The legal paperwork you need to complete for an overseas wedding can be confusing. Fortunately we can help you to get the documents you need. The local British embassy’s website has specific information.
Please note that we don't have offices in every country - particularly small islands such as the Maldives. But there will be an embassy or consulate in a nearby country which can help. For example, our High Commission in Sri Lanka covers the Maldives. Check the travel advice for the country you wish to get marrried in.
You should always contact a lawyer in the UK and the local authorities abroad. You could also contact the embassy of the country you wish to get married in - see our list of foreign embassies in the UK.
To find out exactly what you need to get married overseas, you will need to contact the authorities of the relevant country. See the list of foreign embassies in the UK.
You might also have to exchange the UK CNI for a Consular CNI at the embassy. The CNI and other documents may also need legalising in the UK Legalisation Office.
You should consult a lawyer to check as sometimes marriages conducted in other countries aren’t recognised in the UK.
No, you will get a certificate of marriage from the country you marry in.
No, but you can have your marriage documents deposited with the General Register Office (GRO).
This isn’t compulsory, but it means your marriage certificate is kept by the GRO as an official record and you will be able to easily get copies of it in the future.
We can deposit marriage documents for you.
Please note: you’ll need to get your documents translated if they’re not in English.
If you and your partner settle in the UK after marriage your partner can apply for naturalisation after three years. The Nationality Directorate of the UK Border Agency can provide more information on this.
The legal paperwork you need to hold a civil partnership ceremony overseas can be confusing. Fortunately we can help you to get the documents you need.
The local British embassy’s website has specific info and the marriage and civil partnerships abroad page has useful advice.
You should always contact a lawyer in the UK and the local authorities abroad – list of foreign embassies in the UK.
For a list of countries where relationships are automatically recognised as civil partnerships please look on the Government Equalities website.
We cannot advise if an overseas same sex partnership ceremony is valid in the UK and would recommend persons seeking such advice to consult a lawyer. However, generally speaking if a ceremony is considered legal in the country where the ceremony was performed it is assumed to be legal in the UK.
In some countries you’ll need to provide a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) – the local British embassy’s website will tell you this.
You may also need to exchange the UK CNI for a Consular CNI at the British embassy.
The CNI and other documents may also need to be legalised by the UK Legalisation Office.
No, you will get a certificate of civil partnership from the country you hold the ceremony in.
No, but you can have your civil partnership documents deposited with the General Register Office (GRO).
This isn’t compulsory, but it means your certificate is kept by the GRO as an official record. We can deposit your certificate for you.
Please note: you’ll need to get your documents translated if they’re not in English.
If you and your partner settle in the UK after entering a civil partnership your partner can apply for naturalisation after three years. The Nationality Directorate of the UK Border Agency can provide more information on this.
Information on obtaining Certificates of No Impediment and Nulla Ostas for marriages and civil partnerships abroad, including special arrangements for marrying an Irish national
Information how to apply for a certificate of custom law (certificat de coutume) which you may need to get married or hold a civil partnership in France.
Advice on the documents you will need if you plan to get married in South Africa
This page tells you how to deposit marriage or civil partnership certificates from overseas with the General Register Office