If you are a non-UK national marrying an EU citizen in the United Kingdom, or if you are an EU citizen wishing to get married to a UK national after Brexit, you may need to apply for a visa to remain in the country. This is required unless you already have:
- Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
- Settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- Have applied for the Settlement Scheme on or before June 2021
- Or hold a current UK visa that is valid for more than six months
The visa you need will depend on your current immigration status and your plans with your EU fiancé after your civil partnership or wedding in the UK. Below are the main options for UK marriage visas and related routes.
Types of UK Marriage Visas for Marrying EU Citizens
- Marriage Visitor Visa: This visa allows non-UK nationals to come to the UK for the purpose of getting married or forming a civil partnership. It is valid for six months, during which you must hold your ceremony.
- Fiancé Visa: This visa is for those who intend to live in the UK after marrying an EU citizen who holds settled or pre-settled status. You must prove that any previous marriages have ended and plan to marry within six months of arriving in the UK. After marriage, you may then apply to switch to a Spouse Visa.
- Spouse Visa: The Spouse Visa allows non-UK nationals to join an EU partner who is settled in the UK. If you intend to marry in the UK, you often begin with a Fiancé Visa and later switch to a Spouse Visa. Spouse Visa holders must show evidence of a genuine relationship, meet the financial requirement, and prove their English language ability. Learn more about requirements in Immigration Rules You Must Know Before Applying for a UK Spouse Visa.
- EU Settlement Family Permit Scheme: The EU Settlement Scheme family permit allows specific family members to join their relatives in the UK. This includes family members of EU and EEA nationals or eligible individuals from Northern Ireland. To apply, your family member living in the UK must have been residing there before the end of 2020, and your family relationship must have begun by that time.
Marriages with Settled or Pre-Settled Status After Brexit
Before Brexit and the end of free movement in December 2020, EU citizens with settled or pre-settled status could marry or form a civil partnership with a UK national and live together in the UK without applying under the UK’s family visa rules. Since 1 January 2021, however, newly arriving EU nationals wishing to marry a British citizen and settle in the UK must apply for a Spouse Visa under the family migration scheme.
Non-EU partners of EU nationals moving to the UK post-Brexit may:
- Apply for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit if the EU national was already living in the UK before 31 December 2020 and holds settled or pre-settled status. The relationship must have existed before this date, and the application must be made from outside the UK.
- Apply for a Spouse Visa under the standard family visa system (see above).
- Consider a work or business visa (for example, the Skilled Worker Visa or Innovator Founder Visa) if eligible. These status types are independent of your relationship.
If you are uncertain which route is right for your situation, it is advisable to speak with a qualified immigration lawyer.
Your Rights When Married to an EU Citizen in the UK
Your rights in the UK depend on your current immigration status. If you are on a Marriage Visitor Visa, you are allowed to marry or enter into a civil partnership within six months of arriving in the UK. You must get married at a licensed venue and leave the UK before your visa expires.
If you have a fiancé, fiancée, or proposed civil partner visa, you can stay in the UK for up to six months to get married or enter into a civil partnership. After marriage, you can apply for a Spouse visa, which lets you stay in the UK for two years and nine months initially, followed by an additional two years and six months. After five years on a Spouse visa, you can apply for permanent settlement. For more on that transition, read Switching from Limited Leave to Indefinite Leave to Remain: What You Need to Know.
While on this visa, you are allowed to work, study, and use the National Health Service (NHS) for medical care.
If you hold a Family Permit, you can work and study in the UK as long as your permit is valid. You also have the freedom to travel in and out of the UK without any restrictions.
