Marriage Visitor Visa

If you plan to get married or register a civil partnership, or give notice thereof, and do not intend to settle in the UK after.
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Marriage Visitor Visa

If you plan to get married or regisiter a civil partnership, or give notice thereof, and do not intend to settle in the UK after, you will need to apply for Marriage Visitor Visa.

The visa is typically valid for 6 months. You can check here to see if you require a visa to visit the UK.

How we can help

We have experience of preparing successful applications on behalf of our clients. We pride ourselves on the presentation of our applications to the Home Office. You can be assured that your application process will be managed in a professional and organised manner.

Key contact

Usof Shah PNG
Usof Shah
Legal Director

What our clients say about us

We have also greatly benefited from the excellent work of Usof Shah, Immigration Director, whose expertise has been instrumental in helping our members address critical skills shortages in the construction industry. Usof has provided clear, actionable guidance on immigration laws, empowering our members to legally employ skilled foreign workers and sustain their businesses. His commitment extends beyond traditional legal services - he has delivered live webinars and offered free advice to some of our SME members, which was highly valued and, in several cases, helped save their companies. This combination of deep legal expertise, accessibility, and genuine care for clients' success sets him apart from others in the field.

Throughout my UK career, I came across many solicitors and solicitor firms. But Herrington Carmichael is the best so far. Their quick response, wider knowledge, and straightforward decisions come with a very competitive advisory fee. I can easily recommend them, and I did. Their success rate for me is 100%. In a nutshell, they are brilliant.

The individual deals with my requirements and makes sure I fully understand what he is advising and what the best way to proceed is.

Responsive, commercial, and able to explain immigration requirements in clear, simple terms.

The individuals we work with stand out for being approachable, knowledgeable, and responsive. Usof Shah, in particular, has been extremely professional, helpful, and practical in his advice.

Usof Shah stands out for his strong combination of technical expertise, commercial awareness, and responsiveness. He is able to explain complex immigration matters in a clear and practical way while remaining highly approachable and solutions-oriented throughout the process. What differentiates him from competitors is the level of personal attention and ownership he brings to matters. He is proactive, detail-oriented, and demonstrates a strong understanding of the operational and business needs of his clients rather than approaching matters from a purely technical perspective. I have particularly valued his responsiveness, clear communication, and ability to manage matters efficiently under tight timelines. He consistently provides pragmatic advice and maintains a high level of professionalism, which creates a strong sense of confidence and reliability throughout the engagement.

Usof Shah and his team stood out for their professionalism, responsiveness, and clear communication.

Herrington Carmichael’s team stands out for its strong expertise in immigration matters, combined with a highly personalized and responsive service. Over the past few years, they supported me and three members of my family, managing each of our individual cases efficiently and professionally. Compared to other firms, they are notably more organized and responsive.

Thank you for helping me to apply the exceptional assurance and I got the application succeed very quickly.

Usof was a pleasure to work with and his wealth of knowledge on the topic of immigration law was evident. We collaboratively delivered a successful webinar to hundreds of construction professionals on the post-Brexit immigration system and Usof was able to answer complex questions on the spot, demonstrating his attention to detail and professionalism. We would not hesitate to recommend Usof and Herrington Carmichael.

Usof Shah has been a great source of information and guidance both in setting up to become a sponsor and also in getting candidates sponsored.

The team provides useful guidance and support on the pitfalls and processes of being a sponsor. The team helps set everything up to become a sponsor as well as assisting with processing CoS applications.

Meet our experts

Dedicated professionals ready to assist you.

Usof Shah PNG
Legal Director
Neelu-Gurung-PNG
Paralegal

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to your most pressing questions about our services and processes.

People who want to get married or register a civil partnership in the UK, or want to give notice thereof, need to apply for a marriage visa.

You should not intend to stay or settle in the UK.

You need to meet the following criteria:

  • you are over 18 years old
  • you have the freedom to enter into marriage or a civil partnership with 6 months of arriving
  • your relationship is genuine
  • you will be in the UK for 6 months or less
  • you will leave the UK at the end of the visa
  • you are able to financially support yourself during your visit, or that you have a financial sponsor
  • you are able to afford your onwards journey
  • you have proof of other activities you intend to do during your visit

You will need a passport or travel document that is valid for the duration of your stay and contains a blank page.

To support your application, you supply details of your marriage or civil partnerships and that you’ve already paid for some of the costs. You can also show proof of booking for a venue in the UK.

If you have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or you have applied for it and have not received your decision yet, you do not need a Marriage Visitors Visa.

Irish citizens do not need a Marriage Visitors Visa.

You can apply 3 months before you intend to travel to the UK.

It costs £115.

It should take 3 weeks after you have attended your biometric information visa appointment.

Your partner will need to apply for their own Marriage Visitors visa if they require one. If you intend to bring family members with you, each individual must apply for a Standard Visitor visa.

The visa is usually valid for 6 months.

Yes. You will need to attend an appointment at your nearest visa centre to have your photograph taken and to submit your fingerprints. This is for your visa.

You will need to show documentation that proves you are free to marry or enter into a civil partnership again. That can be in the form of a decree absolute or a death certificate.

You can get married or enter into the civil partnership within 6 months of your arrival – a venue with a license is required for this. You can also pass through the UK in transit.

You cannot:

  • get access to public funds or benefits
  • bring family members or dependants with you – they will need a Standard Visitors visa to attend your ceremony
  • live in the UK for an extended period
  • extend or switch your visa from within the UK
  • work
  • study