MARRIAGE OR CIVIL PARTNERSHIP VISIT VISA

The Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit visa is designed for individuals who wish to visit the UK to marry or form a civil partnership, or give notice of a marriage or civil partnership, in the UK.

The route does not lead to settlement in the UK and all visitors must make a separate application, even when travelling as part of a group.

Requirements for a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa

In order to qualify for a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa you will need to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration that:

• You are at least 18 years old;
• You intend to give notice of marriage or civil partnership in the UK or intend to marry or form a civil partnership in the UK, within six months of your arrival;
• You are in a genuine rather than a sham relationship;
• You are genuinely seeking entry to the UK for a purpose that is permitted by the visitor routes;
• You will not undertake any prohibited activities;
• You have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs in relation to your visit (including travel, maintenance and accommodation costs) without working or accessing public funds;
• You will visit the UK for less than 6 months and leave the UK at the end of your visit;
• You will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home;
• Your application does not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal.

The exact requirements you will need to satisfy may vary depending on your circumstances.  You may want to speak to an immigration lawyer for expert advice.

To discuss your Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa application with one of our immigration barristers, contact our UK Visit Visa lawyers on 0203 617 9173 or complete our enquiry form below.

Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Entry Clearance Requirement

If your reason for visiting the UK is to marry or form a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership, in the UK you must apply for a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa before you travel.  It is not possible to apply for permission to enter the UK as a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitor at the UK border.  This is the case whether you are a visa national or a non-visa national.

An exception is made for British citizens, Irish citizens, persons with settled status or pre-settled status granted under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) and persons with a decision pending on an application for EUSS leave submitted before 1 July 2021.  This limited group of individuals can marry or form a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership, in the UK without prior entry clearance.

Non-visa nationals who are seeking entry to visit the UK to enter into a marriage that is not recognised under UK law are also not required to hold a Marriage/Civil Partnership Visitor Visa. They can seek entry as a Standard Visitor. Visa nationals may also apply for a Standard Visitor Visa for this purpose.

Non-visa nationals who are seeking entry to visit the UK to convert an existing civil partnership (that took place under the laws of England and Wales or Scotland) to a marriage are not required to hold a Marriage/Civil Partnership Visitor Visa. They can seek entry as a Standard Visitor. Visa nationals may apply for a Standard Visitor Visa for this purpose.

As well as preparing Visit Visa applications for visa nationals, our barristers regularly assist non-visa nationals to satisfy the requirements for entry as a Visitor on arrival in the UK.

Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa Permitted Activities 

In order to qualify for a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa you will need to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration that you are genuinely seeking entry to the UK for a purpose that is permitted by the visitor routes and will not undertake any prohibited activities.

Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa holders may undertake the following permitted activities:

• Marry or form a civil partnership;
• Give notice of marriage or civil partnership.

Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitors may also undertake other activities that are permitted under other Visitor routes, but are not permitted to study.

Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa Genuine Intention Requirement

In order to qualify for a Marriage Visit Visa or Civil Partnership Visit Visa, you will need to satisfy the Home Office that you genuinely intend to either give notice of marriage or civil partnership in the UK or intend to marry or form a civil partnership in the UK, within the period for which you are seeking permission as a Visitor. The proposed marriage or civil partnership must not be a sham.

If you apply for a Marriage Visit Visa or Civil Partnership Visit Visa in order to give notice at a register office, the Home Office will expect to see evidence that you have made arrangements to do so.  This might take the form of, for example, an appointment card or email confirmation of a provisional advance booking to give notice.

If you apply for a Marriage/Civil Partnership Visitor Visa to marry or form a civil partnership, you will need to provide evidence that you have made arrangements for your marriage or civil partnership to take place in the UK.  Examples of suitable documents might include an email confirmation of the church or register office booking or a receipt for payment of the venue where the marriage/ civil partnership will take place.

