Marriage Visitor Visa
A Marriage Visitor visa is a short-term visa for foreign nationals who intend to come to the UK purely for the reasons of getting married or registering a civil partnership and must leave the UK at the end of their trip. You will not be able to get married or enter a civil partnership in the UK on a Standard Visitor visa.
You do not require a Marriage Visitor visa if you:
- Intend to convert an existing civil partnership into a marriage. You can apply for a Standard Visitor visa
- Have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
- Have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme, and have not got a decision yet
- You are an Irish citizen
Our solicitors can assist you with your Marriage Visit visa application, help with advising on visa requirements, complete the application form, review necessary documents and other supporting evidence, and accompany the process until your visa is issued.
If your Marriage Visit visa has been refused, you do not normally have a right to appeal the decision. Depending on your particular circumstances, our solicitors can help you with reapplying for a new visa or challenging the decision by making an application for Judicial Review or Administrative Review on your behalf.
Get in touch with our team today
and one of our solicitors will contact you to discuss your visa support requirements
What I can or cannot do during my visit
As a Marriage Visit visa holder, you can:
- Marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of your arrival at a licensed venue
- Pass through the UK in transit, on your way to another country
You cannot do the following:
- Get public funds (benefits)
- Bring in family members (‘dependants’) – they must apply separately
- Live in the UK for extended periods through frequent visits
- Extend your visa or switch to another visa
- Work – except for permitted activities related to your work or business overseas, such as attending meetings
- Study
What are the requirements for a Marriage Visitor visa?
You can apply for a Marriage Visitor visa if you are 18 or over, in a genuine relationship, free to give notice of marriage, to marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of your arrival.
You shall not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home. You must leave the UK at the end of your trip.
What documents and information are required to make an application?
You must have a valid passport or travel document that has a blank page on both sides for your visa. You shall also provide the following information in your application:
- Travel dates
- Where you will be staying in the UK
- Financial details related to your trip, including your annual earnings, if any
- Your parents’ names and date of birth
- Details of any criminal, civil or immigration offences you may have committed
You will also be required to provide:
- Details of the marriage or civil partnership and proof that you’ve paid money for some of its costs
- Proof that you’re planning to get married in the UK, for example, a booking confirmation or emails between you and the venue
- If you’ve been married before, you will need to show proof that you are free to marry or enter into a civil partnership again, for example:
If you’ve been married before, you will need to show proof that you are free to marry or enter into a civil partnership again, for example:
- Decree Absolute or Final Order
- Death certificate of a previous spouse
You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.
You will need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.
How can I apply? How long does it take to get a decision?
You can apply up to 3 months before your intended travel. You will be required to submit an online application and book an appointment at the visa application centre to prove your identity and provide documents. At your appointment, you will need to:
- prove your identity with your current passport or valid travel documen
- have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken
- provide the required documents that show you are eligible for a visa
You can apply up to 3 months before your intended travel. You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre as per the current visa processing times. The actual time varies depending on the complexity of your case and whether your application is straightforward.
You may be able to get your visa faster, using priority service (within 5 working days) or super-priority service (next working day) if these services are available in the country you are applying from.
How long can I stay in the UK?
Marriage Visitor visa allows you to stay in the UK for up to 6 months and you must leave the UK at the end of your visit.
What can I do if my visa is refused?
If your Marriage Visitor visa application has been refused you do not normally have a right to appeal the decision. Depending on your particular circumstances, you might be able to challenge the UK Visas and Immigration’s decision or to make a new visa application.
If you decide to reapply, you shall address in the new visa application all reasons for your refusal, providing all missing information and relevant supporting evidence. If you choose to challenge the decision maker’s refusal of your visa, you may be able to make an application for Judicial Review to challenge the lawfulness of the decision, or for Administrative Review if a mistake was made by the decision maker when issuing your visa refusal.