Ceremonies abroad
If you're planning a marriage or civil partnership abroad, you must follow the legal procedures of that country. The first thing you should do is contact the local authorities in that country to find out the specific requirements.
For more information and guidance on who to contact, you can visit the GOV.UK website.
Certificate of No Impediment
A Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) is a legal document that may be required if a British citizen is getting married or forming a civil partnership abroad.
It is your responsibility to confirm whether this document is needed. You can find further information on the GOV.UK. It is also advised to contact the relevant foreign authorities to confirm all the necessary requirements.
To get a CNI, you need to book a notice appointment at your local register office. Once you've given notice a statutory notice period of 29 days must pass before the CNI can be issued, so you should factor this into your timing.
Before you book, you should contact the authorities in the country where your ceremony will be taking place to confirm:
- How long the CNI will be valid for
- If you need any other documents
- Whether your documents will need translating
- If your documents need to be legalised (apostilled). You can find more information on this process on the GOV.UK website.
This information will help you determine the appropriate time to book your notice appointment.
Booking an appointment
If you are a British citizen living in East Sussex (excluding Brighton and Hove) and need a Certificate of No Impediment, you can book an appointment by calling the Ceremonies Hub on 0345 60 80 198.
A statutory fee of £42 is payable when you book the appointment.
You'll need to provide certain identity documents at your appointment.
Will it be legally recognised in the UK
Your marriage or civil partnership will be legally recognised in the UK if:
- You follow the correct legal procedures in the country where your ceremony is taking place
- It would be allowed under UK law
