Are Weddings Abroad Legal in the UK?

If you're thinking about getting married abroad, one of the aspects you need to consider is the legalities of getting married in that country. You also need to make sure that your marriage will be legal in the UK so that, when you return, your marriage will be recognised by the UK authorities.

The good news is that UK law recognises marriages that took place abroad. Still, some stipulations determine whether your overseas marriage ceremony will be legally binding in the UK.

If You Get Married Abroad, Is it Legal in the UK?

Yes, if you and your partner choose to marry abroad as opposed to in the UK and continue to live as a couple in the UK, your marriage will be viewed as legal in this country. However, several conditions need to be met, including the need to follow marriage laws in your chosen country.

In short, for weddings abroad to be legally recognised in the UK:

• The marriage must be recognised as a legal marriage in the country where it took place, and the parties to the marriage must have complied with the procedures required in the country of marriage.
• Each party to the marriage must have the capacity to marry under the laws of the country in which they are domiciled at the time of the marriage. Capacity covers issues such as age, consent and mental capacity.
• Any previous marriage must be adequately terminated per UK law requirements.

What Documentation Do I Need to Have Wedding Overseas Recognised?

Generally speaking, in order to have your marriage recognised as legally binding in the UK, you need evidence. This usually comes in the form of a marriage certificate provided by officials in the country where you got married.

If you cannot obtain such a certificate in English, you will need to invest in a certified translation of the document before it can be legally recognised here in the UK. In some cases, you may also need to provide additional evidence that your marriage ceremony took place. For example, you might need to provide an affidavit or witness statements.

If your chosen country doesn't issue marriage certificates, there might be other documentation that you need to provide instead. It is always best to check with the UK embassy in your chosen country for advice on what you need to do.

Do I Need to Register My Marriage if I Get Married Abroad?

Even though you need to obtain evidence of your marriage for it to be legally recognised in the UK, you no longer need to register a foreign marriage in the UK. All you need is a certified copy of your marriage certificate stored in a safe place so it can be presented upon request.

UK law recognises almost all marriages that took place abroad as long as they were in accordance with the law of the country at the time and both parties had the required capacities to consent to the marriage.