# Marriage Visitor visa for Indian applicants

The Marriage Visitor visa costs £135 (fee effective 8 April 2026, about ₹17,865 at the Home Office rate) and lets you marry, form a civil partnership or give notice of marriage in the UK within a 6-month visit. It does not lead to settlement; you must leave after the wedding.

Source: https://ukvisadesk.com/visas/marriage-visitor-visa · Updated 2026-10-08 · Reviewed by UK Visa Desk counselling team, licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024 · UK Visa Desk, a brand of Pro Lifeset Overseas Private Limited, Patiala, India. WhatsApp +91 91155 80911, Mon to Sat, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM IST.

## In short
> The UK Marriage Visitor visa costs £135, about ₹17,865 at the Home Office rate, under the fee table effective 8 April 2026, and lets you marry or give notice in the UK within a 6-month visit. The officer applies Appendix V 4.2 with one extra question: is the wedding real, and will you leave afterwards? Decisions from India take about 3 weeks, and the register office needs at least 28 days of notice after you arrive. The common Indian mistake is using this visa when the couple plan to live in the UK, which needs the Fiancé or Partner visa instead.

Our all-in filing price: ₹4,999, GST included.

## Worked example
Example: a Mohali software engineer marrying in Birmingham before moving to Dubai

**The situation.** Simran Kaur, 29, is a fictional software engineer in Mohali earning ₹14.4 lakh a year. Her fiancé Karan is a British citizen whose parents live in Birmingham, and the couple have accepted jobs in Dubai starting March 2027. They want the Anand Karaj and the civil registration in Birmingham in December 2026, with notice booked at the register office for her second day in the UK. Her employer has approved 28 days of leave with a return date, her savings have stayed around ₹6.5 lakh for a year, and Karan's parents will pay for the wedding from their own statements. She applies in September, 95 days before the wedding date.

| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Visa fee | £135, about ₹17,865 |
| Salary on Form 16, FY 2025-26 | ₹14,40,000 |
| Savings balance held over 6 months | ₹6,50,000 |
| Her trip cost (flight ₹78,000, 4 weeks of spending ₹1,20,000) | ₹1,98,000 |
| Wedding cost paid by Karan's parents, shown on their statements | £9,000, about ₹11,90,970 |
| Approved leave with return date on the employer letter | 28 days |
| Register office notice period before the ceremony | 28 days minimum, up to 70 days if referred |
| Days between application and wedding date | 95 |
| Decision time (priority at £500, about ₹66,165, not chosen) | 3 weeks after biometrics |

**Outcome.** The visa is granted for 6 months. The wedding plan is documented with the notice booking, the Dubai offer letters give a clear reason to leave, and her own income and savings cover the stay. The same file would have been refused under V 4.2 if Karan lived in the UK and the chat history talked about starting married life in Birmingham, because the officer would read the visit as settlement by another name. It would also have failed if a previous marriage had ended only by a panchayat decision rather than a court decree.

## What the officer checks
What the officer checks on a Marriage Visitor file from India

| What they check | Why it matters | Evidence that answers it |
|---|---|---|
| Do you genuinely intend to marry or give notice within 6 months? | Appendix V requires the marriage visitor to intend to marry, form a civil partnership or give notice in the UK within the visit, and V 4.6 prohibits doing so on any other visitor visa. | Register office notice appointment confirmation, venue or gurdwara booking with the date, and the wedding card if printed. |
| Will you leave the UK after the wedding? | Appendix V 4.2(a) applies in full, and officers ask why a couple would marry in the UK and then leave. A partner settled in the UK makes this the hardest question on the file. | Employer letter with return date, a job offer or lease in the country where you will live, property papers in India, and a joint statement on where the couple will live after the wedding. |
| Are you both free to marry, and will the marriage be valid? | The register office cannot accept notice without proof that any previous marriage has ended, and Appendix V requires the marriage to be lawful in the UK. | Divorce decree from an Indian family court, a death certificate of a former spouse, or an affidavit of single status, each with a certified translation. |
| Can you pay for the trip and the wedding? | Appendix V 4.2(e) requires sufficient funds for the visit, and V 4.3 lets a partner or family pay only with proof of the relationship, their lawful status and their means. | Your 6 months of statements, ITR and Form 16, plus the sponsor's letter stating what they pay for, their statements and their passport or eVisa share code. |
| Is the relationship real? | Appendix V 4.2(c) requires a genuine purpose, and a wedding is not credible without a relationship behind it. Arranged matches are accepted, but the introduction must be shown. | Dated photographs together, roka or engagement photographs, chat and call records, travel together, and short statements from both families. |
| What is your partner's status in the UK? | If the partner is British or settled, the officer will test whether you really intend to leave. If the partner is on a temporary visa, the officer checks that you will not stay as a dependant without applying properly. | Partner's passport, BRP or eVisa share code, and a statement of the couple's plans after the wedding. |
| Is there anything in Part 9? | Paragraphs 9.7.1 to 9.8.1 cover false documents, undeclared refusals and previous breaches, any of which can refuse the application regardless of the wedding. | Declare every refusal from any country, attach old visas, and add a short explanation of any overstay or breach. |

