A notice of marriage or notice of civil partnership is a legal document showing the names of the 2 people who are getting married or registering a civil partnership, and the venue where their ceremony will take place.
You can get married or enter into a civil partnership if you:
- are 18 or over
- are not already married or in a civil partnership
- are not closely related
- have confirmed a ceremony venue
- have lived in the registration area for at least 7 full days
You will need to decide whether you want to get married or enter a civil partnership before giving notice.
When to give notice
Once you have chosen your venue you should each give notice of your intention to marry or to form a civil partnership.
This can be done up to 12 months before the ceremony. The latest you can give notice is 28 days before the ceremony.
Documents
You must bring these documents to your appointment:
- proof of your name, date of birth, nationality and address
- immigration status, if applicable. This can be a share code from GOV.UK
- either a divorce document or your partner’s death certificate (if you have been married or in a civil partnership before)
- a full translated copy (if your documents are not in English)
- proof of any name changes (for example, a copy of a deed poll)
All documents must be originals. We cannot accept photocopies, scans or emails.
Single or joint notice appointment
You can each have a single notice appointment in the district in which you live if you both hold any of the following
- British citizenship
- Irish citizenship
- EU settled or pre-settled status (applied before June 2021)
- Exemption from immigration control, such as right of abode, diplomatic or military exemption
If you or your partner are from outside the UK
You must give notice in a joint appointment in the district in which one of you lives if either partner is from outside the UK and does not hold:
- British citizenship
- Irish citizenship
- EU settled or pre-settled status (applied before June 2021)
- Exemption from immigration control, such as right of abode, diplomatic or military exemption
Home Office Referral Scheme
Your notices will be referred to the Home Office if you give notice without the right visa for marriage if you do not hold:
- indefinite leave to remain
- a marriage visa
This means:
- you will need to pay an additional fee at your notice for the referral
- your waiting period may be extended to 70 days
- the home office might not to approve your marriage or civil partnership
If either partner cannot speak English you will need to bring an interpreter to the appointment. The interpreter does not have to be a professional. They can be a friend or relative.
You cannot translate for your partner.
If you do not bring a translator, and one is needed, the appointment will be cancelled.
Fees
- £42 per person – Standard fee
- £57 per person — if you are subject to the Home Office referral scheme
- £6.50 per person — non-refundable admin fee
You must pay a deposit when you book online. The deposit will be used towards payment for the service
Foreign divorces
If you have been divorced outside the UK, you will need to pay an extra fee of £55 or £83, depending on the documents you provide. For more information see fees and charges
How to give notice
Book a marriage notice appointment
Book a civil partnership appointment
You must give notice in a face-to-face appointment with the registrar. You cannot give notice:
- in writing or by email
- by video call
- on behalf of someone else
Changing or cancelling the appointment
Your deposit goes toward the cost of the service.
If you cancel or change your appointment, you may be charged an extra fee.
Requests to change or cancel must be sent by contacting us online
You can cancel or change the appointment up to 3 working days before the appointment date.
You will be charged if your request is sent with less than 5 days’ notice.
Getting married or forming a civil partnership abroad
If you are planning on having your ceremony abroad there are some things you need to do to make sure your marriage, or civil partnership is legal.
You need to:
- check the legal process for marriage in your chosen country
- contact the relevant consulate or embassy for advice about the documents you need
Certificate of No Impediment (CNI)
If you have been asked to obtain a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) you can get this by attending a notice appointment with your local register office.
A CNI can only be issued to a British citizen.
After you attend your appointment, you need to wait 28 days before the certificate can be issued. You will need to allow enough time for your CNI to be issued before you travel abroad.
Before the appointment, you need to confirm the following details with the foreign country's authorities:
- how the place where you are having your ceremony should be listed (such as the town or city’s name, or the exact building where the ceremony will take place)
- how long before the ceremony the certificate needs to be issued (which can be anything from a few months to a year)