Documentation required for marriage and civil partnerships

Please read the following information carefully. The rules regarding the proof that must be produced to give notice are very strict, and we will be unable to take your notice without all of the following documents.

You must bring originals of the following documents to your appointment:

  • details of the final venue for your ceremony
  • a valid passport or UK birth certificate (if you were born before 1 January 1983)
  • proof of your home address
  • proof of any name changes, for example, a copy of a deed poll

Until 30 June 2021, you can use a national identity card from the EU, European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland instead of a valid passport.

To prove your address, bring one of the following:

  • a valid UK or Irish driving licence
  • a gas, water or electricity bill from the last 3 months
  • a bank or building society statement from the last month
  • a Council Tax bill from the last 12 months
  • a mortgage statement from the last 12 months
  • a current tenancy agreement
  • a letter from your landlord (dated within the last 7 days) confirming you live there and including your landlord’s name, address and their signature

Until 30 June 2021, you can also use a driving licence from the EU, EEA or Switzerland as proof of UK address.

If your normal address is outside the UK, you’ll need to give details of a UK contact address. For example, this could be your partner, friend or family member’s address.

If you’ve been married or in a civil partnership before

You will also need to bring one of the following documents:

You need to bring proof of your divorce, annulment or dissolution if it was granted outside of the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man. You will need to pay a fee of £50 for the local register office to check your documents or £75 if the General Register Office needs to check them.

If you or your partner are from outside the UK

You will also need to bring:

  • a passport sized photo for each of you, even if only one of you from outside the UK
  • proof of your current immigration status, for example, your visa
  • a translation of any documents that are not in English

If you are from the EU, EEA or Switzerland

You will only need to bring the passport photos, proof of your immigration status and translated documents if you’re giving notice on or after 1 July 2021.

If you are giving notice from 1 July 2021, you’ll also need to bring confirmation of either:

  • your settled or pre-settled status - you’ll need to bring a ‘share code’ which you can get from the ‘view and prove your immigration status’ service, which will be valid for 30 days
  • an application to the EU settlement scheme you made on or before 30 June 2021, which is awaiting a decision (you’ll need to bring your certificate of application)

Once you have given notice of marriage or civil partnership, the information you have supplied is displayed on our public notice board for a period of 28 clear days. You are able to get married or form a civil partnership on any suitable day after the 28 days have expired and the notice is valid for a period of 12 months.

For some people from outside the European Union, the waiting period may be extended to 70 days. This is a decision that will be taken by the Home Office after notice has been given and they will contact you should this happen. These applicants may also need to provide additional documents when giving notice. Ask us for full details before making an appointment with us.

Further information

To arrange a marriage, give notice or make a provisional appointment, please see the marriage and civil partnership webpage.

Help us to improve this website

Use this form to provide feedback on this webpage. Don't use it to contact us about a service or make a complaint. We will not reply, even if you include personal details such as your name and address. If you want us to reply, you should contact us in a different way.

What is your feedback for this webpage?

Give feedback about this page