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Skip to content THIS VISA TYPE IS SUITABLE IF YOU;
Intend to marry or form a civil partnership / Give notice of marriage or civil partnership to take place in the UK.
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Visitors who wish to visit the UK for the purpose of marrying or forming a civil partnership, or giving notice of a marriage or civil partnership, will need the Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa.
The Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa is a subcategory of the Standard Visitor route.
All visitors must apply separately, even if they are travelling in a group.
This visa type is short-term and can be granted for up to 6 months. It will not provide any other rights of residence or allow you to become settled in the UK.
UK Visas & Immigration requires that you meet the following requirements to qualify for a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa:
When planning to marry or form a civil partnership in the UK, visitors must notify the register office in advance.
A ‘notice of intent to marry’ or a civil partnership must be signed at your local register office by you and your partner. A resident of the registration district must have lived there for the past 7 days before they can give notice.
You must wait at least 29 days before the ceremony can take place due to the 28-day notice period. There is no need to remain in the UK during this waiting period.
A Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa is required before you travel to the UK if you are planning to marry or form a civil partnership, or to give notice of marriage or civil partnership. Marriage and Civil Partnership Visitors cannot apply for permission at the UK border to enter the country. This is true regardless of whether you are a visa or non-visa holder.
In addition, European Union (EU) settlement scheme (EUSS) status or pre-settled status is not applicable to British citizens, Irish citizens, or those awaiting a decision on an EUSS leave application submitted before 1 July 2021. Those in this limited group can marry, form a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership without first obtaining clearance for entry into the UK.
A Marriage/Civil Partnership Visitor Visa is not required for non-visa nationals seeking entry to the UK for the purposes of entering into a marriage not recognized by UK law. Standard visitors are eligible for entry. A Standard Visitor Visa may also be obtained by Visa nationals for this purpose.
A Marriage/Civil Partnership Visitor Visa is not required for non-visa holders seeking entry to the UK to convert an existing civil partnership (under the English and Welsh laws) into a marriage. As a Standard Visitor, they can apply for entry. The Standard Visitor Visa can be applied for by citizens of visa-holding countries.
Unsure about whether you require a visa? Speak to our expert team now to confirm if you are required to apply for a visit visa before being granted entry into the UK.
You will need to demonstrate that you are sincerely seeking entry to the UK for a purpose that is allowed by the visitor routes, and you will not engage in any prohibited activities in order to qualify for a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa.
The following permitted activities are available to holders of a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa:
Visitor route visitors may also engage in other activities that are permitted under other visitor routes, but are not permitted to study.
Choosing a visa can be very confusing as there are so many to choose from.
It should be noted that there are several types of unmarried partner visas with similar or confusing names.
We at UK Immigration Solicitors are specialists in this type of visa and can guide you through your options so that you follow the correct visa type for your needs.
When you are not intending to settle permanently in the UK after getting married or entering into a civil partnership, the Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa is the best option.
Other visa types may be more suitable for you if you intend to stay with your partner in the UK.
Check out our Fiance Visa or Proposed Civil Partner Visa pages instead
As a Marriage Visitor, you must demonstrate to the Home Office that you intend to marry in the UK or form a civil partnership in the UK, within the period where you are seeking permission to visit. It must be true that the marriage or civil partnership proposed is legitimate.
The Home Office will expect you to provide proof that you have made arrangements to give notice at a register office when you apply for a Marriage Visit Visa or Civil Partnership Visit Visa. To provide notice, an appointment card or email confirmation could be used, for example.
If you are applying for a Marriage/Civil Partnership Visitor Visa, you must show proof that you have made arrangements to marry or form a civil partnership in the UK. You may need a confirmation email from the church or registrar’s office as well as the receipt of payment for the wedding venue.
The Home Office considers all the evidence submitted, including your and your partner’s relationship, your future plans, and living arrangements, in assessing whether the marriage or civil partnership is a sham. The Home Office will deny your application if it does not believe that the relationship is genuine.
As part of your application for a Medical Treatment and Organ Donation Visit Visa, you will be required to satisfy the Home Office that you are genuinely seeking to enter the United Kingdom for a permitted purpose. In addition, you must assure the Home Office that you will leave the United Kingdom at the end of your visit and will not reside in the United Kingdom for prolonged periods through frequent or successive visits or make the UK your place of residence.
In assessing your application, the Home Office will consider the following factors:
Home Office officials may doubt your authenticity as a visitor if you do not have many close ties to your country of residence and have several close relatives living in the United Kingdom, if you have previously attempted to deceive the Home Office in an immigration application, and if there are discrepancies in your statement and your sponsor’s statement.
Often, we see that, as a result of applicants making applications themselves, UKVI has highlighted discrepancies and treated them as a deliberate attempt to deceive the Home Office. We regularly hear horror stories from clients who innocently made applications without legal guidance, intending to save on legal fees, but have not understood the immigration rules properly and are now battling to prove that the information they gave was in good faith, albeit contained administrative errors.
If you are unclear about whether your intentions meet the requirements or are concerned about the impact of how a previous application may affect your proposed visit, get help from our experts now to get clear, bespoke guidance.
There is no English proficiency requirement for applicants for a marriage or civil partnership visit visa.
However, having a limited command of English can cause many problems while preparing and making an application and applying the correct rules and considerations.
Our team is bilingual and can provide you with advice and guidance in languages other than English upon request.
