Civil Partnerships in England and Wales

Eligibility

You can marry or form a civil partnership in England or Wales if you are:

• 18 or over
• Not already married or in a civil partnership
• Not closely related

Same-sex couples can convert a civil partnership into a marriage in England or Wales.

Rules may differ if you plan to marry or form a civil partnership:

• In Scotland
• In Northern Ireland
• Outside the UK

If You or Your Partner Are from Outside the UK or Ireland

You must apply for a visa to give notice, marry, or form a civil partnership unless one of the following applies:

• You are a British or Irish citizen
• You have indefinite leave to remain in the UK
• You have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
• You applied to the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June 2021
• You are already in the UK on a visa that lasts longer than six months

If already in the UK on a visa lasting over six months, you may need to inform the Home Office after marrying or forming a civil partnership.

Visa Requirements

The visa or permit you need depends on your partner’s origin and whether you plan to live in the UK after your ceremony:

• Marriage Visitor Visa: For those not living in the UK, staying less than six months.
• Family Visa: To live permanently in the UK if your partner is a British citizen, settled in the UK, or has refugee or humanitarian protection status.
• Family Permit: To join a family member from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland in the UK.

Note: You cannot give notice, marry, or form a civil partnership on a Standard Visitor Visa.

If you give notice without the proper visa, the Home Office will be informed and may:

• Ask questions about your relationship (possibly delaying your ceremony by up to 70 days).
• Refuse approval, preventing you from marrying or forming a civil partnership in the UK.

Planning Your Ceremony

Venue:
Choose a venue before giving notice, as details of the final venue must be included in your notice. The ceremony must occur within 12 months of giving notice.

Type of Ceremony:

• Marriage: Religious or civil ceremony.
• Civil Partnership: Religious ceremonies are not allowed.

Religious Ceremonies:

• Can take place at registered religious buildings.
• Same-sex couples can marry in registered buildings but not in Anglican churches.
• An authorized person, such as a minister, must sign the marriage schedule/document. If none is available, a registrar must be booked (£104).

Civil Ceremonies:

• Can occur at a register office or approved venues like stately homes or hotels.
• Requires at least two witnesses and a registrar (£56 at a register office or £104 at a religious building).

Ceremony Details:

• Marriage: Exchange vows.
• Civil Partnership: Vows are optional.

Civil ceremonies may include non-religious readings, songs, or music. Religious blessings can follow a civil ceremony.

After the marriage, the signed schedule/document is sent to your local register office for registration, after which you can obtain your marriage certificate.

Giving Notice

You must sign a legal statement at your local register office at least 29 days before the ceremony. For example, giving notice on 1 May allows the earliest ceremony on 30 May.

Location for Giving Notice:

• Usually done at your local register office after living in the district for at least seven days.
• Couples in different districts must give notice separately.

If either partner is from outside the UK:

• You must give notice together unless both have:
  • British or Irish citizenship
  • Settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
  • An EU Settlement Scheme application submitted by 30 June 2021

Documents Needed:

• Details of the ceremony venue.
• Valid passport or UK birth certificate (if born before 1 January 1983).
• Proof of address.
• Proof of name changes, if applicable.

Proof of Address Examples:

• Valid UK/Irish driving licence
• Utility bill (last three months)
• Bank statement (last month)
• Council Tax bill (last 12 months)
• Current tenancy agreement

If living outside the UK, provide a UK contact address.

If previously married or in a civil partnership, bring:

• Decree absolute/final order or former partner’s death certificate.

For divorces outside the UK, you may need to pay £55 or £83 for document verification.

If you or your partner are from outside the UK, also bring:

• Passport-sized photos for both.
• Proof of immigration status.
• English translations for non-English documents.

For those with settled/pre-settled status, provide a share code or certificate of application.