Introduction
Many couples marry or form a civil partnership in the UK, and some of their guests travel from abroad. People often ask whether an ETA is enough for either. The answer differs for the couple and for a guest. A UK ETA is a travel authorisation for certain visitor purposes, and marrying, forming a civil partnership and giving notice are not among them.
This article explains the position using the Immigration Rules, GOV.UK guidance and the Immigration Act 2014. It is general information. Your nationality, passport and status decide your own position, and nothing here guarantees that you will be allowed to marry or give notice in the UK.
Quick answer
- An ETA does not cover marriage or civil partnership. The ETA is for a Visitor other than a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitor (ETA 1.1(f)(i)).
- Standard visitors may not marry or give notice. Unless they are a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitor or a relevant national, visitors must not intend to do either (V 4.4(d)).
- Many couples need a Marriage Visitor visa. GOV.UK lists when it is needed, and it exempts some people.
- A wedding guest is in a different position. A guest visiting for a permitted purpose does not marry on that permission.
ETA versus Marriage Visitor route
The ETA appendix issues an ETA for a Visitor other than a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitor, staying for up to six months. A traveller who plans to marry or form a civil partnership in the UK is therefore outside the ETA route for that purpose, even if they are a national on the ETA National List.
The Marriage Visitor route is a separate permission from a separate application. An ETA is also not permission to enter in its own right. The holder still needs permission to enter on arrival.
Attending a wedding as a guest
A guest is not a person who marries. The Rules allow a Standard Visitor to visit friends and family, or to come for a holiday (PA 2(a)). Attending a relative’s or friend’s wedding can fit that purpose, provided the visit is genuine and the Visitor requirements are met (V 4.2). Visitors must not marry, form a civil partnership or give notice on that permission (V 4.4(d)).
If a guest plans to take part in the ceremony in a way that involves giving notice or forming the partnership, they should check the position first. The Rules do not list every role at a ceremony.
If you are a guest and eligible for an ETA
A national on the ETA National List who is visiting for a permitted purpose may be able to travel on an ETA. If that describes your trip, you can start a UK ETA application after checking the requirements, provided you are not travelling to marry or give notice yourself.
Getting married and civil partnerships
GOV.UK says you must apply for a Marriage Visitor visa if you want to get married or register a civil partnership in the UK, want to give notice of one, are not planning to stay or settle in the UK afterwards, and meet the other eligibility requirements. The earliest the application can be made is three months before travel.
GOV.UK says a Marriage Visitor can marry or form a civil partnership within six months of arrival, and that a licensed venue must be used. Converting an existing civil partnership into a marriage does not need a Marriage Visitor visa, and GOV.UK says a Standard Visitor visa can be used for that instead.
Giving notice of marriage
A Marriage Visitor may give notice as well as marry (V 4.4(d)). A traveller on an ETA, or on a standard visitor permission, may not give notice for a marriage or civil partnership, because the ETA does not cover it and the Visitor rules prohibit it.
Notice procedures are set separately for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. See the regional section below.
Who may need a Marriage Visitor visa
The visa is needed where the GOV.UK conditions are met and no exemption applies. GOV.UK lists the exemptions as people with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, people who have applied to the scheme and have no decision yet, and Irish citizens.
A person who qualifies for British citizenship cannot apply for the Marriage Visitor visa, including where they could have dual nationality, and must apply for British citizenship instead. A British citizen is a relevant national under section 62 of the 2014 Act and is exempt for this purpose.
The relevant national exception
Section 62 of the Immigration Act 2014 defines a relevant national as a British citizen, an Irish citizen, or a person who is not an Irish citizen and holds leave under the residence scheme immigration rules of the EU Withdrawal Agreement Act 2020, or who is an applicant under the Citizens’ Rights regulations whose application has not been finally determined and whose relevant period has not expired.
Under section 49, a party to a proposed marriage or civil partnership is an exempt person if they are a relevant national, have the appropriate immigration status, or hold a relevant visa. Exempt status affects whether the Secretary of State may investigate the marriage as a sham (section 48). Under V 4.4(d), a visitor who is a relevant national is not barred by that rule from marrying or giving notice.
