The UK Marriage Visitor Visa (Wedding / Civil Partnership Visit)

The UK Marriage Visitor visa lets you travel to the UK for up to 6 months to get married or register a civil partnership (or give notice and complete the ceremony), without settling in the UK afterwards. It’s a visit route, so you must show your plans are temporary and that you will leave at the end of your visit.

Who this is for

• Couples who want to marry in the UK or enter a civil partnership and then leave the UK after the ceremony

• People who need the correct visa specifically to marry (you cannot do this on a Standard Visitor visa)

• Visitors planning a wedding, civil partnership, or giving notice in the UK within a short stay

What we do

• Route check – confirm this is the right option (Marriage Visitor vs Fiancé/Spouse routes)

• Eligibility review – check you meet the core visitor tests: genuine relationship, intention to leave, funding, and short stay

• Document checklist – tailored list for your circumstances (finances, travel, ceremony arrangements, ties to home country)

• Application preparation – help with online form answers, document uploading and presentation

• Refusal-risk review – spot issues that commonly trigger refusal (weak “intention to leave”, unclear plans, missing evidence)

What you will need (at a glance)

• Valid passport

• Evidence of your plan to marry / register a civil partnership (e.g., booking/venue details, correspondence with register office/venue, ceremony plans)

• Evidence your relationship is genuine

• Proof you can pay for the trip (bank statements, payslips, sponsor support evidence if someone is funding you)

• Travel plan (dates, accommodation, return plan)

• Proof you will leave the UK (work/Study commitments, family responsibilities, property/tenancy, ongoing ties in your home country)

• TB test certificate (only if required for your country and visa type)

(We will provide a tailored checklist for your application.)

How it works

1. Consultation & plan – confirm your ceremony timeline and the right route

2. Evidence & drafting – organise documents and prepare a clear, consistent application pack

3. Submit & biometrics – file online, upload documents, attend biometrics/ID steps

4. Decision & travel prep – get decision, prepare what to carry for entry (plans + return evidence)

Timelines & fees

• You will usually get a decision within 3 weeks of your biometric appointment (or after you prove your identity and submit documents, where applicable)

• Home Office application fee: £127

• You may be able to pay for priority processing in some locations

• Any professional fee (if you’re using a service) is separate from Home Office fees

FAQs

How long can I stay on a Marriage Visitor visa?
Up to 6 months. You must leave by the end of the visit.

Can I work in the UK on this visa?
No — work is not permitted on visitor routes.

Can I study in the UK on this visa?
Only incidental study may be allowed under visitor rules (it must not be your main purpose).

Can I switch to a spouse/partner visa from inside the UK after the wedding?
No — the Marriage Visitor route is for marrying and then leaving. If you want to live in the UK after marrying, you normally need a fiancé(e) or partner/spouse route instead.

Can I get married on a Standard Visitor visa?
No — you generally cannot give notice, marry, or form a civil partnership on a Standard Visitor visa.