain an entry clearance.
3. VAT6.3 What is the validity of a marriage/civil partnership visit entry clearance?
Posts 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. Applicants will need to show evidence that arrangements have been made for either the notification of the ceremony or for the ceremony to take place during the period for which leave is granted (which will be for 6 months). Couples may get married or register a civil partnership in any location licensed for the purpose of marriage or civil partnership.
For those applying to marry in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where it is possible to give notice of marriage or civil partnership by post, the marriage / civil partnership visit visa must be valid at the time of giving notice.
Post-dated visas, which do not become valid until after notice of marriage or civil partnership is given, will not be accepted by registrars. Unless specially requested by the applicant, visas should be made valid from the date of their issue
4. VAT6.4 Do people who are already in the UK and are getting married or entering a civil partnership require an entry clearance?
Non-EEA / Swiss nationals who are in the UK, and intend to marry or enter a civil partnership, do not require entry clearance. However migrants in the UK who are subject to immigration control will still need to:
- give notice to marry or register a civil partnership in a designated register office. Migrants who wish to give notice at a non-designated register office will need to provide evidence that they are not subject to immigration control; and
- meet other existing requirements for giving notice, for example, evidence of nationality, name and surname and date of birth and that they are free to marry. back to top
5. VAT6.5 What is the entry clearance endorsement?
C: VISIT FOR MARRIAGE / CP LTE 6 MONTHS CODE 3
Add initial and surname of intended partner on the entry clearance.
6. VAT6.6 Examples of refusal wordings
Wording for refusals: Section 1-5 can be downloaded from this guidance page.
7. VAT6.7 Do people coming to the UK for marriage or civil partnership visit have full rights of appeal?
No. They will have a limited right of appeal.