How do you give notice to marry or register a civil partnership with a registrar?

This page gives a brief overview of how you can give notice to marry or register your civil partnership with a registrar, if you or your partner are subject to immigration control in the UK.

For more details of the registration process, you should contact the General Register Office if you are in England or Wales, the General Register Office for Scotland if you are in Scotland, or the General Register Office for Northern Ireland if you are in Northern Ireland.

You will need to give notice to marry or register your civil partnership at a 'designated office'. All registration offices in Scotland and Northern Ireland are designated offices, and 76 offices in England and Wales are designated. For more information and a list of the 76 designated register offices in England and Wales, contact the General Register Office. You must attend the registration office together in England and Wales.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, you can register by post - you do not have to go to the registration office in person.

When you give notice to marry or register your civil partnership, you must bring evidence of your names, addresses, ages and nationalities. If you have been married or registered before, you will need to show evidence that you are now free to marry or register a civil partnership.

When you have given your notice to marry or register your civil partnership, you must wait for 15 days in England and Wales, or 14 days in Scotland and Northern Ireland, before you can get married or register your civil partnership. After this time, you can have your wedding or civil partnership at any register office or approved premises.

Your notice to marry or register your civil partnership is valid for one year if it is given in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, or for three months if it is given in Scotland. Your marriage or civil partnership must take place within this time or you will have to apply again.