MARRIAGE VISIT VISA
You must apply for a Marriage Visitor visa if:
• you want to get married or register a civil partnership in the UK
• you want to give notice of a marriage or civil partnership in UK
• you’re not planning to stay or settle in the UK after your marriage or civil partnership
• you meet the other eligibility requirements
How long it takes to get a marrige visit visa
The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.
You can apply from 16 March if you plan to travel on 15 June.
You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.
You can use this visa to visit the UK for up to 6 months.
You can:
• marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of your arrival – you must use a venue licensed for this purpose
• pass through the UK in transit (on your way to another country)
You cannot:
• get public funds
• bring in family members (‘dependants’) – they must apply separately
• live in the UK for extended periods through frequent visits
• extend your visa or switch to another visa
• work – except for permitted activities related to your work or business overseas, such as attending meetings
• study for more than 30 days – studying cannot be the main reason for your visit
You must prove that you’re:
• 18 or over
• free to give notice of marriage, to marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of your arrival
• in a genuine relationship
• visiting the UK for less than 6 months
• leaving the UK at the end of your visit
• able to support yourself without working or help from public funds, or that you can be supported and housed by relatives or friends
• able to meet the cost of the return or onward journey
When you apply you’ll need to provide:
• a current passport or other valid travel identification
• proof that you can support yourself during your trip, for example bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months
• proof of your future plans for the relationship, for example documents to show where you’ll live
• details of where you intend to stay and your travel plans – you should not pay for accommodation or travel until you get your visa
You can also supply the following to support your application:
• details of the marriage or civil partnership and proof that you’ve paid money for some of its costs
• proof that you’re planning to get married in the UK, for example a booking confirmation or emails between you and the venue
If you’ve been married before, you’ll need to show proof that you’re free to marry or enter into a civil partnership again, for example a:
• decree absolute
• death certificate of a previous partner
You’ll need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.
You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.
You must prove that you’re:
• 18 or over
• free to give notice of marriage, to marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of your arrival
• in a genuine relationship
• visiting the UK for less than 6 months
• leaving the UK at the end of your visit
• able to support yourself without working or help from public funds, or that you can be supported and housed by relatives or friends
• able to meet the cost of the return or onward journey