Getting married abroad

If you are getting married or forming a civil partnership outside of England and Wales, different rules will apply depending on the country where your ceremony will be held. 

You may need to provide a Certificate of No Impediment. A Certificate of No Impediment or CNI confirms there are no objections to a proposed marriage or civil partnership and is sometimes required if you are planning a ceremony abroad. See the Gov.uk marriages and civil partnerships abroad page for more details. 

The authorities in the country where you are planning to hold your ceremony will advise what legal paperwork they require before your ceremony can take place.

If you are British citizen and a Wokingham Borough resident, requiring a CNI, call us on 0118 974 6000 (option 3, option 3) to make an appointment. The fee for this appointment is £42 per person. 

You will need to provide us with the following information for you and your partner at the time of booking:

• Nationality
• Place of residence
• Venue, town, local authority, and country where the ceremony will take place

Will my marriage be recognised in the UK?

Your marriage or civil partnership will be legally recognised in the UK if:

• You follow the correct legal process in the country where your ceremony will take place
• It would be allowed under UK Law

You don’t need to register your marriage or civil partnership in the UK if the above apply.

Celebration Ceremonies / Renewal of Vows

Include those who were unable to attend your ceremony abroad with a bespoke celebration ceremony here in Wokingham. More information can be found on our Choose what type of ceremony page.