Getting Married In Britain

You're in love, and you want to get married or register a civil partnership in Britain. Here's what you need to know about getting married in Britain:

Age restrictions


You can marry or register a civil partnership in England, Wales and Northern Ireland if you're:

• Both over 18 and free to marry (single, widowed or divorced).

Or

• 16 or 17 with parental consent.

In Scotland, you can marry or register a civil partnership without parental consent if you're both over 16.

Giving notice

If you want to get married or register a civil partnership in Britain, you first have to give notice of your intent to marry or register a civil partnership.

If you've been married or in a civil partnership before, you'll need to provide evidence that you're now free to marry. This might be a divorce decree absolute, final order of civil partnership dissolution bearing the court's original stamp or a death certificate for your former partner.

England and Wales

In England and Wales, you have to reside in the district you are giving notice in for 7 days before giving notice. After this, both partners can give notice in person to the Superintendent Registrar (Registrar General in Scotland) at the local register office in England and Wales , Scotland , or Northern Ireland

When giving notice, you'll need to give evidence of your name, age and nationality (passport). You'll also need to give evidence that you've resided in the district for 7 days. This can be a letter from friends or family you might be staying with, or a letter or bill from the hotel you are staying at.

If you plan to have a civil ceremony in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you can give notice in one district, but marry or register your civil partnership in another.

Immigration control

If you're subject to immigration control, you won't be able to give notice unless you have a fiancée visa or a marriage visa. For more information, visit the British High Commission. If you want to register a civil partnership, you must give notice at a designated office. When giving notice, you and your partner must go together.

Scotland

In Scotland, notices should be handed in 4 weeks before the marriage or civil partnership, and you need to register in the district where the marriage is to take place. The latest you can hand in notices is 15 days before the ceremony. You don't both need to attend the register office to give notice, but you may be asked to attend before the marriage or civil partnership to finalise details.

If you're from a country in the European Economic Area (EEA), you won't need to provide any Home Office documents, but the registrar may ask to see proof of your nationality. If you're not from a country in the EEA, you'll need a fiancée, marriage, or marriage tourist visa, which you can obtain from the British Embassy.

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, notices should be handed in 8 weeks before the marriage or civil partnership. The latest you can hand in notices is 2 weeks before the ceremony. You don't both need to attend the register office to give notice, but you may be asked to attend before the marriage or civil partnership to finalise details.

If you're from a country in the European Economic Area (EEA), you won't need to provide any Home Office documents, but the registrar may ask to see proof of your nationality. If you're not from a country in the EEA, you'll need a fiancée, marriage, or marriage tourist visa, which you can obtain from the British Embassy .

After giving notice

After giving notice, you must wait 15 days before the marriage or civil partnership can take place. During that time, a notice is put up in the registry office of your intent to marry or register for a civil partnership. Once your notice is issued, it's valid for a year (3 months in Scotland and Northern Ireland) and you can have your wedding or register your civil partnership any time within that period. You can leave the country once you have given notice.