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Council Services

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Getting Married

Marriages Abroad

Our advice...
If you are intending to get married outside England and Wales you may be asked for a Certificate of No Impediment or proof that you are single.

We can issue this certificate provided you are a British passport holder or have a passport from a British Commonwealth country.

We cannot issue it to other foreign nationals (including Europeans). If you are both British or Commonwealth nationals you will both need to get a certificate.

Before we can issue the certificate you must give notice of marriage.

For those already married abroad

You cannot register a marriage in this country if you have already been married abroad. British law recognises all marriages oversees provided the ceremony is legal in the country where it took place. (This includes customary and traditional marriages in Africa, Islamic marriages in Pakistan and Bangladesh or any Islamic country).

If you marry abroad then you should get a certificate or document of confirmation from that country - and any foreigners married abroad wishing to come to this country with a British husband or wife should obtain a spouse visa or settlement visa (not a fiancé(e) visa).

You cannot be married in this country if you are already married to someone else in any country of the world.

More help

For further information please contact us on 020 8430 3617 or email us - see Get in Touch for contact details and opening times.
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