Book your notice of marriage or civil partnership appointment

What it means to 'give notice'

An essential legal requirement of your marriage or civil partnership is 'giving notice'. A notice of marriage or notice of civil partnership is a legal declaration that must be given individually by each of you in person.

You must book a notice of marriage or civil partnership appointment to complete the legal paperwork.

A nationally set booking fee is payable for each notice. This is non-refundable. 

When to give notice

You can give notice up to 12 months in advance of your ceremony, but this must be done at least 29 full days before your ceremony. For example, if you give notice on 1 May, the registration can take place on or after 30 May.

The notice period may be extended to 70 days if you are subject to immigration control.

We strongly recommend giving notice at least 3 months before your ceremony. We may not always be able to accommodate short-notice appointments.

Where to give notice

You must give notice in your local registration district. If you and your partner live in different areas, you will each need to give notice in your own district. If you or your partner is subject to immigration control, you must both give notice together in the district in which one or both of you live.

Before you book your appointment

A notice is venue-specific and valid for 12 months from the date the notice is given.

Before you book an appointment, you must :

• decide where and when you would like to get married or form your civil partnership
• make a provisional ceremony booking with the venue and local registration service

If, after giving notice, you change the ceremony venue or the date is moved beyond 12 months from the date of your appointment, you must give a new notice and pay the fees again.

Book your appointment

The notice booking is for legal paperwork only. You are not booking a ceremony.

If you live outside Oxfordshire, contact the register office in your district to book an appointment.

Documentation

As with all legal events, you will be required to produce proof of identity showing evidence of your:

• full name
• nationality
• age

You will need to provide proof of your current address.

You must bring your documents to your notice appointment. Acceptable documents are listed below.

Proof of identity

British citizens born before 1 January 1983

You must bring one of the following:

• current valid passport
• British birth certificate
• naturalisation certificate and photo ID

British citizens born on or after 1 January 1983

If you were born on or after 1 January 1983, you would not automatically acquire British Nationality; it is taken from your parents. You must bring one of the following:

• current valid British passport
• naturalisation certificate and photo ID
• full British birth certificate, which includes your parents' details, plus evidence of your parents' British nationality (see list of accepted documents below)

As evidence of your parents' British nationality, we accept the following.

Your parents were married at the time of your birth. You must bring evidence of your mother's or father's British nationality, such as their British passport or birth certificate.

Your parents were not married at the time of your birth. We can only accept your mother's British birth certificate or British passport.

Your mother or father's British birth certificate or British passport shows a different name from that on your own full birth certificate. You must bring evidence to show their change of name, such as a marriage certificate or a change of name deed.

Both your parents were born on or after 1 January 1983. You must bring evidence of your grandparents' nationality (passport or birth certificate). As this can be quite complex, complete our enquiry form.

Your parents were born outside the UK. You must bring evidence of their British nationality at the time of your birth.

Irish nationals

You must bring your valid Irish passport.

Nationals with EU Settled Status (EUSS)

People who have been granted settled or pre-settled EU Settlement Status or have a pending application for EU settlement submitted before 30 June 2021. You must bring your:

• valid passport
• 9-character alphanumeric share code to prove your EUSS

Share code

Generate your share code on GOV.UK before your appointment. You will need details of the identity document you used when you applied for the EUSS. This code is valid for 30 days. Check what documents you need to give notice.

If you are unable to provide a valid share code during the appointment or if it confirms that you do not have EUSS, you will be referred to the Home Office. We may extend the waiting period for your ceremony to 70 days. You will also be required to provide a photograph of you and your partner, and the booking fee for the notice will increase to £57 per person.

Foreign nationals

Foreign nationals are defined as people who are not British or Irish Citizens and who have not been granted EU Settled Status (EUSS) or have a pending EUSS application submitted before 30 June 2021. If you or your partner is a foreign national, you must give notice together in the registration district in which one or both of you live.

If you are a foreign national, in addition to proof of full name, age, nationality and address, you will also be required to provide evidence of your settled status in England and Wales. If you are unable to provide this, you will be referred to the Home Office, and the waiting period for your marriage may be extended to 70 days. You will also be required to provide a passport-style photograph of yourself and one of your partner.

We accept one of the following documents:

• valid passport
• valid Home Office travel document
• proof of settled status
• Indefinite Leave to Remain/Enter
• marriage visa (you can provide this via a 9-digit share code at GOV.UK - select the ‘other’ option)

If you do not have or cannot provide evidence of settled status in England and Wales, then contact us.

For detailed information, visit UK Visas and Immigration.

If you have changed your name

If one or both of you have changed your names, you will need to provide evidence of a change of name. All the names on your documents must match. If they do not, we must see how they link. For example, you must bring a marriage certificate, a change of name deed, or a Statutory Declaration.

Proof of current address

As proof of address, we accept one of the following documents:

• Council Tax bill (dated within 12 months of giving notice)
• utility bill (dated within 3 months of giving notice)
• bank statement (dated within 1 month of giving notice)
• current residential tenancy agreement
• valid UK photo driving licence
• a letter signed by the owner/occupier of the house, who is able to confirm your residence over the previous seven days

If you have been married or in a civil partnership before

Your last marriage or civil partnership was dissolved, and your documentation was issued in the UK. You will need to bring your decree absolute of divorce or final order.

Your last marriage or civil partnership was dissolved, and your documentation was issued outside the UK. You will need to bring your dissolution of marriage or civil partnership document, along with a certified English translation if applicable. The translation must include all parts of the document, including any official stamps or signatures and the full name and contact details of the translator, and be certified by them as a true and accurate translation. A fee will also apply.

Your last marriage or civil partnership ended in the death of your partner. You will need to bring your partner's death certificate (original or certified copy) showing your own name as their spouse/widow/widower/civil partner. If your name is not reflected on the death certificate, then also bring your marriage/civil partnership certificate (original or certified copy). If either document is not in English, then provide a translation.