One or both are non-EEA nationals or EEA citizens without EUSS status

This information is what is required if one or both of you are non-EEA nationals or EEA citizens without EU Settlement Scheme status.

You will need to bring some original documents with you to your appointment.

What you need to bring

Evidence of nationality

You must bring ONE of the following:

• Valid passport
• Valid British travel document
• Biometric residence card or permit
• British birth certificates
  • If you were born on or after 1 January 1983 and do not have a passport you will also need to bring a parent’s current passport or birth certificate. If your parents were married at the time of your birth, you can bring either your mother or father’s. If your parents were unmarried at the time of your birth you will need to bring your mother’s passport or birth certificate
  • If your mother has changed her name between her birth and your birth apart from through marriage to your father, we would also need to see proof of any change of name such as deed poll or statutory declaration. Their marriage certificate may also help in this case.

If one or both you are EEA nationals without EUSS status then you should look at the information on Non-EEA nationals or EU citizens without EUSS status.

Evidence of your address

Please bring ONE of the following for each person giving notice:

• Utility bill dated no more than three months prior to the date of the appointment
• Bank or building society statement or passbook dated no more than one month prior to the date of the appointment
• Council tax bill dated no more than one year prior to the date of the appointment
• Mortgage statement from the last 12 months
• Current residential tenancy agreement
• Valid driving licence

Photos

Both of the couple needs to provide a colour, passport size style photograph.

Proof of divorce or dissolution

If you have been married or in a civil partnership before, we will need to see:

• Decree absolute or final order

There is an additional fee for consideration of a foreign divorce or dissolution by the Superintendent Registrar or the General Register Office.

If you’ve been widowed or are a surviving civil partner

You will need to bring

• The death certificate of the spouse or civil partner

If you do not bring all the required, original, valid, documentation we will not be able to complete your notice and a further appointment will have to be booked and paid for.

If none of the above are available, please contact the General Register Office on 0300 123 1837 for guidance.

Evidence of any name changes

You will need to provide marriage certificate, deed poll document or other evidence.

 

Home Office guidance for couples subject to immigration controls

Registration officials will be required to refer all marriage and civil partnership notices to the Home Office if one or both of the parties are EEA nationals without EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status granted or applied for before 30 June 2021 or non-EEA nationals who do not provide specified evidence that they have (a) settled status in the UK (Indefinite Leave to Enter or Remain), (b) an EU law right of permanent residence in the UK, (c) a marriage or civil partnership visa, or (d) exemption from immigration control (e.g. with the right of abode in the UK). 

The Home Office may decide to extend the 28 clear day notice period to 70 days where a sham marriage or civil partnership is suspected.  The Home Office will inform both parties, in writing, if this is the case. 

The Home Office will then make a decision whether the marriage or civil partnership schedule can be issued allowing a legal ceremony to take place. If the registration official is content to do so, and all paperwork has been cleared, for example any foreign divorce documents, then the relevant paperwork can be issued after the notice period has expired and the couple can proceed with their marriage or civil partnership. 

If your notice period is extended to 70 days, you will be required to comply with a Home Office investigation. If you do not comply with the investigation, you will be unable to marry or enter into a civil partnership on the basis of that notice.

At the appointment

The registrar will need to see each of you individually and will ask prescribed questions in English.  If one, or both, of you does not have, or only has limited, English language skills then they will need to bring a translator along with them.  A translator can be a family member, friend or community leader but cannot be the partner in the marriage or civil partnership.