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Giving notice of marriage or civil partnership

It is a legal requirement to give notice in advance of marriage or civil partnership. Your notice is publicly displayed for fifteen days, after which the authority for your marriage or civil partnership can be granted. Each notice is valid for one year, but if you decide to change venue, new notices must be given.

If you are getting married in the Church of England or Church in Wales, then you do not usually have to give notice of marriage.

If you are having a civil marriage or civil partnership, you both need to go to your local register office to give notice. If you plan holding your marriage or civil partnership in a different area, you should also contact the local register office for that area before you give notice, to ensure that officials will be available on the day.

You both must give notice in person - no one else can do it on your behalf.

If you are giving notice in Wales, you may give this in English, or in English and Welsh. If notice is to be given bilingually, both the couple giving notice and the officer must be able to understand the Welsh language. All local authorities in Wales have at least one Welsh speaking officer or deputy.

Before you give notice, you should make sure that you are able to satisfy the laws concerning residency and immigration control.

• Search for your local register office Opens new window

Your residency status before giving notice

You both need to have lived in the area in which you wish to give notice for at least seven full days, immediately before giving notice.

For example, if you arrive on Tuesday 1 March, the seven day period starts the following day, Wednesday 2 March, and is complete on Tuesday 8 March. You can then give notice on Wednesday 9 March.

This applies to all including those travelling from overseas for a marriage or civil partnership in England and Wales. Exceptions to this are listed below, but only if neither party are subject to immigration control:

For marriages:

• British or Commonwealth citizens are able to give notice in the country they are living in, provided that that country has signed up to the 'British Subjects Facilities Acts 1915 and 1916'. You can find out which countries are eligible below. The other party must be a resident of England or Wales
  

For marriage and civil partnerships:

• if one person is resident in England and Wales, then the other person may also give notice in Scotland
  
• officers, seamen or marines on one of Her Majesty's ships at sea can give notice to the captain or other officer commanding the ship, provided the other person is resident in England and Wales

• Download list of countries signed up to 'British Subjects Facilities Acts 1915 & 1916' (PDF, 12K)

• More about overseas marriages and civil partnerships

• Search for your local register office Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

If you are subject to immigration control

If you or your partner are subject to immigration control, you need to give notice of a marriage or civil partnership.

You can do this at one of the 76 designated register offices in England and Wales. You need to attend the register office together.

• Download 'Designated register offices in England and Wales' (PDF, 29K) Opens new window

If you want to come to the UK to marry or register a civil partnership, you will need to get the correct entry clearance. You will need this before you travel to the UK.

• Documents you need if you are subject to immigration control Opens new window

You are not subject to immigration control if you have the right of abode in the UK, or are one of the following:

• a British citizen
• an EEA national
• a member of visiting forces from NATO and Commonwealth countries
• a diplomat that is not subject to immigration control

• Visit the Home Office website Opens new window

• UK Border Agency website Opens new window

Details you need to provide to give notice

You have to provide the details listed below to give notice:

• full name
• age - the minimum legal age in England and Wales is 16 years of age, but written consent may be required under 18 years
• address
• nationality
• current status – for example single, divorced
• occupation
• intended venue for your marriage or civil partnership
  

You will be asked for documentary evidence to prove, for example, your name, nationality, age and address. Check the table below to see which documents you can use. Take these documents with you to your appointment to give notice.

Also, if you have been married before or in a civil partnership you'll have to provide evidence of the divorce or dissolution of that relationship.

If you don’t have any of these documents, talk to the Superintendent Registrar of the district where you want to give notice. They will tell you if there’s any other evidence they can accept.

• Getting a copy of a divorce or dissolution

For events in Scotland or Northern Ireland

You can contact the relevant General Register Office using the links below.

• General Register Office for Scotland Opens new window

• General Register Office for Northern Ireland Opens new window

More useful links

• Greener weddings

• Order a commemorative marriage certificate

• Licences

• About changes to names and personal details on passports

Useful contacts

• The National Archives

• Census information Opens new window

• General Register Office