Hoping for a dream wedding in England, Scotland or Wales? In 2018, the rush for Brexit and the great debate on immigration have made it a more difficult and longer process than ever. This is what you need to know.
If your dream wedding idea involves a romantic ceremony in an English castle, posing for your wedding photos against some ruined battlements in Scotland or Wales, or processing a country lane to a picturesque English church, you’ll have to plan ahead – especially if you are visiting from abroad.
The Home Office, that part of the UK government that deals with all immigration matters, has tightened rules and extended waiting periods in an effort to crack down on sham marriages.
Don’t worry though, if you are legally free to marry, you are at least 16 years old (with your parents’ permission if you are under 18 in England and Wales) and in a genuine relationship, you can get married in England, Scotland or Wales. . You may have to wait a bit longer and if one or both of you are not UK citizens you will need to pay attention to some special rules and regulations.
Marriage rules related to EU status
As of February 2018, the rules that apply to EU citizens living in the UK and UK citizens living in the EU have not changed. But once Brexit happens, now scheduled for later this year, that could change.
Immigration Rules Now Affecting Marriages
All marriages and civil partnerships involving a UK citizen are now subject to longer waiting periods before the wedding or civil partnership can take place. In addition, other requirements could add to a waiting and residency period of between 36 and 77 days.
In March 2015, the required waiting period after submitting a notice of intention to marry, for all couples, including UK and EU citizens, regardless of nationality, was extended from 15 days to 28 days . The change is effective throughout the UK, including England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Furthermore, marriages and civil associations with one or both parties who are not EU citizens will be referred to the Ministry of the Interior for investigation and have the option to extend the investigation period up to 70 days if there is reason to suspect.
It can be difficult to treat couples who plan such happy and romantic events as criminal suspects and subject them to investigations and possible delays. But the fact is, UK authorities see sham marriages as a way to abuse the UK immigration system and they are on the rise. In the three months after the change in regulations requiring registrars to report suspicious marriage requests to the Interior Ministry, arrests increased by 60 percent. And in 2013/2014, authorities intervened in more than 1,300 simulated marriages, more than double the previous year.
What it means to you
Not much has changed, except for the time periods involved and the possibility of investigations. If you think your wedding plans and immigration status are completely straightforward, you just need to plan for the extra time for investigations when you reserve your wedding venue.
One way around this is to apply for a marriage visitor visa before entering the UK. If you are not planning to settle in the UK this may be the easiest thing to do as once you get one you are not subject to further investigation by the Home Office. All research is done prior to entering the UK as part of the visa application process.
You can apply online, but you must appear in person at a visa application center in order to be photographed and fingerprinted with your visa biometrics.
Read more about the requirements for a marriage visitor visa and how to obtain it.
Find a list of UK visa application centers around the world.
What if you are already in the UK?
Well, that depends. As with anything involving government agencies, the rules and regulations are complicated and it is not easy to get clear answers. According to a Home Office spokesperson, ‘a non-EEA national (Editor’s Note: EEA = European Economic Area, or EU plus Switzerland for you and me) who is in the UK as a student or visitor will be referred to the Ministry of the Interior when they give notice and may be subject to a notice period of 70 days. In other words, if you are already in the UK and have not entered with a Marriage Visitor Visa, your application may be subject to investigation and the waiting period could be extended from the minimum of 28 days to 70 days.
What else do you need to know?
If you are planning your wedding or civil partnership in England or Wales, you must allow 7 days in a registration district before filing a notice of your intention to marry (what used to be called “posting the bans”). This is in addition to the waiting period of 28 to 70 days after you submit the notice, as described above. If you are not a UK citizen, you both may need to be present for this.
If you are considering joining a civil society, you should be aware that this option is only available to same-sex couples. Same-sex couples wanting a traditional marriage can arrange one in England, Scotland and Wales, but not in Northern Ireland (where only civil partnerships are available) /
These rules, along with the required documentation, visa rules and fees for getting married in England and Wales can be found under Marriages and Civil Alliances on the UK Government website.
Different rules in Scotland
The rules for getting married in Scotland are slightly different. For one thing, there is no residency requirement. You must submit a notice of your intention to marry, and the waiting period that follows is the same as in England and Wales, but you do not have to be present at the registrar’s office to do so. And, in Scotland, 16-year-old couples can marry without parental consent, making young lovers a romantic, albeit increasingly rare, option. Find the rules and requirements for getting married in Scotland on the Scottish General Registrar Office website.
Immigration status
There are a few last issues to be aware of. If citizens of your country are subject to immigration controls, you will need to comply with the conditions that apply to you before obtaining a marriage visa. And, if you are entitled to UK citizenship, under certain conditions, for example children born and raised in former British colonies, you may need to become a UK citizen or apply for dual citizenship before you can get married in the UK. United,
If everything seems very complicated and confusing, unfortunately, for some people, it can be. Unless your requirements are completely straightforward and you enter the UK only for a ceremony or ritual and leave afterwards, figuring out what to do can be difficult. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the UK websites listed in this article and, if necessary, consult an expert in immigration law.
