Foreign Marriage Order 1970
A marriage solemnised in accordance with the local law of a foreign country cannot be registered in this country.
There is provision for a record of the marriage to be held in the United Kingdom under the Foreign Marriage Order 1970, where one of the couple to the marriage is a British Subject. These provisions do not apply to every marriage which takes place overseas. Information on whether or not deposit of a foreign marriage document is possible can be obtained from the General Register Office (Marriages and Civil Partnerships)
If it is possible for a record of the marriage to be held in the United Kingdom, you would need to produce to the United Kingdom consular officer for the district in which the marriage took place, either:
- a marriage certificate issued by the appropriate authority of the country or
- a certified copy of the entry in the local register, duly authenticated by the appropriate authority of the country.
In either case, a translation of the document into English is also required. You should ask the consular officer to accept the certificate as a certificate of marriage issued in accordance with local law and to certify the translation. Fees are payable for this service.
If the consular officer is satisfied that the certificate has been issued by the appropriate authority and that the translation is a true one, he/she will send the certificate and the translation to the Registrar General together with his own certificate as to the accuracy of the translation. Certified copies of the certificate and translation will then be obtainable in the United Kingdom from the General Register Office (Certificate Services) on the payment of the usual fees.
Legalisation of documents.
For your further information, please see below the contact details of the Legalisation Office. Legalisation if the official confirmation that a signature, seal or stamp on a document is genuine. If you intend to use British documents overseas, you may be asked to have your documents legalised before they can be accepted. The FCO stamp of authenticity gives the person that you are dealing with complete confidence that it is the genuine article.
Contact details
The Legalisation Office
Norfolk House
437 Silbury Boulevard
Milton Keynes
MK9 2AH
Tel: 01908 295111
Fax: 01908 295122
Email: Legalisationoffice@fco.gov.uk
www.fco.gov.uk/legalisation
