Certificate of Approval to Marry
If you are a national of a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who is subject to immigration control, and you wish to marry in the UK you must obtain a certificate of approval (COA) from the UK Home Office.
To apply for the COA, you must have a UK visa for a period of 6 months or more (i.e. not a visitors visa), and at the time that you submit your application, you must have at least 3 months left on your current permission to stay. Processing your COA will take between 4 and 10 weeks.
Once the COA is issued, you may then present it to the registry office where you wish to book your wedding. It is valid:
- For 3 months from the date it is issued and your notice to marry must be given in this time or
- To the date when your leave to enter/remain expires, if this is less
Once you have presented your COA and given notice at your chosen registry office, there is a 15 day waiting period (14 days in Northern Ireland) before you are actually able to marry.
The COA does not grant you further leave to remain in the UK. Once you are married, you may submit an application for a marriage visa.
Call to speak with a 1st Contact consultant now to start your application for a COA or a marriage visa, or take an
online assessment .
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