In assessing whether the proposed marriage or civil partnership is a sham, the Home Office will consider all the evidence submitted, including the arrangements for the marriage or civil partnership, you and your partner’s relationship, your future plans and living arrangements.  If the Home Office is not satisfied that you are in a genuine relationship then your application will be refused.

Intention to Leave the UK Requirement for a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa

In addition to satisfying the Home Office that you are genuinely seeking to enter the UK for a permitted purpose, as part of your application for a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa you will also need to satisfy the Home Office that you will leave the UK at the end of your visit and will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home.

In assessing your application, the Home Office will consider a range of factors including:

• Your previous immigration history, including visits to the UK and other countries;
• Your financial circumstances as well as your family, social and economic background;
• Your personal and economic ties to your country of residence.

Factors which may cause the Home Office to doubt that you are a genuine visitor include having few or no family and economic ties to your country of residence, whilst having several family members in the UK, previous attempts to deceive the Home Office in an immigration application and discrepancies between statements made by yourself and your sponsor.

Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa Financial Requirement

You will need to have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs in relation to your visit (including travel, maintenance and accommodation costs) without working or accessing public funds.

Your funds will need to be held in a permitted financial institution.

Your travel, maintenance and accommodation costs may be met by a third party if the third party has a genuine professional or personal relationship with you, they are not, and will not be, in breach of immigration laws and they can support you throughout the duration of your stay as a Visitor.

Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa English Language Requirement

Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa applicants do not need to satisfy an English language requirement.

Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa Validity Period

If you wish to enter the UK for the purpose of a getting married or forming a civil partnership, or giving notice of a marriage or civil partnership, you may apply for a Visit Visa that is valid for up to 6 months.  

You may enter and leave the UK multiple times during the validity period of your Visit Visa, unless your Visit Visa is endorsed for a single or dual entry.

The total length of your visit to the UK must not exceed 6 months.

Right to Work

Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitors are not permitted to work in the UK or, with few exceptions, receive payment from a UK source for any activities undertaken in the UK.

This means that Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa holders cannot take employment, establish or run a business as a self-employed person, work for an organisation or business in the UK, undertake a work placement or internship in the UK or otherwise provide or sell goods or services in the UK.

Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitors are permitted to work remotely while in the UK, but remote working must not be the primary purpose of the visit. The main purpose of the visit to the UK should be to undertake a permitted activity, rather than specifically to work remotely from the UK.

Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitors are also permitted to come to the UK to seek employment and attend job interviews. However, if successful in obtaining employment, you will be expected to leave the UK and seek the appropriate entry clearance prior to commencing work.

Visitor Visa Application Fees

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

Giving Notice of Intention to Marry or Enter into a Civil Partnership

Visitors intending to marry or form a civil partnership in the UK must give notice at a register office before the marriage or civil partnership can take place.

To ‘give notice’ you and your partner must sign a statement at your local register office to say that you intend to get married or form a civil partnership. You must have lived in the registration district for the past 7 days before you can give notice.

The notice period is 28 clear days – so you must wait at least 29 days before the ceremony can take place. During this waiting period, there is no need to remain in the UK.

Marriage / Civil Partner Visit Visa or Fiance / Proposed Civil Partner Visa? 

The Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa is the right visa if you do not intend to settle in the UK after being married or entering into a civil partnership.

If you plan to remain in the UK with your partner, you should apply for a Fiance Visa or Proposed Civil Partner Visa instead.

How Our Immigration Barristers Can Help

Our immigration barristers are experienced in assisting individuals from across the globe to secure visas to visit the UK for the purpose marrying or forming a civil partnership in the UK or for giving notice of a marriage or civil partnership in the UK.

Whether you are seeking advice on the merits of applying for a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa, assistance with preparing a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa application or legal representation to challenge a decision to refuse an application for a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa, our immigration barristers can assist.

We pride ourselves on being approachable and proactive in understanding and meeting our client’s needs. We are a highly driven team, dedicated to providing clear and reliable immigration advice to our clients as part of a professional and friendly service.