Required documents
We’ll need to check your documents in person. An appointment is needed for this. You can book online, by phone or by calling into the office.
Before making an appointment to give notice, make sure that you have read and understood all the information on this page, particularly the information about what you need to bring with you to the notice appointment.
At your appointment you will need to bring evidence of your name, surname, date of birth and nationality:
One of the following original documents (or groups of documents) must be provided as evidence:
- Valid passport;
- Valid Biometric residence permit/E Visa, including the share code from the GOV.UK website
- Certificate of registration as a British citizen granted by the Secretary of State together with one of the first 6 documents listed under evidence required as evidence of address.
- If you were born in the United Kingdom before 1 January 1983:
- United Kingdom birth certificate; and
- one of the of the first 6 documents listed under evidence required as evidence of address
- If you were born in the United Kingdom on or after 1 January 1983 but before 1 July 2006:
- Your full United Kingdom birth certificate showing parents’ details; and
- one of the of the first 6 documents listed under evidence required as evidence of address
- evidence of your mother's British citizenship or settled status at the time of your birth (e.g. a passport describing her as a British citizen or indicating that she then had indefinite leave to enter or remain); or the above for your father providing your parents were married
- Parents’ marriage certificate if using your father's documentation
- If you were born in the United Kingdom on or after 1 July 2006:
- Your full birth certificate showing parents’ details; and
- one of the of the first 6 documents listed under evidence required as evidence of address
- evidence of either parents’ British citizenship or settled status at the time of your birth (e.g. a passport describing them as a British citizen or indicating that he or she then had indefinite leave to enter or remain);
- Valid travel document issued in the United Kingdom at the discretion of the Secretary of State to persons who have been formally and, in the view of the Secretary of State, unreasonably, refused a passport by the authorities in their own countries and who have—
- been granted limited leave to enter or remain or humanitarian protection on rejection of a claim for asylum or for recognition as a stateless person; or
- been granted indefinite leave to remain;
- valid travel document issued pursuant to Article 28 of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees done at Geneva on 28 July 1951;
- valid travel document issued pursuant to Article 28 of the Stateless Convention;
Evidence of address
All documentation must be produced in paper form. You cannot log onto your account to show us documentation. We can accept a printed copy from your online account.
One of the following:
- Utility bill dated no more than three months before the date on which notice is given.
- Bank or building society statement or passbook dated no more than one month before the date on which notice is given. Please note this cannot be a credit card statement.
- Council Tax bill or mortgage statement dated no more than one year before the date on which notice is given.
- Current residential tenancy agreement.
- Valid UK driving licence in the name of the person giving notice (full or provisional as long as all documents are originals as photocopies will not be accepted).
- Letter from the owner or proprietor of the address which is the person’s place of residence which
- confirms that the person has resided at the address for at least 7 days immediately prior to the date on which notice of marriage is given,
- states that the person is the owner or proprietor,
- states the name and address of the owner or proprietor and is signed and dated by that person
Evidence of the ending of a previous marriage or civil partnership
If you have been married or in a civil partnership you will also need to provide the relevant document, please note if your current doesn't match the name on your document you will need to bring further evidence for example a marriage certificate, you must bring the original paper document, if you only have a digitised document sent to you by the court, this must be printed and brought to the appointment, if you're unsure please contact us by email registeroffice@manchester.gov.uk:
- Decree absolute of divorce or decree of nullity of marriage granted by a court of civil jurisdiction in England and Wales;
- Dissolution order or nullity order obtained in England or Wales in accordance with Part 2 of the Civil Partnership Act 2004;
- A document, or documents, confirming your divorce or annulment granted by a court of civil jurisdiction in any part of the British Islands.
- A document, or documents, confirming the dissolution or annulment of your civil partnership granted by a court of civil jurisdiction in the United Kingdom.
- A document, or documents confirming your divorce or annulment obtained in a country outside the British Islands.
- A document, or documents confirming the dissolution or annulment of your civil partnership obtained outside the United Kingdom.
- The death certificate of the spouse or civil partner and the marriage/civil partnership certificate.
Proof of immigration status
For people that are not British citizens when giving notice, you must also provide evidence of your immigration status:
- Proof of settled, pre-settled or pending EUSS status, including the share code from the GOV.UK website
- Valid Biometric residence permit/E Visa, including the share code from the GOV.UK website
- Valid UK visa/entry clearance in passport
- Valid Home Office endorsement in passport
- Valid UK residence permit in passport
If you do not have the correct proof your marriage will be referred to the Home Office, who may decide to extend your notice period for 70 days if they wish to investigate further. The marriage cannot take place until approval is granted by the Home Office.
Photographs
Both of you will also need to provide a colour photograph at the time of giving notice unless you are both a British or Irish national, or you can provide proof of settled status. Note that if either of you is a foreign national without proof of settled status then you will both need to provide a colour photograph. Each photograph must be a UK passport style and size and meet the following criteria:
- It should clearly show your face with a neutral expression.
- You must not be wearing any head covering (other than for religious or medical reasons).
- You must be photographed alone with no other person or object in shot.
- It should be unmarked, unaltered and without tears or creases.
- It must be a recent photo and show a current likeness.
All documents must be original. We cannot accept photocopies.
Where any document listed above was created outside the United Kingdom and is not in English, a full translation must also be provided.
If either party to the marriage is a national of an EU country and does not have settled or pre-settled status (or a pending application), or is a national of a non EU country you may be subject to immigration control.
This means you must give your notices together at the Register Office covering the district in which you have both lived for the preceding 7 clear days. If you both live in different registration districts you must give your notices together at either Register Office.
Registrars cannot give immigration advice.
Immediately before giving notice you must have lived in one district within England or Wales for a minimum of 7 full days. For example, if you enter the UK on the first day of the month, the earliest date you could give notice would be the ninth day. If you need help with this, contact us and we'll help you to work out the correct date to give notice. You cannot move between districts in the 7 full days immediately prior to the date on which notice of civil partnership is given.