How to Get Married in Scotland as a Foreigner

National Records of Scotland and the UK government publish the rules and official fees, and the visa and the notice period both take weeks, so plan them first.

Can foreigners get married in Scotland?

Yes. National Records of Scotland says that if either of you is a non-UK national, you can get married in Scotland, although you may be subject to immigration controls. According to mygov.scot, you must be 16 or over, not already married or in a civil partnership, and not closely related. Same-sex and mixed-sex couples can both marry.

Apply for a Marriage Visitor visa first

The UK government says you must apply for a Marriage Visitor visa if you want to marry or give notice of a marriage in the UK and don't plan to stay afterward. Irish citizens and people with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme don't need one.

• Cost: £135 to apply, with optional fees of £500 for a decision within 5 working days or £1,000 within 24 hours.
• Timing: apply up to 3 months before you travel. You'll usually get a decision within 3 weeks, and you'll attend an appointment where your fingerprints and photo are taken.
• What it allows: a stay of up to 6 months, with the wedding taking place within 6 months of your arrival.

Documents for your marriage notice

Each of you completes an M10 marriage notice form, and together you fill in a celebrant and witness details form. National Records of Scotland lists these documents to send with your forms:

• Your birth certificate, or adoption certificate if you were adopted
• Evidence of your usual residence, such as a utility bill no older than 3 months
• A valid passport or other evidence of nationality
• A declaration of status form for non-UK nationals
• A Certificate of No Impediment or your country's equivalent, if you've lived in the UK for less than 2 years
• Evidence that any previous marriage or civil partnership has ended, if that applies to you

If the certificate from your country isn't in English, you'll need a certified translation, according to mygov.scot. Some registration offices accept emailed copies first, but they need the original forms and documents before the ceremony.

Getting married in Scotland, step by step

1. Choose the place, date and person who'll marry you. Book a registrar for a civil ceremony, or an authorized celebrant for a religious or belief ceremony, before you fill in any forms.
2. Apply for your visa. You can apply up to 3 months before travel, and a decision usually comes within 3 weeks.
3. Give notice. Send both M10 forms and your documents to the registrar for the district where you'll marry. The deadline is 29 days before the wedding, but National Records of Scotland suggests 10 to 12 weeks.
4. Wait for the marriage schedule. Once the registrar finds no legal barrier, they prepare the schedule, and you can't marry without it.
5. Hold the ceremony. Both of you, the person marrying you and your two witnesses sign the schedule in black fountain pen ink.
6. Register the marriage. For a civil ceremony, the registrar brings the schedule and registers the marriage. For a religious or belief ceremony, you collect the schedule no more than 7 days before the wedding and return it to the registrar within 3 days afterward.
7. Order your certificate. Copies cost £10 within a month of registration and £15 after that.

Photo: Archeologo

Choose a civil or belief ceremony

Under Scots law, only registrars and assistant registrars can conduct a civil marriage, so private civil celebrants can't marry you legally. For a religious or belief ceremony, the celebrant must represent a religious or belief body that's authorized to marry couples. A friend or relative can marry you if they represent such a body and have authorization from National Records of Scotland in advance, so check with the registrar before you book anyone.

Where you can marry in Scotland

National Records of Scotland says ceremonies can take place at any indoor or outdoor location, as long as your registrar or celebrant can get there. The Marriage Visitor visa adds a condition, though, because its guidance says you must use a venue licensed for this purpose. If you're marrying on that visa, ask the registrar whether your chosen location qualifies before you book it.

National Records of Scotland also advises planning ahead with the registrar where you want to marry, especially in popular areas. For scenery ideas, our guide to the best elopement destinations features Glencoe.

What getting married in Scotland costs

These are the published official fees:

• Marriage Visitor visa: £135 per application
• Marriage notice: £45 per person
• Marriage certificate: £10 within a month of registration, £15 after
• Registrar or celebrant: fees vary, so ask the person conducting your ceremony

Venues, travel and the celebration come on top. Our destination wedding timeline helps you fit the visa and the notice period into your planning.

Where you're marrying from

• US, Australia and most other countries: apply for the Marriage Visitor visa before you travel, since the UK government says you need it to marry or give notice in the UK.
• Ireland: Irish citizens don't need the visa, but you still give notice like any other couple.
• UK residents of 2 years or more: you may be asked for proof of residence instead of a Certificate of No Impediment.

If you're also considering Ireland, our guide to getting married in Ireland from overseas walks through the Irish process.

Plan your Scotland wedding with Wedded Concierge

Wedded Concierge can help you plan your wedding day, and our travel team can arrange stays for you and your guests.

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