Religious weddings and civil partnerships are recognised by law across the United Kingdom. While the former needs a religious location (worship place) to happen, the latter occurs either at an approved venue or the Register office. However, it’s imperative to inform the authorised body of your impending marriage. Considering that an average of 242,842 marriages are registered annually, this article will be of importance to you if you’re planning to get married anytime soon. That said, here are some things to note as you tie the knot.
There are legal fees involved
If you need to travel to the UK to get married, the law makes it mandatory to pay some legal fees. Therefore, you will need to pay an application fee of £95 when applying for a visa. You will also have to apply under the marriage and civil partnership visitor visa. Furthermore, a notice of your impending nuptials requires another fee of £35 each at the Register office. On the other hand, you will pay £47if one or both of you are from outside the EU. Additionally, it will cost you about £11 to process your marriage certificate, after which you will receive it four days after application.
The dynamics are different when marrying a UK national
For non-UK citizens, marriage to a UK national comes with some requirements. First of all, you will have to apply for a UK spouse visa if you are not living in the jurisdiction. Meanwhile, there are other options to consider, including:
- Family of a settled person visa.
- Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitor visa
It’s prudent to extend your visa after marriage, especially when children come into the picture. A UK spouse visa extension grants you the right to continue living in the country for an additional period of no more than thirty months, after which you can subsequently apply for continuous residency. However, this is not a given because the law requires that you fulfil specific requirements to prove the existence of your marriage to the UK national. Indeed, the processes may vary in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England, but you have the right to do your search first.
You must have the necessary documentation
In the United Kingdom, there cannot be a marriage without proof of identification and the completion of vital paperwork. First, you need a valid passport to serve as proof of your name. Besides, you must present a birth certificate to confirm your actual age and a valid document to prove your nationality.
Furthermore, the law requires that you provide proof of address, whether a recent utility bill or a valid driver’s license. In a situation where your former spouse or civil partner dies, you must present their death certificate to prove it. Last but not least, you should include documents or paperwork indicating details of the location and date you both intend to get married.
Marriage is beautiful, making it imperative to follow the needed requirements. Hopefully, you’ll consider this guide for a successful union in the UK.
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