UK Marriage Visitor Visa

Overview of the Marriage Visitor Visa

The UK Marriage Visit visa is a subcategory of the Standard Visitor Visa. It allows foreign nationals to travel to the UK to get married, enter into a civil partnership, or give notice of intention to do so.

Marriage Visit visas are usually valid for up to 6 months. You cannot stay or settle in the UK after your visa expires.

You won’t need a Marriage Visitor visa to get married or enter into a civil partnership in the UK if any of the following apply to you:

• You have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
• You have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme and are awaiting a decision
• You’re an Irish citizen
• You qualify for British citizenship.

What Can I Do With a UK Marriage Visitor Visa?

With a Marriage Visitor Visa, you can:

• Marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of your arrival
  • You must do this at a licensed venue
• Pass through the UK in transit on your way to another country

Note that you cannot:

• Access public funds, such as benefits
• Bring in family members or dependants with your Marriage Visitor visa
  • If you wish to bring family members with you to the UK, they must apply for their own visa 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

What Are the Eligibility Criteria for the UK Marriage Visitor Visa?

To be eligible for the Marriage Visitor visa, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• You’re 18 or over
• You’re free to give notice of marriage, to marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of your arrival
• You’re in a genuine relationship
• You’ll be visiting the UK for less than 6 months
• You’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit
• You’ll not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits or make the UK your main home
• You’re able to support yourself during your trip (or have funding from someone else to support you)
• You’re able to pay for your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else to pay for the trip)
• You have proof of any other activities you want to do in the UK, as allowed by the Visitor Rules

You must also provide at least 28 days’ notice of your intention to marry or enter a civil partnership at a designated UK registry office.

How Do I Apply for a Marriage Visitor Visa?

You must apply for the Marriage Visitor visa online through the Gov.uk website before you travel to the UK.

You must also apply for your visa at most 3 months before you plan to travel to the UK. It is advised to leave plenty of time for your visa processing, which can take up to 3 week, and occasionally more. 

As part of the application process, you must book an appointment at a local visa application centre to prove your identity and provide your documents. You will also have your biometrics information in the form of your fingerprints and photographs taken at this appointment.

Note that your nearest visa application centre may be located in another country, so you will need to allow plenty of time to attend your appointment.

Your partner must also apply for their own Marriage Visitor visa and pay the fee if you both need one. If you have a child or children who will travel to the UK with you, they will each need to apply as a standard visitor if they need a visa.

You may apply on behalf of your partner and child if they can’t apply for themselves. However, they must attend their own appointment at a visa application centre.

What Documents Do I Need to Apply?

You will need to provide a range of documents when applying for your UK Marriage Visitor visa, including the following:

• Valid passport or travel document
• Proof that you’re planning to get married in the UK, such as a booking confirmation or emails between you and the venue
• Details of the marriage or civil partnership and proof that you’ve paid money for some of its costs
• Details of where you intend to stay in the UK
• Evidence of future plans for the relationship, such as where you intend to reside permanently
• Proof that you can support yourself financially throughout your visit
• Evidence that you’re able to marry or form a civil partnership if you’ve been married or in a civil partnership before
  • This may be through something like a decree absolute or a death certificate of a previous partner

Note that depending on your circumstances, you may also be expected to provide additional documents not listed here.

You must also provide translations of any documents that are not in either English or Welsh.

What Are the Fees and Processing Times for the Marriage Visitor Visa?

It costs £135 to obtain a Marriage Visitor visa to visit the UK to marry or form a civil partnership.

If you need to cancel your application, you can only receive a refund if it hasn’t been processed yet.

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your application within 3 weeks. However, this may be longer depending on how busy the Home Office is when processing applications. It is important to remember you must have made arrangements with a UK registry office 28 days before your visit. 

You can check up-to-date waiting times by consulting the UK government’s page on visa decision wait times.

What Happens After I Apply for a UK Marriage Visitor visa?

After your Marriage Visitor visa application is processed, you will receive an email or a letter stating whether your application has been approved or refused.

If your application is approved, you will receive a sticker (called a vignette) in your passport or access to view your immigration status information online if you use the app to prove your identity.

These will show you the type of visa you’ve been granted, its start and end dates, and its conditions.

If your application is refused, you will receive a letter or an email outlining the reasons why.

This letter will also explain whether you have the right to an administrative review or an immigration decision appeal if you feel your visa refusal was unjust.

For more information about appealing your visa refusal and how to proceed, contact one of our immigration advisers today at +44 (0)333 414 9244 or online.

Can I Apply for a UK Fiance Visa or Spouse Visa Instead?

Choosing the right visa application for those genuinely seeking entry to the UK to marry or register a civil partnership is essential. The UK Marriage Visitor Visa is intended for those who register a marriage or civil partnership in the UK. It does not allow people to live or settle in the UK long term.

In contrast, the UK Fiancé Visa allows an individual to enter the UK to marry or register a civil partnership while settling in the UK, and then apply for a Spouse Visa to remain in the UK. They can do this by applying for a spouse visa before their initial fiance visa expires.

Both visas require proving the authenticity of the relationship. This requires additional documents, including proof of your relationship history and bank statements. It must be applied for at a visa application centre.

Ensuring a valid visa application is crucial, as a sham marriage can lead to severe consequences. Couples must register their marriage or civil partnership at a local register office.

Get expert support in finding the right visa application for you and your circumstances. Our immigration lawyers can help distinguish between the Marriage visitor visa, fiance visa and spouse visa, presenting you with the best possible visa route for you. 

How Can IAS Help?

The Marriage Visitor visa is required for those who only wish to travel to the UK to get married or enter into a civil partnership. However, obtaining this visa, and any UK visa in general, isn’t always easy. Several people apply for UK visas every year without success.

If you’re interested in applying for a Marriage Visitor visa, IAS can help. We can ensure your eligibility, outline the process, assist in assembling supporting documents and help you build your application – increasing your chances of success.

We are expert legal advisers specialising in UK immigration law. We can advise you if you need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa to get married or enter into a civil partnership in the UK.

For dedicated support, call +44 (0)333 414 9244 or contact us online.