Give notice of marriage or civil partnership

Immigration laws changed from 1 July 2021 - Giving notice

Immigration laws changed on 1st July 2021 changing the process for giving notice and the documentation required. There are two types of nationality defined by the Immigration Service: a relevant national and a foreign national.

A relevant national is a British Citizen, an Irish Citizen or a person who has been granted EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status (either settled or pre-settled or has a pending application for that status (submitted before 30th June 2021).

A foreign national is an EEA national without EUSS settled status, EUSS pre- settled or pending application to the EUSS OR any other person from any other country.

Relevant Nationals

If you are a relevant national then before you can be married or form a civil partnership in England or Wales you must give notice of your intention to the Superintendent Registrar in the District where you live. Please note this does not apply to the Church of England or Church of Wales.

If you are unsure where to give your notice, it is the register office in the local authority area to which you pay your Council Tax.

If you and your partner are relevant nationals a notice appointment will not be booked until you have booked a date, time and venue for your ceremony with the Registrar in the District where the venue is located.

Foreign Nationals

If you are a foreign national before you can be married or form a civil partnership in England or Wales you and your partner must give notice together of your intention to the Superintendent Registrar in the District where one of you lives. If you are unsure where to give your notice, it is the register office in the local authority area to which you pay your Council Tax.

We highly recommend you only book a ceremony once you have a confirmed notice appointment with your local register office. We would also recommend that the ceremony date you choose is more than 70 days after the date of your notice appointment.

If you plan to marry in a Church of England or Wales and are a foreign national you will be required to give notice at the Register Office as outlined above. Banns cannot be read.