How to Get Married Abroad From The UK: Everything You Should Know

In this article, we’re going to help make sure that doesn’t happen by looking at the following:

• Some brief information about marriage abroad;
• The common documents you’ll need for marrying abroad;
• Specific requirements;
• How to prepare your documents for marriage abroad.

General information about Getting Married Abroad

Before you tie the knot, ensure that your marriage abroad meets the legal requirements for the United Kingdom and the country where you’re getting married.

You want your marriage to be legally recognised in the UK and your destination wedding country of choice. To do so, you’ll need to present the correct legal documentation, which may also need to be translated and legalised.

Additionally, you’ll need to check the law in your destination country to ensure you can get married or register a civil partnership and understand the required processes to legalise your marriage. 

You’ll also need to have a certified CNI certificate. It is issued by the UK government and declares that there’s no legal obstacle to your marriage. It is typically required by the country where you plan to marry.

In some countries, a CNI certificate is also known as a ‘Certificate of Nulla Osta’ or ‘Certificate of Freedom to Marry’. Some countries may also require a CNI if you plan to marry in a religious ceremony.

As we go through the article, we’ll discuss some of the important documents you’ll need to present, as they are required by the governing body of every country. We’ll also look at specific requirements for many popular wedding destinations and the local requirements. 

After the wedding, gather copies of your marriage certificate for legalization purposes. If you need to submit this document for any reason in the UK, you’ll probably need to have it translated, as it’s likely to be presented in the language of the country of your marriage.

Before the Wedding

We’ll provide you with all the information you need to get started, but you should still check the UK Government website to learn about each country's specific requirements. 

Using the UK Government website, you’ll be able to find out:

• if your same-sex marriage or civil partnership is legal;
• which specific documents you will need to present;
• whether you need to obtain a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI);
• whether or not you need to provide a statutory declaration;
• if your Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) and statutory declaration need to be legalised or translated.

You should also contact the foreign embassy to ensure that you arrive with all the necessary paperwork and that there are no surprises down the line. Since there can be work backlogs, you’ll need to contact them beforehand and organise all of your documents before you head abroad.

Planning the Wedding: Symbolic blessings and ceremonies

Some couples may choose to officially marry in the United Kingdom and celebrate their marriage abroad. 

This is achieved by registering your marriage in the UK and organising a symbolic ceremony or blessing abroad. 

A symbolic ceremony is like a regular wedding ceremony with all the traditions and rituals, but it is not legally binding. Your marriage won’t be officially recognised in that foreign country, but you’ll have a personalised ceremony at your dream destination and be legally married in the United Kingdom.

This is particularly useful for same-sex couples who want to be married, but their wedding destination of choice doesn’t legally accept same-sex marriage.

Typically, you’ll only be required to submit your marriage records for a symbolic ceremony at your destination country. This is because your ceremony is not legally binding; they want to be sure you’re legally married before officiating it. 

Once again, you’ll need to research, as there are some legal requirements and civil administrative procedures for your symbolic ceremony. In some countries, you may be required to present all of the same documentation that you would need for a complete and legal marriage abroad. 

Recommended Reading

How to Get Married in the UAE as a Foreigner or Expat

Legal Requirements and Documentation for Getting Married Abroad

In the UK, you don’t need to register your marriage after getting married abroad. However, you must provide some official documents, no matter where you are getting married. Here are some legal requirements for getting married abroad from the UK.

Essential documents

In the table below, you’ll find some of the key documents you’ll need for any marriage or civil partnership abroad, and whether legalisation and translation are required.

Other possible requirements for Marriage Abroad

Every country is different, but it’s also highly likely that you’ll need to present some of the documentation in the table below as part of your marriage abroad.

You will need to obtain a certified translation of your Certificate of No Impediment (CNI), even when the Foreign and Commonwealth office has already legalised it. Certain countries will also have special residency requirements for your marriage abroad. 

Recommended Reading

How to Get Married in Ireland as a Foreigner

Getting Married Abroad: Preparing Your Documents

Getting married abroad involves preparing the necessary paperwork beforehand. Each country has specific rules about what documents you need to provide, from passports to birth certificates. Preparing these documents early will help ensure your wedding plans go smoothly and according to legal requirements.

How to get your CNI

The Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) is an official government-issued document that provides evidence that there is no known impediment preventing you from marrying. It proves there has been no objection to your future marriage. Your Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) will have a set price depending on your destination wedding choice. 

To get your CNI ready for your destination wedding, make an appointment at your local register office, which can be found here. 

Inform them of your intention to marry or form a civil partnership overseas and let them know why you need the Certificate of No Impediment (CNI).

The notice of your intention to marry will be publicly displayed for 28 days. After that time, and as long as nobody has officially registered an objection, you can collect your Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) document. 

In some situations, especially if you are a British national living abroad, you may need to contact your local British Embassy instead. 

