Marriage Visitor Visa

What is a Marriage Visitor visa

The Marriage Visitor visa is designed for individuals over the age of 18 who wish to visit the UK to marry or form a civil partnership, or give notice of a marriage or civil partnership, in the UK.

With a Marriage Visitor visa, you must not intend to live in the UK for extended periods or undertake any prohibited activities such as work or study. Once in the UK, the ceremony must take place at a licensed venue within 6 months of arrival.

You don’t need a Marriage Visitor visa to convert your civil partnership into a marriage – you can apply for a Standard Visitor visa.

If you plan on joining your partner in the UK then live and work in the UK, you will need to apply for a Fiancé visa instead.

General requirements

You must have a passport or travel document to enter the UK. It should be valid for the whole of your stay.

In order to qualify for a Marriage Visitor visa you will need to show that: 

• You are over 18 years old; 
• You are free to give notice of marriage and to marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within six months of your arrival;
• You are in a genuine relationship; 
• You will visit the UK for less than six months and will then leave the UK; and
• You have sufficient funds available to you to cover the costs of your visit and your return journey without needing to rely on public funds. 

The exact requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on your circumstances. You may want to speak to an immigration specialist for expert advice.

How long can you stay in the UK

You should make an application for the visa no more than 3 months before you intend to travel.

If successful, you will normally be able to stay in the UK for up to 6 months, during which period you should marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK. 

Processing time and application fees 

The applications will be usually decided within 3 weeks after you have made your online application and provided all your documents including biometrics.

In some visa application centres, priority services may be available subject to availability and additional fees. For applications using priority service, UKVI would aim to make a decision in 5 working days.

The current application fee for a Marriage Visitor visa is £100.

How we can help

Our knowledgeable and experienced immigration team can:

• Assess your case and advise whether you are eligible to apply
• Provide you with a tailored & comprehensive document list
• Review all your documents and advise on necessary amendments
• Suggest on how to improve your application
• Complete your application forms in accordance with the UKVI requirements
• Assist you to complete the application submission process
• Provide our representation letter to support your application with necessary legal arguments
• Liaise with UKVI on your behalf

Depending on your need and budget, we have different levels of services that you may choose from. Check out Our Services to see which one is for you. 

Want to discuss your case with an immigration specialist? Contact Us now.