## Mistakes we see
| The mistake | What it costs | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| Applying for a Standard Visitor visa and planning to give notice once in the UK | Marriage and giving notice are prohibited under V 4.6, so the register office refuses the notice, and the breach is recorded against future applications. | Apply for the Marriage Visitor visa at the same £135 fee and state the wedding as the purpose. |
| Using the Marriage Visitor visa when the couple will live in the UK with a British partner | The officer refuses under V 4.2 because the real intention is settlement, and even if granted, the visa cannot be switched to a Partner visa from inside the UK. | Apply for the Fiancé visa at £2,064 if the wedding must be in the UK, or marry in India and apply for the Partner visa once. |
| No notice appointment or venue booking in the file | The officer finds no evidence of a real wedding and refuses the application as not meeting the marriage visitor requirement. | Book the register office notice appointment before applying and include the email confirmation, plus the venue or gurdwara letter with the date. |
| A previous marriage ended by a customary or panchayat divorce with no court decree | The marriage would not be valid in the UK, so the visa is refused and the register office would in any case refuse notice. | Obtain a decree from the family court under the relevant Indian marriage law before applying, with a certified translation if needed. |
| An arranged match evidenced by two photographs and a wedding card | The officer doubts the relationship under V 4.2(c) and reads the application as a route into the UK. | Add the family introduction, roka or sagai photographs with dates, chat and call summaries since the introduction, and statements from both families. |
| The partner's family pays for the wedding but no statements or status documents are included | V 4.3 is not met, so the officer treats the wedding and stay as unaffordable on your own income. | Include a sponsor letter stating what they will pay, 3 months of their bank statements, and their passport or eVisa share code. |
| The marriage visitor's own funds appear in the account the week before applying | V 4.2(e) refusal for unexplained funds, even where the wedding evidence is strong. | Show 6 months of steady balances and attach the source of any lump sum, such as a fixed deposit maturity letter. |
| Applying 4 weeks before the wedding date | The 3-week decision plus 28 days of notice after arrival means the date passes, and a refused or late file leaves no time to reapply. | Apply at least 3 months before the wedding, and consider priority at £500 if the date is fixed. |

## Timeline
1. **Decide between Marriage Visitor, Fiancé and Partner** (Week 1): Answer one question honestly: will you live in the UK after the wedding? If yes, this is the wrong visa, and the £135 is wasted.
2. **Fix the wedding date and book the notice appointment** (Weeks 1 to 2, at least 3 months before the wedding): Contact the register office for the district where you will marry and book the notice appointment for your first days in the UK. Confirm the venue or gurdwara is registered for marriages, or plan a separate civil ceremony.
3. **Gather funds, ties and relationship evidence** (Weeks 2 to 3): Collect 6 months of statements, ITR, the employer leave letter, property papers and proof you are free to marry. Build the relationship timeline with dated photographs and family statements.
4. **Complete the gov.uk form and pay** (Week 3, up to 3 months before travel): Choose Marriage Visitor as the purpose and enter the wedding date and venue exactly as booked. Pay £135 in rupees, plus £500 if you want a 5-working-day decision.
5. **Biometrics day** (1 to 2 weeks after booking): Attend VFS Chandigarh, Jalandhar or Delhi with the passport and checklist; fingerprints and a photo are taken. Upload the documents beforehand so the wedding evidence is on file.
6. **Decision** (3 weeks after biometrics): The decision email comes first and the passport follows. A refusal has no appeal, so a fresh application must answer every paragraph.
7. **Passport return** (2 to 3 days after the decision): Check the vignette dates cover the notice period plus 28 days and the ceremony. Only then buy the flights.
8. **Arrive and give notice** (Day 1 to 2 in the UK): Attend the register office with passports, proof of address and the status documents. The ceremony can take place 28 days later, or up to 70 days if the notice is referred.
9. **Marry and leave** (Before the 6-month vignette ends): Keep the marriage certificate and your boarding pass out of the UK. A timely departure is the evidence that makes any later UK application easier.

