UK Marriage Visitor visa

What the Marriage Visitor visa is

The Marriage Visitor visa lets someone travel to the UK for the specific purpose of marrying or registering a civil partnership, then leaving. It is intended for people who will not stay or settle in the UK after the ceremony.

It is separate from the Standard Visitor visa. Someone who simply wants to attend a wedding as a guest, or who is unsure whether they will actually give notice and marry, would normally use the Standard Visitor route instead. The Marriage Visitor visa is specifically for the person who is getting married or forming the civil partnership in the UK.

• Allows the applicant to marry or enter a civil partnership at a licensed venue in the UK
• Allows transit through the UK
• Does not allow work (other than permitted business activities allowed under the Visitor Rules), study, access to public funds, or living in the UK through frequent visits

Who it is for

Applicants should apply for this visa if they plan to come to the UK to marry or register a civil partnership and do not intend to stay afterwards.

This visa is not needed by everyone. According to gov.uk, applicants do not need it if they have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, are an Irish citizen, or otherwise qualify for British citizenship (including some dual nationals). People who want to marry and then live in the UK with their partner should consider the family or partner routes rather than this visitor visa.

Eligibility

To qualify, applicants must meet both the specific marriage requirements and the general visitor requirements.

• Be 18 or over
• Be in a genuine relationship with the person they intend to marry or form a civil partnership with
• Be free to give notice of marriage, to marry, or to enter a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of arriving
• Intend to visit for less than 6 months
• Be able to support themselves during the trip, or have someone else funding their support
• Be able to pay for their return or onward journey, or have someone else funding it
• Intend to leave the UK at the end of the visit
• Not intend to live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK their main home

Costs

The application fee is £135, per gov.uk.

Applicants who want a faster decision can pay for a priority service at additional cost.

• Standard application: £135
• Priority service (decision within 5 working days): £500 on top of the application fee
• Super priority service (decision within 24 hours): £1,000 on top of the application fee

Documents you will need

Applicants must provide a current passport or other valid travel document that stays valid for the whole of their stay in the UK.

Beyond the passport, applicants should provide supporting documents that show the marriage or civil partnership is genuine and that they meet the visitor requirements.

• A passport or travel document valid for the whole stay
• Evidence of the marriage or civil partnership arrangements, such as venue booking confirmation or correspondence with the venue
• Proof of who is paying for the wedding or the applicant's costs, if relevant
• For anyone married before: evidence they are free to remarry, such as a decree absolute or a former spouse's death certificate
• A certified translation for any document that is not in English or Welsh

How to apply

Applicants apply online from outside the UK before they travel. As part of the process they will usually need to attend a visa application centre to have their biometric information (fingerprints and a photograph) taken, or verify their identity using the UK Immigration: ID Check app where eligible.

The earliest an application can be made is 3 months before the date the applicant intends to travel to the UK.

Processing time

A decision is usually made within 3 weeks of the biometrics appointment. Paying for the priority or super priority service can shorten this to 5 working days or 24 hours respectively, where available.

How long you can stay

The visa allows a visit of up to 6 months. The marriage or civil partnership must take place within that period, and the applicant is expected to leave the UK at the end of the visit.

Dependants

Family members cannot be added to a Marriage Visitor visa application as dependants. Anyone else who wants to travel to the UK, including to attend the wedding, must apply separately for the visa that suits their own circumstances, such as a Standard Visitor visa.

Extending, switching and settlement

The Marriage Visitor visa cannot be extended, and applicants cannot switch from it into another visa category while in the UK. It does not count towards settlement (indefinite leave to remain) and is not a route to living in the UK.

Couples who intend to build a life together in the UK after marrying should look instead at the relevant family or partner route, which has its own separate eligibility rules, costs and evidence requirements.