Visitor Visa for Weddings in the UK
Planning a wedding in the UK or attending one as a guest? The visa you need depends on whether you are getting married or just attending. This guide explains the difference and what happens after the wedding.
- Section
- Visitor Visa
- Reading time
- 7 min
- Last checked
- 2 September 2026
- Source
- The published Immigration Rules and GOV.UK guidance, linked throughout this guide.
- Rowan does not
- Look at your own case, tell you which route to choose, or say what the Home Office will decide. This guide shows the published rules and where to read them.
In short
- Getting married in the UK requires a Marriage Visitor Visa (£135).
- A Standard Visitor Visa is NOT sufficient for getting married.
- After the wedding, you must leave the UK.
- To live with your spouse, apply for a Spouse Visa from your home country.
- Attending a wedding as a guest requires only a Standard Visitor Visa.
If you want to get married in the UK, you need a Marriage Visitor Visa — a Standard Visitor Visa is not sufficient. After the ceremony, you must leave and apply for a Spouse Visa from your home country if you want to live in the UK. This guide covers both scenarios: getting married and attending as a guest.
Getting Married in the UK
If you are a non-visa national or visa national who wants to get married in the UK, you need a Marriage Visitor Visa. This is a specific visa category that:
- Costs £135
- Allows a stay of up to 6 months
- Permits you to get married or form a civil partnership
- Requires you to leave after the ceremony
You cannot get married on a Standard Visitor Visa. Getting married without the correct visa is a breach of conditions.
Giving Notice
Before you can marry in England and Wales, you must give notice at a register office. If one partner is not a British or Irish citizen and is subject to immigration control, you may need to give notice at a designated register office. There is a 28-day notice period before the ceremony can take place. The earliest you can apply for the visa is 3 months before you travel, and a decision usually takes 3 weeks.
After the Wedding
After your ceremony, you must leave the UK before your Marriage Visitor Visa expires. You cannot:
- Switch to a Spouse Visa from inside the UK
- Extend your Marriage Visitor Visa
- Stay in the UK permanently
To join your spouse in the UK long-term, return to your home country and apply for a Spouse Visa. See our visitor to spouse visa guide for details on this process.
Attending as a Guest
If you are attending someone else's wedding in the UK, a Standard Visitor Visa (or visa-free entry) is appropriate. No special visa is needed. Include the wedding invitation in your visa application as evidence of the purpose of your visit.
Documents for a Marriage Visitor Visa
- Valid passport
- Evidence of the wedding booking (venue confirmation)
- Financial evidence
- Proof that you intend to leave after the ceremony
- Your partner's details and evidence of the relationship
For document guidance, see our visitor visa documents guide.
Next Steps
Related guides:
Questions and answers
Can I get married in the UK on a Visitor Visa?
No. If you want to get married or register a civil partnership in the UK, you need a Marriage Visitor Visa, not a Standard Visitor Visa. If you are attending someone else's wedding as a guest, a Standard Visitor Visa is fine.
What is a Marriage Visitor Visa?
A Marriage Visitor Visa allows you to come to the UK to get married or register a civil partnership. It costs £135 and lasts up to 6 months. After the ceremony, you must leave the UK. You cannot stay and switch to a Spouse Visa.
Can I stay in the UK after getting married?
No. A Marriage Visitor Visa requires you to leave the UK after the wedding. To live in the UK with your spouse, you must return to your home country and apply for a Spouse Visa from there.
Can I attend a wedding as a guest on a Standard Visitor Visa?
Yes. If you are attending someone else's wedding as a guest, a Standard Visitor Visa (or visa-free entry if you are from an eligible country) is appropriate. You do not need a Marriage Visitor Visa to attend as a guest.
This guide is general information about published immigration rules. It is not advice about an individual application under s.82 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and Rowan is not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Immigration rules change several times a year. For advice on a particular situation, contact an adviser authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority or an immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the authoritative current rules.