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Married or Form a Civil Partnership in the UK?
- Do you and your partner wish to get married/have your civil partnership in the UK?
- Want to ultimately settle with your partner and buid a life together in the UK?
Find out how my Award Winning Services can help you and your partner ensure your Application has the Highest Chance of Success Here.
UK Marriage Visitor Visa
A UK Marriage Visitor visa allows foreign nationals to enter the UK to get married/enter a civil partnership or give a notice of marriage or civil partnership in the UK.
Who should Apply for a Marriage Visitor visa?
When you need a Marriage Visitor visa:
- You want to get married or register a civil partnership in the UK
- You want to give notice of marriage or a civil partnership in the UK
- You are not planning to stay or settle in the UK after your marriage or civil partnership
When you do not need a Marriage Visitor visa:
- To convert your civil partnership into a marriage (you can apply for a Standard Visitor visa)
- You have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
- You have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme and have not received a decision yet
- You are an Irish citizen
Non-Visa Nationals
Even if you are a Non-Visa national i.e. a citizen of a country that does not need a visa to visit the UK, you are not permitted to get married/register a civil partnership in the UK, or give notice of a marriage/civil partnership in the UK.

Am I eligible for a Marriage Visitor visa?
You must prove you are eligible for a Marriage Visitor visa by satisfying the following:
- you must be aged 18 or over;
- you and your partner have physically met in person;
- you are free to give notice of marriage, to marry or enter a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of your arrival in the UK;
- you are in a genuine relationship;
- you are visiting the UK for less than 6 months;
- you will leave the UK at the end of your visit;
- you will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits or make the UK you main home;
- you are able to support yourself during your trip or have funding from someone else to support you;
- you have proof of any activities you plan to do in the UK, as allowed by the Visitor Rules.
What Activities are you permitted on a Marriage Visitor Visa?
A Marriage Visitor visa allows you to:
- marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of your arrival in the UK
- pass through the UK in transit.
What are you not allowed to do on a UK Standard Visitor Visa?
A Marriage Visitor visa does not allow you to:
- receive public funds (benefits)
- bring family members to the UK as dependants (they must apply separately)
- live in the UK for extended periods by way of frequent visits (you can only stay a maximum of 6 months per visit and leave reasonable time before your next visit)
- extend your visa or switch to a different visa category
- work including unpaid or voluntary work – with the exception of permitted activities related to your work or business overseas, such as a business meeting or training
- study

How long can I stay in the UK on a Marriage Visitor visa?

The Marriage Visitor visa is valid for 6 months and you must either get married or give notice of a marriage or civil partnership in the UK within the 6-month period that you are granted.
Can I Switch to another Visa Category while I am in the UK?
Generally speaking, the answer is no.
If a visitor wants to switch to another visa category, such as a spouse visa for instance, they would be expected to return to their country of origin/residence and submit their biometric information (fingerprints and digital photo), and in some instances, supporting documents, from there.
However, this will be on a case by case basis, as there may be some exceptional and compelling circumstances which may prevent the person from returning to their country of origin/residence, resulting in them having to submit an application to switch to another immigration category while they are in the UK.
How do I Apply for a Marriage Visitor Visa?
The earliest you can make an application is 3 months before you will travel to the UK
Application Steps:
- Check if the Marriage Visitor visa is the correct visa that applies to your circumstances
- Be sure you satisfy the eligibility requirements and will only doing permitted activities in the UK
- Complete and submit the application form online (note: If you are coming to the UK with family members, each member will need to submit their own application and pay the required fee)
- Make the application fee payment
- Book an appointment at your local Visa Application Centre (VAC)
- Attend your VAC appointment to provide your biometrics (your photo and fingerprints)
How long do I need to wait for a decision?
Once you have completed all of the application steps, you will usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.
You may be able to get a faster decision if you pay an extra £500 for a decision within 5 working days. This services is subject to the availability at your visa application centre.
What is the Application Fee for a Marriage Visitor Visa?
The current Application Fee for a Marriage Visitor visa is £115 (the same as a UK Standard Visitor Visa). Please note that this is always subject to change; you can find all of the up-to-date visa application fees by visiting the official gov.uk website.
What Documents Will I Need for a Marriage Visitor Visa?
Unfortunately there is no one-size fits all set of documents you will need to support your Marriage visitor visa application, as this will be subject to your and your partner's personal circumstances. However, the general items you will be expected to provide include:
- A valid Passport or travel document
- Proof of your relationship
- Evidence you are planning to get married in the UK, e.g. booking confirmations
- Relevant Financial documents to confirm that you can support yourself while in the UK
- Proof of your accommodation arrangements in the UK
- Confirmation of any travel bookings, or relevant activity plans already scheduled
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What am I allowed to do in the UK on a Marriage Visitor visa?
A. A Marriage Visitor visa is restricted and only allows the following activities:
- Marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of your arrival in the UK
- Pass through the UK in transit.
Q. What am I not allowed to do in the UK on a Standard Visitor visa?
A. You are not allowed to do the following activities on a Marriage Visitor visa:
- Work - You are not allowed to undertake paid or unpaid work in the UK, including working for your own business or undertaking work for someone else.
- Bring family members to the UK as dependants (they must apply separately)
- Receive public funds - You are not allowed to receive public funds or benefits during your stay in the UK.
- Change your immigration status - You cannot apply to switch to another immigration category while in the UK on a Marriage Visitor visa.
- Overstay - You must leave the UK before the expiry of your visa. Overstaying can result in serious consequences, such as being barred from future entry to the UK.
Q. How long is a Marriage Visitor visa valid for?
A. The maximum length of stay in the UK on a Marriage Visitor visa is 6 months.
Q. How much is a Standard Visitor visa?
A. The UKVI application fee for a Marriage Visitor visa is currently £115.
UKVI fees are subject to change so you must always check before applying.
Q. Can I extend my Marriage Visitor visa?
A. No, you are not permitted to extend your Marriage Visitor visa or switch into another visa category.
Q. Can I apply for a Marriage Visitor visa if I’m aged under 18?
A. No, an eligibility requirement is that you must be aged 18 or over to be eligible to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa.
Q. How do I apply for a Standard Visitor visa and when will I get a decision?
A. Once you have checked that you meet the eligibility requirements and need a Marriage Visitor visa. You must apply online and attend an appointment at a visa application centre in your country of residence.
The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you plan on travelling to the UK.
Once you have submitted your application, attended your appointment at the visa centre and provided your supporting documents, you will usually receive a decision within 3 weeks. You will be sent an email or letter with the decision and details of what you need to do next.
You may be able to get a faster decision if you pay an extra £500 for a decision within 5 working days (not including weekends or bank holidays). This service is subject to availability at your visa application centre.
Q. What if I need to change or cancel my application?
A. You will need to contact UKVI or sign into your application and cancel it online.
You will only receive a refund if your application has not yet been processed.
Q. What can I do if my Marriage Visitor visa application is refused?
A. Appeals are not available for Visitor visa refusals.
You can request an administrative review within 28 days of getting the decision. The cost for this is £80. However in most cases, the simplest way to deal with a refusal is to re-apply.
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