Additional documentation required when giving notice of marriage

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New Immigration rules for getting married in the UK were introduced on 1^st February 2005. People being married on or after that date are now required to provide proof that they have satisfied immigration requirements or provide proof of their nationality in addition to any other relevant documents.

Persons subject to Immigration Controls

Any person subject to immigration control will have to satisfy one of the three following immigration eligibility requirements:

They must hold a valid visa or entry clearance as a fiancé(e) or marriage visitor
They have a Home Office Certificate of Approval
They have settled status in the United Kingdom

Proof that these requirements have been met must be submitted to the Registrar when you lodge your marriage notice forms.

For further details see the “Getting Married in the United Kingdom” booklet issued by the Home Office

Persons not subject to Immigration Controls

If you are a British citizen, a national of a country in the European Economic Area or you have a certificate of entitlement giving you the right of abode in the UK , you are not affected by the new rules. However, you will be required to provide evidence of your nationality to the registrar before the marriage can proceed.

British citizens

If you were born in the UK prior to 1^st January 1983 then it may normally be assumed that British citizenship was acquired automatically and your birth certificate is sufficient proof of your nationality.

If you were born in the UK after 1 January 1983 your nationality is dependent on the immigration or nationality status of your parents at the time of your birth. The easiest way to prove that you are a British Citizen is to produce a full British passport. If you do not have a full British passport, evidence of the immigration or nationality status of one of your parents will be needed, e.g. your parent’s UK birth certificate.

If your parents were unmarried at the time of your birth, nationality is taken from your mother, so it will be your mother’s UK birth certificate that is needed.

If your parents were married at the time of your birth, you can take your nationality from either parent, so the UK birth certificate of either parent will do. However, if you want to rely on your father’s immigration or nationality status (for example where your mother is not British) you will also need to provide proof of your parents’ marriage. If you are unable to prove the nationality or immigration status of your parents in this way, you should contact the Home Office Nationality Group (tel 0845 010 5200) for advice.

If you were born outside the UK but have acquired British Citizenship, you must produce your naturalisation/registration certificate or a full British passport.

EEA nationals

If you are a national from one of the EEA states (or Switzerland) below the registrar will need to see your passport.

Austria	Belgium	Cyprus
Czech Republic	Denmark	Estonia
Finland	France	Germany
Greece	Hungary	Iceland
Ireland	Italy	Latvia
Liechtenstein	Lithuania	Luxembourg
Malta	Netherlands	Norway
Poland	Portugal	Slovakia
Slovenia	Spain	Sweden
Switzerland	United Kingdom

« Documents to be produced when getting married in Scotland

This information is provided by the Support Services Department