Marriage visits versus settlement
The Marriage Visitor route is for a short stay to marry or form a civil partnership and then leave. GOV.UK says the route is for people not planning to stay or settle in the UK afterwards.
A couple who intend to live together permanently in the UK should check the partner or spouse route instead. That route requires the couple to intend to live together permanently, a sponsor with British or Irish citizenship, settled status or another qualifying status, and both partners aged 18 or over. It can be applied for from outside or inside the UK. This article does not advise on changing status inside the UK.
What marriage visitors may and may not do
PA 1(b) says a Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitor may marry or form a civil partnership, give notice, and do the permitted activities in Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities. It excludes study under PA 17 and the permitted paid engagements in PA 19. Work for a UK organisation remains prohibited (V 4.4(a)). A marriage visit is not a route into employment or study, and it does not allow a person to stay on after the marriage on the basis of the visit.
Existing UK immigration permission
The ETA appendix says a person who already holds a valid entry clearance, or permission to enter or stay, is not required to obtain an ETA. That is the ETA position only.
For the marriage referral process, section 49 treats a person as exempt if they hold the appropriate immigration status (for example, settled status or exemption from immigration control), are a relevant national, or hold a relevant visa. Regulation 4 of the Proposed Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Meaning of Exempt Persons and Notice) Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/122) lists the relevant visas: entry clearance or leave to enter as a visitor for marriage or civil partnership; and, as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner, the same under Appendix FM or Appendix Armed Forces, or outside the Rules. A standard visitor permission is not on that list. Check whether your own permission is a relevant visa, and whether you are settled or a relevant national, before giving notice.
Regional notice procedures
The statutory referral to the Home Office applies in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, under section 28H of the Marriage Act 1949, Article 3E of the Marriage (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 and section 3F of the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977, as applied by section 48 of the 2014 Act. The notice procedure itself differs by jurisdiction.
In Northern Ireland, official guidance says a person who is not a British or Irish citizen and has no EU Settlement Scheme leave must complete an Immigration Status Statement. The minimum notice period is 28 days, which may be extended to 70 days if the required status, visa or evidence is missing.
For England and Wales, GOV.UK says a person from outside the UK should bring a passport-sized photograph for each person, proof of current immigration status (for example a share code or the visa in the passport), and translations of any non-English documents. The notice period and joint-notice arrangements were not confirmed in the official text read, so this article does not state them.
For Scotland, the National Records of Scotland guidance (last updated 20 May 2026) covers non-UK nationals. Its detailed declaration and evidence requirements were not confirmed for this article. Check the current NRS guidance before giving notice.
Comparison table
The table compares the main purposes. Where the answer depends on nationality or status, it says so.
| Travel purpose | Potential immigration route | Important conditions | What to verify before travel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attending a wedding as a guest | Standard Visitor, if eligible; an ETA if on the ETA list and eligible. | Genuine visit for a permitted purpose. Marrying or giving notice is not permitted on that permission (V 4.4(d)). | Your purpose, nationality, passport and the ETA or visa position. |
| Travelling to marry in the UK | Marriage Visitor visa, unless an exemption applies. | Aged 18 or over on the date of application; intention to marry in the UK; not a sham; not settling (V 12.1, V 12.2; GOV.UK). | Exemption status, visa conditions, a licensed venue, the six-month window. |
| Giving notice of marriage | Marriage Visitor visa, if required; notice rules differ by jurisdiction. | The ETA does not cover giving notice. | The local registration office or official guidance for that part of the UK. |
| Forming a civil partnership | Marriage Visitor visa, if required. | Same conditions as marriage (V 12.2). | Exemption status and the rules where you will register. |
| Converting a civil partnership into a marriage | No Marriage Visitor visa needed; a Standard Visitor visa can be used (GOV.UK). | Stated in GOV.UK wording. | The current GOV.UK wording and your own circumstances. |
| Intending to settle after marriage | Not the Marriage Visitor route; the partner or spouse route applies. | Visitor route requires no intention to settle; partner route requires intention to live together permanently. | Partner or spouse conditions and the sponsor’s status. |
| Relevant national | May marry or give notice on a visitor permission (V 4.4(d)); exempt for referral purposes (s.49). | Defined in section 62; the EU pending-application test is stated in the statute. | Your status against the statutory definition, not only the category name. |
| Existing UK immigration permission | No ETA while valid (ETA appendix). Referral position depends on the permission type. | Only a relevant visa of a listed kind, or settled or exempt status, makes a person exempt under section 49. | Whether your permission is a relevant visa, and its conditions. |
Practical traveller examples
These examples are hypothetical. None guarantees a visa, entry or eligibility to marry.
