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You must sign a legal statement to say you intend to get married or form a civil partnership. This is known as 'giving notice'.

When and where to give notice

You must give legal notice at least 29 days before the date of the ceremony and no more than one year in advance.

If you or your partner are a British or Irish citizen

You and your partner must give notice in person to the council register office for the area in which you live.  Find your local register office on GOV.UK to check which register office you should attend to give notice.

This will be the council that issues your council tax bill and collects your bins and recycling.

You must have lived there for the 7 clear days immediately prior to your appointment, not including the day you arrived or the day of your appointment. This might be in a different district to where your ceremony is taking place.

You might have to give notice at different register offices if one of you lives in a different  district. You don't have to give notice on the same day.

If you or your partner are subject to immigration control

From 1 July 2021 where one or both of you is subject to immigration control, notice of marriage or civil partnership will need to be given together in the registration district where either one or both parties lives.

You will be subject to immigration control if you are not:

  • a British Citizen
  • an Irish Citizen
  • a person who has been granted EU Settlement Status (EUSS) either settled or pre-settled or has a pending application for that settled status submitted before 30 June 2021

EU settlement status

You should give notice at least 29 days before your ceremony. You will need to bring to your appointment your EUSS share code. The EUSS code is how we check your status, if we don't have this your appointment cannot proceed and you will need to rebook.

If you do not have settled status, pre-settled status or a pending application submitted before the 30 June 2021, you should give notice at least 70 days before your ceremony and you will be referred to the Home Office.

Other immigration status

You should give notice at least 70 days before your ceremony if you don't have:

  • evidence of settled or permanent resident status, such as a biometric residence card
  • a marriage visa
  • exemption from immigration control

What to bring to the appointment

You must bring to the appointment proof of:

  • name, date of birth and nationality
  • address

Proof of name, date of birth and nationality

One of the following original documents (or groups of documents):

  • Valid passport
  • UK birth certificate (if born in the UK before 1 January 1983) plus one of the following:
    • a utility bill dated no more than three months before notice
    • a bank or building society statement or passbook dated no more than one month before notice
    • a current council tax bill or mortgage statement
    • a current residential tenancy agreement
    • a valid driving licence
  • Full UK birth certificate and mothers UK birth certificate (if born in the UK on or after 1 January 1983), plus one of the following:
    • a utility bill dated no more than three months before notice
    • a bank or building society statement or passbook dated no more than one month before notice
    • a council tax bill or mortgage statement dated no more than one year before notice
    • a current residential tenancy agreement
    • a valid driving licence
  • (Valid biometric immigration document Non-EEA/Non Swiss nationals only)

If you've changed your name and the documents listed above aren't in your current name, you should also bring documentary evidence relating to the change.

Proof of address

One of the following:

  • Utility bill dated no more than three months before notice
  • Bank or building society statement or passbook dated no more than one month before notice
  • Council tax bill dated no more than one year before notice
  • Mortgage statement dated no more than one year before notice
  • Current residential tenancy agreement
  • Valid driving licence

Proof of immigration status

Example documents:

  • Share Code (gained from GOV.UK) or by presenting a hard copy letter of a pending application made to the EUSS prior to 30 June 2021
  • Valid biometric immigration document
  • Valid travel document
  • Valid Home Office endorsement in passport (including ILR/ILE/RoA)
  • Home Office status document
  • Visa or entry clearance in passport

If you're entering the UK for the purpose of marriage or civil partnership you must check with the UKVI that you've the correct visa to do so. This would usually be a marriage or civil partnership visa. If you're providing evidence of immigration status you may need to provide a passport photo.

If you've been married or in a civil partnership before

One of the following original documents:

  • Divorce decree absolute
  • Divorce decree of nullity
  • Civil partnership dissolution order
  • Civil partnership nullity order
  • Death certificate of spouse or civil partner

If you've changed your name

If the name on your documents isn't the same as on your identification, you must also bring evidence of your change of name. For example, a deed poll, statutory declaration of change of name or the marriage or civil partnership certificate.

Cost

You need to pay a fee to give notice, usually £35 per person.

If you or your partner is from outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland, and you don't have one of the following the fee is £47 per person:

  • evidence of settled or permanent resident status, such as a biometric residence card
  • a marriage or civil partnership visa
  • exemption from immigration control

Book an appointment

If you live in Plymouth and are a British/Irish citizen please book an appointment online

If you live in Plymouth and are an EEA citizen (with or without settled/pre settled status), Non EEA citizen or Swiss citizen email srenquiries@plymouth.gov.uk with your name and contact number and we will contact you to make an appointment.

If you do not live in Plymouth please contact your local Registration Service to arrange your notice of marriage/civil partnership appointment.