Persons residing abroad
If you are both EU citizens and you wish to get married or form
a civil partnership in England or Wales and one or both of you are
not resident in this country, then you must first establish a
residency of seven clear days within a district in England or
Wales. The day of your arrival in England or Wales does not count
as part of your residency. The first day of your residency begins
at 00:00 hours on the day after your arrival (for example; if you
arrive at 16:00 on Monday 15 February your first day of residence
would commence at 00:00 hours on Tuesday 16 February) and you have
to stay within one single registration district for the next seven
days. On the ninth day after your arrival you will then be free to
give ‘Notice’ in the Register Office for the borough in which you
have established that residency (for example, if you arrive on a
Monday then you will be free to give Notice of Intent on the
following Tuesday). You should both attend the Register Office,
taking with you any relevant documents. It will cost
£35.00 each when you give Notice of Intent’
The Superintendent Registrar will interview both of you and will
verify your documents. The Notices will be displayed on the public
Notice Boards of the Register Offices where the Notices were given
for 15 clear days and only then can the Authorities for Marriage or
Civil Partnership Schedule be issued. (You do not have to remain in
this country for the 15 days and may return and use the
Authorities/Schedule to get married or form a civil partnership up
to a year after giving Notice).
If one or both of you are non-EU Citizens and you wish to get
married or form a civil partnership in England or Wales and one or
both of you are not resident in this country, then you will have to
establish a residency of seven clear days within a district in
England or Wales. The day of your arrival in England or Wales does
not count as part of your residency. The first day of your
residency begins at 00:00 hours on the day after your arrival (i.e
if you arrive at 16:00 on Monday 15 February your first day or
residence would commence at 00:00 hours on Tuesday 16 February) and
you have to stay within one single registration district for the
next seven days. On the ninth day after your arrival you will then
be free to give Notice’ of Intent at a designated Register Office
(for example, if you arrive on a Monday then you will be free to
give Notice on the following Tuesday). You should both attend that
Register Office, taking with you any relevant documents. It will
cost £35.00 each when you give Notice.
The Superintendent Registrar will interview
you both and will verify your documents. The Notices will be
displayed on the public Notice Boards of the Register Offices where
the Notices were given for 15 clear days and only then can the
‘Authorities/Schedule’ be issued. (You do not have to remain in
this country for the 15 days and may return and use the
'Authorities/Schedule' to get married or form a civil partnership
up to a year after giving Notice). If you are unsure of any of the
above information please speak with a member of the Register Office
Team on 020 7361 4100 who will be able to assist you further.
Important: In addition to the above, you will need to refer to
the following link
Information for non-EU citizens for further
details.