Main purpose
To give notice, get married or form a civil partnership during a temporary UK visit.
Overview
What is a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitor Visa and who is it for?
The Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitor Visa is a short-term visitor route for someone who wants to come to the UK to marry, form a civil partnership or give notice of marriage or civil partnership during a temporary visit.
This route is not for people who intend to stay in the UK after the wedding or civil partnership. If the plan is to marry a British or settled partner and then remain in the UK, a family or fiance-route strategy may be more appropriate. Using the wrong route can create refusal risk and future immigration problems.
A strong application should explain the relationship, the marriage or civil partnership arrangements, the applicant’s personal and financial circumstances, the source of funds for the trip, and why the applicant will leave the UK at the end of the visit.
Latest position
What are the current visitor visa rules and fees?
2026 visitor fee update
The current Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitor Visa fee is £135 for a stay of up to 6 months.
Correct route warning
This route is for visitors who do not intend to live in the UK after the marriage or civil partnership. People planning to settle with a UK-based partner usually need a different immigration strategy.
Non-visa nationals and ETA
Travellers who would normally visit without a visa or with ETA permission should still check carefully. A person coming to the UK to marry, form a civil partnership or give notice usually needs the correct marriage visitor permission unless an exemption applies.
No dependant route
Family members do not join as dependants under this route. A partner who also needs permission must apply separately, and a child normally applies under the relevant visitor route if required.
Key facts
Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitor Visa UK: key points before you apply
Maximum stay
Up to 6 months from arrival in the UK.
Minimum age
The applicant must be 18 or over on the date of application.
Relationship evidence
The application should show the relationship is genuine and the marriage or civil partnership is not a sham arrangement.
No UK settlement
The route is not for remaining in the UK after the ceremony.
Current fee
£135 for the application, with optional priority services where available.
Eligibility
Who can qualify for a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitor Visa?
An applicant must be at least 18, must intend to marry, form a civil partnership or give notice in the UK within the period of permission, and must show that the relationship and ceremony plans are genuine.
The applicant must also meet the normal visitor requirements. This means they should be visiting for a permitted purpose, have enough funds for the trip, be able to pay for return or onward travel, and intend to leave the UK at the end of the visit.
The route is not suitable where the applicant plans to make the UK their main home, live in the UK through frequent or successive visits, switch into another route after arrival, or remain with a spouse or partner after the ceremony.
Permitted activities
What can and cannot be done on a Marriage Visitor Visa?
Permitted purpose
The visitor can give notice, marry or form a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of arrival, using a venue or process legally recognised for the purpose.
Transit and limited visitor activities
The visitor can pass through the UK in transit and may undertake other permitted visitor activities, provided the main purpose and conditions of the route remain satisfied.
Not a settlement route
The visitor cannot use this route to live in the UK after marriage, access public funds, bring dependants, work, study, switch into another visa route or extend as a normal plan.
Documents
What documents are usually important for Marriage Visitor Visa?
The evidence should be tailored to the applicant’s purpose of visit, funds, sponsor support, travel history and reasons to return home. A strong application explains the visit clearly rather than relying on a long but unfocused document bundle.
Marriage or civil partnership arrangements
Evidence may include notice appointment details, register office or venue booking, ceremony correspondence, payment receipts or other proof of genuine plans.
Relationship and personal history
Evidence should show a genuine relationship, previous meetings, communication, future plans and freedom to marry, including divorce or death evidence if previously married.
Visitor credibility and funds
Passport, travel history, employment or business evidence, financial documents, accommodation details, sponsor evidence and home-country ties should support a temporary visit.
Request a visitor visa document review
We can review your visitor evidence before the application is prepared and help identify gaps, contradictions and refusal risks.
Request Document ReviewFees
How much does Marriage Visitor Visa cost?
Marriage Visitor Visa application fee
£135
Current fee for a stay of up to 6 months.
Priority decision service
£500
May be available in some locations for a faster decision within 5 working days.
Super priority decision service
£1,000
May be available in some locations for a faster decision within 24 hours, excluding weekends and bank holidays.
Family or partner applying separately
£135
A partner who needs a Marriage Visitor Visa must apply separately and pay the fee.
