Immigration control

From 1 February 2005 if you are subject to immigration control you will not be able to give a notice of marriage unless you have either:

• an entry clearance granted expressly for the purpose of marriage in the UK. Entry clearance is the granting of permission to enter the UK by an Entry Clearance Officer in the British Embassy/High Commission in the person's country. It will usually be shown as a visa in the person's passport or travel document.
• or you have the written permission of the Secretary of State to marry in the UK - this will take the form of a certificate of approval which can be obtained from the Immigration and Nationality Department. This will usually only be issued where the person has been granted leave to enter or remain for over six months from the date on which they entered the UK and that leave is still in force. The certificate of approval will have to be surrendered to the superintendent registrar when notice is given.
• or you fall within a class of persons specified by the Secretary of State. This will be someone with settled status in the UK.

For more information write to:

UK Border Agency
Lunar House
40 Wellesley Road
Croydon CR9 2BY

General enquiries phone: 0845 010 5200

Email: nationalityenquiries@ind.homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Website: www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk

Registration officers have a statutory duty to report any marriage they suspect has been arranged for the sole purpose of evading statutory immigration controls.

Please note: the minimum legal age for getting married in England and Wales is 16 years of age but written consent may be required for anyone under 18.

You both must give notice of marriage in person to the superintendent registrar - no one else can do it on your behalf.

As a result of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, Etc) Act 2004, from 1 February 2005, if you or the person you wish to marry are subject to immigration control, you will only be able to give your notices of marriage at a specially designated register office which you must attend together. Tower Hamlets is a designated Register Office.