## How Indian applicants fare
This is the visa for an Indian who wants a UK wedding but will not live in the UK afterwards, for example a couple marrying in the UK before settling in India, Canada or elsewhere. It is assessed under Appendix V, so the same genuine visitor test and the 17.8 percent India refusal rate apply, with one extra question: why marry in the UK and still leave? If the plan is to live with a British or settled partner, apply for the Fiancé visa or the Partner visa instead. A Marriage Visitor cannot switch to a family visa from inside the UK and would have to return to India to apply.

## Eligibility
- You intend to marry, form a civil partnership or give notice within 6 months of arriving in the UK
- The marriage or civil partnership will be legally valid in the UK, and you are both 18 or over
- You will leave the UK at the end of the visit and will not make it your main home (Appendix V 4.2)
- You can support yourself and pay for the wedding and return travel without working or public funds (V 4.3)
- You are not planning to live in the UK with a British or settled partner after the wedding
- You have booked or can show a plan for the register office notice, which needs at least 28 days before the ceremony
- No Part 9 suitability issues such as a previous overstay, breach or false document

## Documents
- Passport and previous passports with travel history
- Evidence of the planned wedding: register office booking, notice appointment, or venue and ceremony confirmation
- Proof you are free to marry: divorce decree, death certificate of a former spouse, or an affidavit of single status
- Evidence of the relationship: photographs together, chat history, travel together, or family introductions for an arranged match
- Your partner's passport, immigration status or eVisa share code if they are in the UK
- Last 6 months of bank statements, ITR for 2 to 3 years, Form 16 or business registration showing your Indian income
- Employer letter with approved leave and date of return, or evidence of your business in India
- Ties to India: property papers, fixed deposits, dependants, and the plan for where you will live after the wedding
- Return flight reservation and accommodation details for the UK stay

## Cost from India
| Charge | GBP | INR |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage or Civil Partnership Visitor, up to 6 months application fee | £135 | ₹17,865 |
| Priority service (optional) (optional) | £500 | ₹66,165 |
| Super priority service (optional) (optional) | £1,000 | ₹1,32,330 |
| VFS user-pay centre appointment (optional) (optional) | £76.50 | ₹10,123 |
| UK Visa Desk all-in filing price, GST included |  | ₹4,999 |
| Required Home Office charges plus our filing price | £135 | ₹22,864 |

Fees effective 8 April 2026, verified 2026-10-08; converted at 132.33 INR per GBP (2026-10-08). Pass-through charges paid on gov.uk.

## Processing time
Standard 3 weeks; priority 5 working days; super priority 1 working day(s). UKVI figures as of 2026-09-09, verified 2026-10-08.

## Refusal reasons
- V 4.2: the officer believes you intend to stay with your partner in the UK after the wedding, so the visit is not genuine
- V 4.3: funds for the wedding and stay are not shown, or the partner's support is not evidenced
- No evidence of a real wedding plan, such as a notice appointment or venue booking
- Previous marriage not properly dissolved, or documents suggesting the marriage would not be valid
- Inconsistent story between the form, the relationship evidence and the partner's statement
- Part 9 grounds: a past refusal that was not declared, or a document the officer could not verify

## Refusal paragraphs decoded (verified 2026-10-08)
### V 4.2 (marriage visitor): Marriage visitor: genuine intention to marry and to leave afterwards
The officer was not satisfied that the wedding is real and booked, or believed you intend to stay on with your British partner after the wedding. A marriage visitor must leave; the spouse visa is applied for from India afterwards.
What to fix: register office appointment confirmation or venue contract and date; partner's passport or share code and evidence of the relationship; return ticket or flight plan and evidence of your job or studies in India; a note explaining that you will apply for the partner visa from India after the wedding

