Getting married in the UK: What are the options for foreign nationals in a relationship with a British partner?

Before embarking on a route, you have to answer two questions as a couple.

Where do you want to live and where do you want to get married? We’ve written up a guide for foreigners who are either already married to or looking to marry a British citizen, with options for residence either inside or outside the UK.

Your visa options

Marriage visitor visa: If you're a foreign national planning to marry a UK citizen in the UK and then live abroad, you won't require a settlement visa. Instead, you can opt for a marriage visitor visa. This visa allows you to marry in the UK and return home afterwards.

Fiancée visa: If your partner is a UK citizen and plans to be engaged to marry (you) a foreign national  in the UK, you can apply for a fiancée visa. This visa is valid for six months, during which you must marry in the UK. Unlike the marriage visitor visa, you are not required to leave the country afterwards. Instead, you can marry within six months and then apply to switch to a spousal visa, which grants a 2.5-year stay in the UK while continuing to reside there.

Spouse visa: If both you and your partner wish to marry abroad and then relocate to the UK, the spouse visa is an option. This visa is valid for 33 months, allowing you to live in the UK for that duration and extend for another 30 months. Unlike other visa categories, you'll have full permission to work and access to the NHS.

What evidence do I need to provide?

Spouse and fiancée visa types are document heavy, broken down into five categories:

• Relationship
• Accommodation
• English language and TB test
• Suitability
• Financial requirements.

Relationship evidence:

You need to provide information that shows your background and that you are a genuine and subsisting couple. All previous relationships need to be shown to have broken down either by divorce or death certificates. You also need to prove that your relationship had a natural start and has progressed to the present visa stage. You should include evidence of communication, personal visits, letters of support from family and friends, social media posts, messages/calls, family and holidays together.

Accommodation evidence:

If you intend on getting married to a foreign national in the UK and then remaining in the country, you need to be able to show where you will live together as a couple. The property can be owned, rented, or provided by a family member. If there are others living in the property then you would need to show that there is one room available for you as a couple and the property is not going to be overcrowded.

English and TB Tests:

Applicants from non-majority English speaking countries need to sit a basic English speaking or listening test that will last under ten minutes. If you have a Masters or Bachelors degree that was taught in English, then you will be able to use that instead provided it is endorsed by an approving body.

Applicants from certain countries also need to do a test for tuberclosis. This would be performed locally within the applicant’s own country with results usually provided within a week.

Financial requirements:

This is the most important of all the rules regarding getting married in the UK to a foreign national If you are a sponsor living and working in the UK for at least six months and earning above the gross annual minimum threshold of £29,000 (or £18,500 if you are already on the family route), then there is nothing further you would need. You could alternatively rely on other sources of income such as rental income or self employment. If you have no forms of income then you need cash savings of £88,500, held in cash in your account for a period of six months before you apply (this is still £62,500 for those who are already on the family route).

Suitability requirements:

This criteria looks at your background, immigration history and previous refusals. You need to be able to show that you have no adverse immigration history, this could include overstaying, not complying with visa conditions and having civil or criminal convictions (including driving convictions). Suitability criteria can be the sole cause of a refusal even if the four prior eligibility criteria are all met, therefore it is important to fully address anything of concern

Navigating the process of getting married in the UK, or settling in the UK if you're already married, can be complex and daunting. Whether you're currently in the UK or planning to relocate here and need guidance, contact us today for expert advice on how best to proceed with your application.