Note: Certificate of No Impediments (CNIs) issued in Scotland will expire after 3 months.

Recommended Reading

How to Get a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) in the UK

How to get your Statutory Declaration

The statutory declaration is a formal statement confirming that specific information is factual to the best knowledge of the person declaring it. In this case, they can be used to verify name, nationality, and marital status.

Statutory declarations must satisfy a legal requirement and be completely accurate. In the UK, it will need to be signed in the presence of a solicitor. Standard wording is used for the declaration template and a solicitor will ensure that it is completely impartial.

How to legalise your documents

You’ll often be asked to present ‘legalised’ versions of the documents you need for marriage abroad. The UK Legalisation Office will check your document to ensure it includes a valid signature, stamp, or seal. An apostille (an officially stamped certificate) will legalise the document and confirm that it is genuine.

Your document will then be acceptable in any country that’s a member of the Hague Convention. You can find out everything you need to know about legalising documents on the official UK Government website.

If you’re getting married in a country not part of the Hague Convention, you might need to have your documents legalised. In such cases, any required documents will need additional legal approval through Embassy Legalization to be accepted.

The apostille will still be attached to the document, but the embassy of that country will then carry out additional legalisation. This can be a timely and complex process that will add to your legalisation costs.

Some of the more popular destination marriage countries outside of the Hague Convention are:

• United Arab Emirates
• Egypt
• Vietnam
• China
• Qatar
• Jordan
• Algeria
• Kuwait

How to get a translation of your documents

Document translations can be complicated. There can be strict criteria, depending on where you’ll need to use your translated document, as well as many different types of translation.

Certified translations are translated documents that are signed, dated ,and stamped by an official translator or professional translation company. This is normally done by a government-approved translator who confirms that the translated text is accurate and true. The certified translation will then be suitable for legal use.

Certified translations are officially recognised translations that confirm that a document has been translated to an acceptable standard. This standardises the legal use of documents originally written in a foreign language. 

Unfortunately, some countries have very different criteria for what consists of an ‘official’ and certified translation. In Brazil, for example, the translator must be local and accepted by the Brazilian government. Other countries, such as Italy and France, require that your translator is ‘Sworn’ and has taken oath in a local court. Contrarily, in countries like Greece, a professional translator is sufficient.

You must ensure that your translated document meets the local requirements and is legally acceptable for use, including for your marriage. This is why it’s important to use a professional translation agency that understands the specific translation rules for that country.

At Translayte, we offer translations that are accepted in the country you’ve chosen to get married in. This means that whether you need a Sworn translator, an apostille, or a certified translation, we offer the right type of translation and in time, within 24 hours. 

We also translate documents in over 130 different languages and are a fully certified Member of the Association of Translation Companies.

Get in touch with us today to see how we can make your translation needs seamless and stress-free!

Legal Requirements For Popular Marriage Destinations

Here’s a list of the most popular marriage destinations and the legal documents required in these countries. Each country may have different rules about the documents you need to provide. So we’ve included details about any extra documents required.

The legal requirements for acceptable translations also vary. In some nations, a Sworn translator can work on your document and guarantee that it meets local criteria. In other countries, a translator’s work may only become certified when they take an oath in a local court and confirm that they are a member of the Government-approved translation body.

In some countries, you may also be required to make appointments with the high commission to register details of your intention to marry.

You can click through the below links for additional information about the legal requirements in some of the most popular wedding locations globally:

• Getting married in Croatia
• Cyprus Wedding Requirements
• Requirements for Wedding in Greece
• Indonesia Marriage Requirements
• Getting Married in Italy
• Malta Marriage License
• Mexico Marriage Requirements
• Portugal Marriage Requirements
• Thailand Marriage Requirements
• Wedding in Turkey Legal Requirements

How to Register Your Marriage in the UK after Getting Married Abroad

Typically, you do not need to register your marriage in the UK after getting married abroad if the wedding is legally recognised in your destination country. That is the country where the marriage took place. 

However, there might be certain situations in which you need to use your marriage certificate in the UK. If the certificate is in a foreign language, you will need to have it professionally translated into English. 

If your marriage certificate is issued by a place of worship, ensure you went through all legal processes. In some cases, it may need to be notarized for use abroad. 

Conclusion

Dreaming of saying "I do" in a stunning location abroad? From picturesque beaches to charming historic cities, certain destinations have become favourites for couples looking to tie the knot overseas.

However, to have a seamless wedding in your destination country and make your marriage legal, you must meet certain legal requirements in both your home and destination countries. Each country has specific rules about what documents you need to provide and translation requirements. Getting your documents early will help ensure your wedding plans go smoothly. 

At Translayte, we provide professional and certified translation services to meet all your needs. Our fast, reliable, and hassle-free process ensures your documents meet the requirements of your destination country. Get in touch with us today for all your translation needs.