COA (Marriage or Civil Partner)

Following 01 February 2005 new immigration legislation, which came into force, now requires any person wishing to marry or register as a Civil Partner who is not an UK/EEA national and subject to immigration control to obtain permission from the Home Office under a Certificate of Approval before the marriage registrar at the local council can register a marriage or Civil Partnership.

Requirements

Provided that you do not fall as a person who has leave in the UK for less than 6 months such as on a visitor’s visa but have remaining leave in any other visa category with at least 3 remaining months on your visa you will be eligible to make a COA application with a view to register your marriage or civil partnership in the United Kingdom.

1. UK/EEA National do not need to apply for a Certificate to get married
2. Overseas Nationals subject to immigration control need only apply under a single application if they wish to marry or register with someone who is a settled person in the United Kingdom.

Visa Period

Once a Certificate of marriage is approved the marriage or civil partnership must be registered with the marriage registrar within 3 months from when the certificate is approved.

An overseas national who has married or registered a partnership with a person settled and present in the UK will be eligible to apply for a Marriage Visa.