### 9.2.1: Exclusion or deportation order in force
A mandatory refusal: you were deported from the UK or formally excluded, and that order is still in force. No visa can be granted until the order is revoked.
What to fix: apply for revocation of the deportation order (normally after 10 years, earlier only in exceptional cases) with a UK regulated adviser; do not submit new visa applications while the order stands; each refusal adds to the record

### 9.3.1: Presence not conducive to the public good
The officer considers your behaviour, character or associations make you unsuitable, for example extremism, serious dishonesty not covered by other paragraphs, or a pattern of conduct abroad. Used rarely but it is mandatory.
What to fix: obtain the full reasons (ask for the decision notice and consider a Subject Access Request); character evidence and clearance certificates; this ground usually needs legal representation

### 9.4.1: Criminality: custodial sentence of 12 months or more, persistent offender, serious harm
A mandatory refusal for a prison sentence of 12 months or more anywhere in the world, or for repeat offending or serious-harm offences. Sentences under 12 months are considered under 9.4.2 to 9.4.5 (discretionary, with time limits for visitors).
What to fix: always declare convictions; non-disclosure leads to a 9.7.1 deception finding on top; for shorter sentences, show the time elapsed and rehabilitation evidence; get the court record and sentence length in English

## FAQ
**Can I marry in the UK on a Standard Visitor visa?**
No. Giving notice of marriage or marrying is not allowed on a Standard Visitor visa. Doing so can lead to a refusal of future applications. Use the Marriage Visitor visa, or the Fiancé visa if you will stay.

**Can I stay in the UK with my spouse after the wedding?**
No. The Marriage Visitor visa cannot be switched to a Partner visa inside the UK. You must leave and apply for the Partner visa from India, meeting the £29,000 income rule and A1 English.

**How is this different from the Fiancé visa?**
The Fiancé visa (£2,064) is for people who will settle with a British or settled partner and switch to the Partner visa after marrying. The Marriage Visitor visa (£135) is for a wedding followed by departure. Choosing the wrong one wastes the fee.

**How long before the wedding should I apply?**
Apply at least 2 to 3 months before. Decisions take about 3 weeks, and UK register offices need notice at least 28 days before the ceremony, which can rise to 70 days if the Home Office investigates.

**My partner is on a Skilled Worker or Student visa in the UK. Can we marry on this visa?**
Yes, if you then leave. If you want to stay as their dependant, that is a different application under their route; we do not file work-route dependant applications, so we would point you to the right page on gov.uk.

**Do I need to show funds if my partner's family is paying for the wedding?**
You still need to show your own position and ties. Sponsorship is accepted, but include the sponsor's bank statements, income and a letter confirming what they will pay for.

**Can my parents come for the wedding?**
Yes, on Standard Visitor visas, with the wedding invitation and their own funds and ties. Family members should apply separately but at the same time, with consistent information.

**Is the fee refunded if refused?**
No. The £135 fee and any priority fee are not refunded on refusal, and there is no appeal. A refusal is also recorded, so the file should be complete before it is submitted.

## In depth
- [Fees in rupees](https://ukvisadesk.com/visas/marriage-visitor-visa/fees.md)
- [Documents](https://ukvisadesk.com/visas/marriage-visitor-visa/documents.md)
- [Eligibility](https://ukvisadesk.com/visas/marriage-visitor-visa/eligibility.md)
- [Refusal reasons](https://ukvisadesk.com/visas/marriage-visitor-visa/refusal-reasons.md)
- [Processing time](https://ukvisadesk.com/visas/marriage-visitor-visa/processing-time.md)
- [Cost from India](https://ukvisadesk.com/visas/marriage-visitor-visa/cost-from-india.md)
- [FAQ](https://ukvisadesk.com/visas/marriage-visitor-visa/faq.md)
- [Worked example](https://ukvisadesk.com/visas/marriage-visitor-visa/worked-example.md)
- [Mistakes](https://ukvisadesk.com/visas/marriage-visitor-visa/mistakes.md)

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UK Visa Desk is a brand of Pro Lifeset Overseas Private Limited, a visa consultancy licensed by the Government of Punjab, India. We are a private company, not affiliated with the UK Government, and we are not regulated by the UK Immigration Advice Authority. We serve applicants who are in India; applicants already in the UK are referred to a regulated UK adviser. We do not handle work visas. Information here is general, not legal advice, and no visa outcome is guaranteed.
We do not handle UK work visas. Applicants already in the UK are referred to a regulated adviser.