Getting Married in the UK on a Visa: What You Need to Know

We've welcomed couples from all over the world to elope at Millbrook Estate — different nationalities, different visa situations, different stories. What they all have in common is that they wanted a wedding that was genuinely theirs, without the complexity of a big occasion. Getting married in England when you're not a British citizen is more straightforward than most people expect. This is what you need to know.

Can you legally marry in England if you're not a British citizen?

Yes. There is no requirement for either partner to be British to get married in England. What matters is that you are legally present in the UK — meaning you hold a valid visa or have the right to reside here.

Most visa types allow you to marry, including Skilled Worker visas, EU Settlement Scheme status (settled or pre-settled), student visas (with some conditions), and family visas. Standard Visitor visas are the main exception — if you are in the UK as a visitor, you cannot legally give notice or marry here. You would need to apply for a Marriage Visitor Visa instead.

If you have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme — for example, an EU national who was living in the UK before 31 December 2020 — you are treated the same as a British citizen for the purposes of giving notice.

If you're unsure about your specific situation, the official gov.uk guidance is the right place to check — or speak directly to your local register office.

How it works: the step-by-step process

The process is essentially the same as for any couple in England, with one important difference we'll come to in a moment.

Step 1: Contact us to provisionally hold your date

Do this first. When you give notice at the register office, you'll need to name your venue — so it's sensible to have a date and venue agreed before you go. We're happy to hold a date for you while you sort out the paperwork.

If you're looking for an all-inclusive elopement package, or something specifically designed for just the two of you, we have options to suit. One wedding a day, packages from £899.

Step 2: Give notice together at your local register office

This is the key difference for couples where one (or both) partners is from outside the UK. If either of you does not hold British or Irish citizenship, or settled/pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you must both give notice together at the same register office. You cannot give notice separately, as British couples can.

You must give notice at a register office in the district where at least one of you has lived for the past 7 days. The standard notice period is 29 clear days before your ceremony.

If you give notice without the correct visa, the Home Office will be informed and may investigate — in which case you may need to wait up to 70 days before marrying. As long as you have the right visa, your notice period is the standard 29 days, though your register office will confirm this when you attend.

Step 3: What to bring when you give notice

• Valid passport or travel document
• Proof of address — a utility bill or bank statement dated within the last 3 months
• Proof of immigration status — your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), eVisa, or a share code confirming your status
• If you've been married before: your decree absolute or former spouse's death certificate

Your register office will confirm exactly what they need when you book your appointment. It's always worth calling ahead.

Step 4: Book the Devon registrar

Once you've confirmed your date with us, we'll send you a link to book the Devon registrar directly. Do this as soon as your date is confirmed — registrars book up, particularly at weekends.

Step 5: Book your accommodation and any extras

All our elopement packages include a mini-moon stay in one of our 5-star properties on site. If you're travelling from abroad, we can point you towards the best options for extending your stay in North Devon too.

Step 6: Turn up and get married

We handle one wedding a day, so you'll always have our full attention. Our coordinator Meg will be in touch as your date approaches to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Coming to the UK specifically to get married?

If you're travelling to the UK specifically for the wedding — rather than already living here — a Standard Visitor Visa won't allow you to give notice or marry. You'll need to apply for a Marriage Visitor Visa, which permits a stay of up to 6 months and covers getting married here.

We've helped couples travel from across Europe, the US, Australia and beyond to elope at Millbrook. If you're planning something like this, get in touch early — we can help you understand what's needed and make the logistics as simple as possible.

Does getting married affect your visa?

Getting married in the UK does not automatically change your visa status. If you're on a Skilled Worker Visa, you remain on that visa after the wedding. If you want to switch to a spouse or partner visa, that's a separate application entirely — this is an immigration matter and you'd need to take specific advice on it.

We're a wedding venue, not immigration lawyers, and we can't advise on visa applications. But we can tell you everything you need to know about getting married at Millbrook, and we're very used to supporting couples through the process whatever their background.

A note on notification

If you are on a visa that lasts longer than 6 months, you may need to tell the Home Office that you've got married after your wedding. Your register office or a solicitor can advise on this.

This guide reflects the legal process as it stood in England and Wales in November 2026. We recommend checking GOV.UK or speaking directly with your local register office for the most current requirements.

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