Child visitor application
£135
A child who needs visitor permission normally applies under the relevant visitor route, not as a dependant under this route.
Professional document review
Case-dependent
Advice cost depends on relationship history, previous marriages, previous refusals, country risk, urgency and evidence complexity.
Extension
Can this visitor visa be extended?
A Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitor Visa should be planned as a temporary visit of up to 6 months. It is not designed for switching into another immigration route or remaining in the UK after the ceremony.
Public-facing route guidance states that this visa cannot be extended or switched. Very limited visitor extension provisions may exist where permission was originally granted for less than 6 months, but this should not be treated as a normal strategy. The safest planning point is to complete the visit and leave before the permission expires.
Settlement
Does this visitor route lead to ILR or settlement?
A Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitor Visa does not lead to ILR, settlement, British citizenship or a partner route from inside the UK. It is a temporary visitor route only.
If the couple intends to live together in the UK after marriage or civil partnership, the correct long-term partner or family route should be assessed before travel rather than after arrival.
How we help
How Access Global supports Marriage Visitor Visa applicants
Build the case around genuine relationship, ceremony plans and return intention
We help applicants and couples assess whether the Marriage Visitor route is correct, organise relationship and ceremony evidence, address previous marriage or refusal issues, and prepare a clear visitor case focused on temporary intention.
Process
Marriage Visitor Visa support pathway
1
Initial consultation
We review the couple’s plans, nationality, travel history, previous applications, ceremony timing and whether the visitor route is appropriate.
2
Route strategy
We assess whether the Marriage Visitor route, Standard Visitor route or partner/fiance route is the correct immigration path.
3
Evidence review
We check relationship evidence, ceremony plans, freedom-to-marry documents, finances, accommodation and home-country ties.
4
Application support
We help structure the application and supporting documents so the purpose of visit is clear and consistent.
5
Outcome planning
We advise on travel timing, border-document readiness, future partner-route planning and refusal-risk management where needed.
Ask Access Global Immigration Visa Experts to review your visitor visa case
We can assess purpose of visit, permitted activities, financial evidence, sponsor support, home ties, travel history and refusal risks before the application is submitted.
FAQs
Marriage Visitor Visa FAQs
What is a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitor Visa?
It is a short-term visitor visa for someone who wants to come to the UK to give notice, get married or form a civil partnership, without planning to live in the UK after the ceremony.
How long can I stay in the UK on a Marriage Visitor Visa?
The visa allows a temporary visit of up to 6 months.
How much is the Marriage Visitor Visa fee in 2026?
The current application fee is £135. Optional priority services may be available in some locations for an additional fee.
Can I stay in the UK after getting married on a Marriage Visitor Visa?
No. This route is not for settlement. You should plan to leave the UK before your permission expires.
Can I switch to a spouse visa inside the UK after marrying on this visa?
No. The route is not intended for switching into a partner or spouse route from inside the UK.
Do I need this visa if I am a non-visa national or have ETA permission?
A person coming to the UK to marry, form a civil partnership or give notice usually needs the correct marriage visitor permission unless an exemption applies. This should be checked before travel.
Do I need a Marriage Visitor Visa to convert a civil partnership into a marriage?
A separate Marriage Visitor Visa is not normally needed just to convert an existing civil partnership into a marriage. The correct visitor position should still be checked before travel.
Can my partner and child apply with me as dependants?
There is no dependant route under a Marriage Visitor Visa. A partner who needs permission must apply separately, and a child normally applies under the relevant visitor route if required.
What documents are important for a Marriage Visitor Visa?
Important evidence usually includes passport, ceremony or notice arrangements, relationship evidence, proof of freedom to marry, financial evidence, accommodation details and evidence of reasons to leave the UK.
What if I was married before?
You should provide evidence that the previous marriage or civil partnership has legally ended, such as divorce or death evidence, depending on the circumstances.
Can I work or study on a Marriage Visitor Visa?
No. The route does not allow work or study. Only limited permitted visitor activities may be allowed where they are not the main purpose of the visit.
How can Access Global help with a Marriage Visitor Visa?
We can assess the correct route, review relationship and ceremony evidence, identify refusal risks, organise the document strategy and support the application from eligibility review to outcome planning.