A US passport holder attending a friend’s wedding
Assumptions: a holiday visit that includes a friend’s wedding, with no plan to give notice. Point:attending as a guest may fit PA 2(a), but the traveller must not marry or give notice on that permission (V 4.4(d)). Verify:the ETA position and the genuine-visitor requirements.
An ETA-eligible traveller planning their own marriage
Assumptions: a national on the ETA National List plans to marry in England in six months. Point: an ETA does not cover marrying or giving notice (ETA 1.1(f)(i)). A Marriage Visitor visa is needed unless an exemption applies.Verify: the visa conditions and the notice procedure for the chosen registration district.
A couple with different nationalities
Assumptions: one partner is a British citizen and the other is an ETA-list national. Point: a British citizen is a relevant national and is exempt for this purpose. The other partner’s position depends on their own nationality and status. Verify: both partners’ nationality and status before choosing a route.
A traveller with existing UK permission
Assumptions: a valid UK student visa, and a plan to marry a partner who lives in the UK. Point: the ETA position is set by the appendix, but the marriage question turns on section 49 and SI 2015/122. A student visa is not on the relevant-visa list. Verify: the permission’s conditions, the registration office’s requirements, and whether the traveller is settled or a relevant national. Do not assume existing permission makes marriage straightforward.
Pre-travel checklist
- Identify your purpose. Attending as a guest is different from marrying or giving notice.
- If you plan to marry or form a civil partnership, check whether a Marriage Visitor visa is required.
- Check whether an exemption applies, including British or Irish citizenship, EU Settlement Scheme status and relevant national status.
- Check the notice procedure for the part of the UK where you will give notice.
- If you already hold UK permission, check whether it is a relevant visa.
- For a guest, confirm the purpose of the visit and that the ETA or visa position fits.
If you are a guest whose visit is for a permitted purpose and an ETA applies to you, you can start a UK ETA application. Do not use it to marry or give notice.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get married in the UK using an ETA?
No. An ETA does not cover marrying or forming a civil partnership in the UK. A Marriage Visitor visa is needed unless an exemption applies.
Can I give notice while visiting on an ETA?
No. Giving notice is part of the marriage purpose, which the ETA does not cover.
Is attending someone else’s wedding different from marrying?
Yes. A guest visits for a permitted purpose and must not marry or give notice on that permission. Whether a particular role at a ceremony is covered depends on the facts.
What if we plan to settle in the UK afterwards?
The Marriage Visitor route is not for people who plan to settle. A couple who intend to live together permanently should check the partner or spouse route.
What is a relevant national?
Under section 62 of the Immigration Act 2014, a relevant national includes a British citizen, an Irish citizen, and some people with EU Settlement Scheme leave or a qualifying pending application. The conditions differ by category.
Related UK ETA guides
- UK visa overview covers the Marriage Visitor visa and other routes.
- UK ETA requirements covers documents and eligibility.
- UK ETA vs UK visa explains when a visa is the right route.
- UK ETA for visiting family and friends covers visits that are not marriage visits.
- UK ETA for permanent residents covers nationality versus residence.
Next steps
If you are a guest and your visit is for a permitted purpose that an ETA covers, you can begin a UK ETA application at apply.uketa.sg. If you intend to marry or form a civil partnership, check the Marriage Visitor visa position first, because the ETA does not cover that purpose.