The Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit visa is meant for those who plan to travel to the UK in order to marry or enter into a civil partnership, or to give notice of their intention to marry or form a civil partnership in the UK.

This visa does not provide a pathway to settlement in the UK, and all visitors must submit individual applications, even if they are traveling as part of a group.

Eligibility Criteria for a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa

To be eligible for a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa, you must demonstrate to UK Visas & Immigration that:

• You must be a minimum of 18-years old in order to continue.
• Your intention is to either give notice of marriage or civil partnership in the UK, or to marry or form a civil partnership in the UK within six months of your arrival.
• Your relationship must be genuine and not a sham.
• Your purpose for seeking entry to the UK must be permitted by the visitor routes.
• You are not allowed to undertake any prohibited activities during your visit.
• You must have enough funds to cover all reasonable costs related to your visit, including travel, maintenance, and accommodation, without working or accessing public funds.
• Your visit to the UK should be for less than 6 months, and you must leave the UK at the end of your visit.
• Staying in the UK for long periods by making frequent or successive visits, or establishing the UK as your primary residence, is not allowed.
• Your application should not be refused under the general grounds for refusal.

Entry Clearance Requirement for Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit

If you plan to get married or form a civil partnership in the UK, you must apply for a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa before your trip. It is not possible to apply for entry permission at the UK border for this purpose, regardless of whether you are a visa national or a non-visa national.

There are exceptions for British citizens, Irish citizens, individuals with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, and those with a pending decision on an EUSS leave application submitted before 1 July 2021. This select group can marry or form a civil partnership in the UK without prior entry clearance.

Non-visa nationals visiting the UK for a marriage not recognized under UK law can enter as a Standard Visitor without a Marriage/Civil Partnership Visitor Visa. Visa nationals can also apply for a Standard Visitor Visa for this reason.

Non-visa nationals looking to convert an existing civil partnership in England and Wales or Scotland to a marriage do not need a Marriage/Civil Partnership Visitor Visa. Standard Visitors are allowed entry for non-visa nationals, and visa nationals can request a Standard Visitor Visa to fulfill this requirement.

Activities allowed on a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa

To be eligible for a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa, you must demonstrate to UK Visas & Immigration that your intention for entering the UK aligns with the permitted visitor routes and that you will not engage in any prohibited activities.

Visa holders for Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit are allowed to engage in the following authorised activities:

• Enter into matrimony or enter into a civil partnership;
• Give notice of marriage or civil partnership.

Visitors for Marriage or Civil Partnership are allowed to engage in additional activities authorized by other Visitor routes, however, they are not allowed to pursue studies.

Requirement for Genuine Intention for Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa

To be eligible for a Marriage Visit Visa or Civil Partnership Visit Visa, you must prove to the Home Office that you truly plan to either give notice of marriage or civil partnership in the UK, or intend to get married or form a civil partnership in the UK during your visit as a Visitor. The marriage or civil partnership must be authentic.

If you are applying for a Marriage Visit Visa or Civil Partnership Visit Visa to give notice at a register office, you will need to show evidence of your arrangements. This could be an appointment card or email confirmation of a provisional booking to give notice.

If you are applying for a Marriage/Civil Partnership Visitor Visa to marry or form a civil partnership, you must provide proof that you have arranged for the ceremony to take place in the UK. This could include an email confirmation of the booking at a church or register office, or a receipt for the venue where the marriage/civil partnership will occur.

When determining if the proposed marriage or civil partnership is genuine, the Home Office will review all evidence provided, such as the arrangements for the ceremony, your relationship with your partner, future plans, and living arrangements. If the Home Office is not convinced of the authenticity of your relationship, your application will be denied.

Requirement for a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa when Leaving the UK Intentionally

You must demonstrate to the Home Office that you have a genuine reason for entering the UK, as well as prove that you will depart the country at the end of your visit and will not establish long-term residence through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your primary place of residence, as part of your Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa application.

During the assessment of your application, the Home Office will consider a range of factors such as:

• Your history of immigration, including previous trips to the United Kingdom and other countries.
• Your financial situation, along with your family, social, and economic history
• Your connections to your current country of residence, both personal and economic

The Home Office may question the authenticity of your visit if you have limited or no family and financial connections to your home country, but have multiple family members in the UK, if you have previously tried to mislead the Home Office in an immigration application, and if there are inconsistencies between your statements and those of your sponsor.

Financial Requirement for Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa

You must ensure that you have enough funds to cover all necessary expenses for your visit (such as travel, living, and accommodation costs) without relying on employment or public funds.

Your finances must be kept in an authorized financial institution.

If a third party with a legitimate personal or professional connection to you is willing to cover your travel, living, and accommodation expenses. Visitors are required to adhere to immigration regulations and demonstrate the ability to provide financial support throughout your stay.

English Language Requirement for Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa

Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa applicants are not required to meet an English language proficiency requirement.

Duration of Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa

If you intend to travel to the UK for the purpose of getting married, entering into a civil partnership, or giving notice of a marriage or civil partnership, you have the option to apply for a Visit Visa that allows a stay of up to 6 months.

You are permitted to enter and exit the UK multiple times within the validity period of your Visit Visa, unless it is specifically endorsed for single or dual entry purposes.

The duration of your visit to the UK should not exceed 6 months in total.

Visit Visa for Marriage or Civil Partnership and Right to Work

Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitors are not allowed to engage in any form of work in the UK, except for a few specific circumstances where they may receive payment from a UK source. This includes not being able to take up employment, start a business as a self-employed individual, work for a company or organization in the UK, participate in a work placement or internship, or offer goods or services in the UK.

While in the UK, Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitors are allowed to work remotely, but this should not be the primary reason for their visit. The main purpose of their stay should be to engage in activities that are permitted, rather than focusing solely on remote work.

Moreover, those who come to the UK for Marriage or Civil Partnership reasons are authorised to investigate job possibilities and take part in job interviews. However, if they secure a job, they must leave the UK and apply for the necessary entry clearance before starting work.

Fees for Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitor Visa Applications

The current cost for a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa application fee for a short stay of up to 6 months is £115.

Notifying of Intent to Marry or Form a Civil Partnership

Visitors who plan to marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK are required to give notice at a register office prior to the ceremony.

You must sign a statement with your partner at the local register office in order to formally declare your intention to marry or enter into a civil partnership. Prior to giving notice, you must have been living in the registration district for at least 7 days.

The notice period lasts for 28 clear days, meaning that the ceremony cannot take place until at least 29 days have passed. It is important to note that during this waiting period, individuals do not need to stay in the UK.