A Guide To Marriage And Civil Partnership Visit Visas

• Published date: 20 July 2022
• Subject Matter: Immigration, Family and Matrimonial, Family Law, General Immigration, Work Visas
• Law Firm: Richmond Chambers Immigration Barristers
• Author: Ms Alexandra Pease

In summary, Appendix V of the Immigration Rules provides for 4 types of Visitor including Standard Visitor: for example Tourism and Visiting Family, Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor, Transit Visitor and Marriage/Civil Partnership Visitor.

This article will focus on those seeking to come to the UK to marry or form a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership.

We have previously examined the requirements for those who wish to come to the UK for the purposes of tourism, leisure or to visit family in our practical guides part one and part two.

Guidance is provided to caseworkers in the Visit guidance, Version 11.0, published for Home Office staff on 06 October 2021.

General Requirements for a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa

In order to qualify for a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa you will need to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration that:

• You are at least 18 years old;
• You intend to give notice of marriage or civil partnership in the UK or intend to marry or form a civil partnership in the UK within six months of your arrival;
• You are in a genuine rather than a sham relationship;
• You are genuinely seeking entry to the UK for a purpose that is permitted by the visitor routes;
• You will not undertake any prohibited activities;
• You have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs in relation to your visit (including travel, maintenance and accommodation costs) without working or accessing public funds;
• You will visit the UK for less than 6 months and leave the UK at the end of your visit;
• You will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home and
• Your application does not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal.

Do I Need To Apply For a Marriage Visit Visa or Civil Partnership Visit Visa?

If your reason for visiting the UK is to marry or form a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership, in the UK you must apply for a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visit Visa before you travel.

There is a very limited group of individuals who do not need to apply for prior entry clearance. They include Irish citizens, persons with settled status or pre-settled status granted under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) and persons with a decision pending on an application for EUSS leave submitted before 1 July 2021 (see section 62 of the Immigration Act 2014). You cannot apply if you qualify for British citizenship including if you hold dual...