Marriage

New rules for getting married in the United Kingdom

Part of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants) Act 2004 is due to come into force on 1st February 2005. Persons under immigration control who wish to give notice to marry on or after this date will be unable to do so unless:

• They have entry clearance granted expressly for the purpose of marriage in the UK;
• or They have the written permission of the Secretary of state to marry in the UK, in the form of a certificate of approval from the Home Office’s Immigration and Nationality Department;
• or They fall within a class of persons specified by the Secretary of State. This will be someone with settled status in the UK (such as indefinite leave to remain).

On or after 1st February 2005 all persons under immigration control who are marrying after civil preliminaries (giving notices) must give their notice to marry at a designated Register Office. They must be accompanied by the person they wish to marry who must also give notice at the same time. These rules will apply from 1st February 2005 even if one of you has already given notice to marry.

If you and your fiance have given notice to marry on or before 31st January 2005 you will not be affected unless you change the venue for your marriage when new notices will be required.

If you OR your fiancée is a person subject to immigration control i.e. not a citizen of one of the following countries:

You may be affected by the new law unless you have a ‘certificate of entitlement to Right of Abode’. For further information regarding Immigration Status please telephone the Home Office on 0870 606 7766 or the visit the Home Office website.