Marriage Visitor Visa UK

Foreign national couples looking to get married or enter into a civil partnership in the UK may apply for a Marriage Visitor Visa to do so.

It should be noted that the Marriage Visitor Visa is separate to the typical Spouse Visa. UK law dictates that the latter (also known as the UK Partner Visa) is suitable where the couple is already legally wed and one is a British or Irish citizen.

The Marriage Visitor Visa allows the holders to get married or register a civil partnership in the UK or enter the country to give notice (a legal requirement at least 30 days before the union).

Providing neither party is intending to settle or stay in the UK after the legal union, and both partners meet the eligibility criteria, a UK Marriage Visitor Visa will be granted.

If you are already in a legal civil partnership and looking to convert this is a traditional marriage, a Marriage Visitor Visa is not required.

If both partners are non-UK nationals they may apply for a Standard Visitor Visa, or if one is a UK citizen, they may apply for a UK Spouse Visa.

Page Contents

• Overview of the Marriage Visitor Visa UK
• Permitted activities and restrictions on a Marriage Visitor Visa
• Eligibility Requirements for UK Marriage Visitor Visa
• Required Documents for UK Marriage Visitor Visa
• Duration of stay allowed on a Marriage Visitor Visa
• How to apply for UK Marriage Visitor Visa?
• Application fees and Processing Time for UK Marriage Visitor Visa
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

A Marriage Visitor Visa is designed specifically for the purposes of overseas nationals attending the UK to get married or enter into a civil partnership.

They may:

• Marry or enter into the civil partnership within six months of arrival into the UK
• Pass through the UK in transit to another country

They may not:

• Claim any public funds or benefits
• Bring dependents with them (applications must be made separately for an appropriate visitor visa)
• Live in the UK for extended periods through frequent visits
• Extend or switch their Marriage Visitor Visa to another other visa class
• Work
• Study

If applying for a Marriage Visitor Visa, you and your fiancé must both meet set eligibility criteria and be able to prove that you do so. The requirements for this visa class are:

• Both parties must be aged 18 or over
• Both parties must be free to give notice of marriage, to get married or to enter a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of arrival
• Both parties must be intending to leave the UK after the six -month period and be able to prove they have travel booked
• Both parties must be in a genuine relationship
• Both parties must be able to financially support themselves while in the UK

There is no English language requirement for a Marriage Visitor Visa, but this is needed for a UK Spouse Visa application. However, supporting documents demonstrating eligibility must be presented in English or translated.

No Marriage Visitor Visa will be required if:

• Either party have settled or pre-settled status in the UK
• Either party have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme but are awaiting a decision
• Either party is an Irish citizen

The visa requirements for the UK Marriage Visitor Visa are proven through the presentation of supporting documents during the application process. These are as follows:

• A valid German passport that will not expire while the applicant is in the UK and has at least one blank page
• Details of the marriage or civil partnership, including proof that some money has already been paid toward it (usually a venue deposit or notice already given)
• Correspondence between at least one of the applicants and a party in the UK working on the wedding or civil partnership (usually emails with a venue or party planner)
• Travel reservations for a return journey out of the UK before the visa expires
• (If either party has been married before) A decree absolute or death certificate or the previous partner

You may also be required to present evidence of your relationship being genuine and of your income or bank balance, to prove financial stability.

Any document that is not already in English or Welsh, other than a passport, will need to be accompanied by a certified translation into English. Unsure of whether a translation is suitable? Contact Total Law for guidance on +44 (0)333 305 9375.

A Marriage Visitor Visa is only designed to allow the visa holders to enter into a marriage or civil partnership while in the UK, and then leave the country. It is valid for a maximum period of six months and then expires.

If extenuating circumstances occur while visa holders are already present in the UK and they are unable to get married as a result, they may be able to request an extension. Seek legal advice – call Total Law on +44 (0)333 305 9375.

If either party is intending on settling in the UK after the union has been made legal, they will need to apply for a UK Spouse Visa instead. A Spouse Visa holds its own eligibility requirements and application process.

In order to be eligible to apply for a Spouse Visa, at least one partner must be a British or Irish citizen, hold settled status, have Indefinite Leave To Remain or hold protected status from the Home Office. The UK Spouse Visa application process is entirely separate to that from the Marriage Visitor Visa and the two visa classes are not transferable.

The application process for the British Marriage Visitor Visa is fairly simple, although the Home Office reserve the right to request additional documents during the visa processing period.

The standard procedure is:

1. Collect all evidential documents and obtain translations if necessary.
2. Complete online visa application form.
3. Pay visa fee.
4. Attend UKVCAS service centre to provide biometric information.
5. Await visa decision.
6. Collect passport from UKVCAS service centre.
7. (If visa granted) Travel to the UK and get married!

The Marriage Visitor Visa carries an application fee of £127. This is non-inclusive of any expenses incurred, which the applicants are liable for.

On average, it takes around three weeks from the date of the biometric information appointment to receive a decision on the visa. If for extenuating reasons a decision is needed quicker than this, priority services for an expedited processing period can be applied for. Total Law can advise on this. Call our UK office on +44 (0)333 305 9375.