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Getting married or registering a civil partnership abroad

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1. Check if you can get married or register a civil partnership abroad

Whether you can get married or register a civil partnership in your chosen country depends on local laws.

You might not be able to do this if you or your partner:

  • are not nationals of the country or do not meet residency requirements
  • want a same-sex marriage or civil partnership and these are not recognised there
  • do not meet legal, cultural or religious requirements

Check the laws of your chosen country

You need to check the laws in the country where you want to marry or register a civil partnership.

You’ll need to:

You can get advice from:

  • the person conducting the ceremony
  • the authority that registers marriages or civil partnerships in that country
  • a wedding planner

If you cannot get married or register a civil partnership in your chosen country

In some countries, you may be able to marry or register a civil partnership at a British embassy, consulate or high commission. This is called a ‘consular marriage’ or ‘consular civil partnership’.

Check which countries offer consular marriage and consular civil partnership and the processes you’ll need to follow.

Convert a same-sex civil partnership to a marriage

You may be able to convert a UK same-sex civil partnership into a marriage in some countries abroad.

You cannot convert an opposite-sex civil partnership into a marriage abroad.

2. Get proof you're free to marry or register a civil partnership abroad

Some countries may ask for documents to prove you’re free to get married or register a civil partnership abroad.

You can use this service to:

  • check what documents you might need - for example a certificate of no impediment or a marital status affirmation
  • apply and pay for the documents

Who can use this service

You must have a valid British passport to use this service.

Before you start

Make sure you’ve checked that you can get married or register a civil partnership in your chosen country and you understand the processes you’ll need to follow.

You’ll be asked to confirm this when you apply.

Check which documents you need and apply

Once you start an application, you cannot save it and return to it later. This service will time out if you’re inactive for 30 minutes and your answers will not be saved.

Start now

If you need help using this service

Contact the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for digital assistance.

3. Getting your marriage or civil partnership certificate

When you get married or register a civil partnership abroad, the authorities in your chosen country will register it in their national civil records.

Speak to the person conducting your ceremony to find out how to get your marriage or civil partnership certificate.

You may want to get your foreign certificate translated. This can be helpful if you plan to use it outside of the country where it was issued.

Find a translator abroad.

You cannot get a UK marriage or civil partnership certificate if your marriage or civil partnership happened abroad. Only UK marriages and civil partnerships are registered in the UK.

If you want a UK marriage or civil partnership certificate, you can choose to have a legal ceremony in the UK and a commitment ceremony abroad.

A foreign marriage or civil partnership is recognised in the UK if:

  • it was lawful in the country where it took place
  • it would be allowed under UK law

Consular marriage and civil partnership certificates

If you get a consular marriage or consular civil partnership at a British embassy, high commission or consulate abroad, it will be registered in the UK civil records.

You’ll also get a UK marriage or civil partnership certificate.

4. Get help abroad

If you need help getting married or registering a civil partnership abroad, you can: