Marriage Visitor Visa
Marriage Visitor Visa Overview
If you're planning to get married or register a civil partnership in the UK, you must apply for a Marriage Visitor visa. This visa also applies if you intend to give notice of your marriage or civil partnership in the UK and do not plan to stay or settle afterward. Ensure you meet all other eligibility requirements before applying.
However, a Marriage Visitor visa is not needed to convert a civil partnership into marriage—you can apply for a Standard Visitor visa instead. Additionally, those with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme or Irish citizens do not need to apply for this visa. If you qualify for British citizenship, you cannot apply for a Marriage Visitor visa. Instead, you must apply for British citizenship.
What You Can and Cannot Do with a Marriage Visitor Visa
With a Marriage Visitor visa, you can marry or enter into a civil partnership at a licensed venue in the UK within 6 months of your arrival and pass through the UK in transit. However, you cannot access public funds, bring dependants, live in the UK for extended periods, extend your visa, switch to another visa, work, or study.
This visa allows you to stay for up to 6 months.
Visa Application Process and Timing
Need Help with Your Marriage Visitor Visa Application? Contact Fard Solicitors today. With extensive experience in UK immigration law, our award-winning team is here to guide you through every step of the process.
Whether you need assistance with documentation or advice on eligibility, our legal experts are ready to help you achieve a smooth and successful application.
Eligibility Requirements for a Marriage Visitor Visa
To qualify, you must:
Be 18 or older
Be free to marry or enter a civil partnership within 6 months
Be in a genuine relationship
Visit the UK for less than 6 months
Leave the UK at the end of your visit
Not live in the UK for extended periods or make it your main home
Be able to support yourself during your visit
Be able to pay for your return or onward journey
Provide proof of any additional activities permitted under the Visitor Rules
Need Help with Your Marriage Visitor Visa Application?
Contact Fard Solicitors today. With extensive experience in UK immigration law, our award-winning team is here to guide you through every step of the process. Whether you need
assistance with documentation or advice on eligibility, our legal experts are ready to help you achieve a smooth and successful application.
FAQs
With this visa, you are allowed to marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of your arrival, at a venue that is licensed for such events. You're also allowed to pass through the UK in transit to another country.
The Marriage Visitor visa permits you to stay in the UK for up to 6 months.
If you require this visa, you must apply online prior to your arrival in the UK. During the application process, you'll need to book an appointment at a visa application centre to verify your identity and submit necessary documents. Ensure you plan for your appointment, as the centre could be located in another country. Your passport and documents might be held at the centre while your application is being processed. You may apply as early as 3 months before your planned travel date.
After completing the online application, verifying your identity, and providing necessary documents, a decision is typically reached within 3 weeks. There are ways to expedite your visa decision, but this depends on the country you're in.
The application fee for a Marriage Visitor visa is £100.
To qualify for this visa, you must be 18 or over, free to give notice of marriage or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of arrival, in a genuine relationship, visiting the UK for less than 6 months, and plan to leave the UK at the end of your visit. You should not plan to live in the UK for extended periods through frequent visits or make the UK your main home. You must be able to support yourself or have someone else support you during your trip, and be able to pay for your return or onward journey (or have someone else to pay for the journey). You should also provide proof of any other activities you intend to do in the UK, as allowed by the Visitor Rules.
You must provide a valid passport or travel document, details and proof of payment for some of the marriage or civil partnership costs, and proof that you plan to get married in the UK, like a booking confirmation or emails with the venue. If any documents are not in English or Welsh, you must provide a certified translation. If you have been married before, you must provide proof that you are free to marry again, such as a decree absolute or a previous partner's death certificate. Depending on your circumstances, additional documents may be required.
If both partners require a Marriage Visitor visa, each must apply individually and pay the respective fee. If a child requires a visa, they should apply as a standard visitor. You can apply on behalf of your partner and child if they are unable to do so. However, each individual must attend their own appointment at a visa application centre.
After you have completed your online application, verified your identity, and provided the necessary documents, you will typically receive a decision on your visa within 3 weeks. Depending on the country you are in, there may be options to expedite your visa decision. You will receive the decision on your application via an email or a letter, which will explain your next steps.
If you need to make changes to your application after submission, contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). If you wish to cancel your application, you can request to do so. Note that you will only receive a refund of your fee if the application has not been processed yet.
Our Awards
