Parties Living or Marrying Abroad

If One Or Both Parties Live In England Or Wales

In the case of a marriage by licence issued by a Church of Ireland or Presbyterian licensing minister, where one party resides in Northern Ireland and fulfils the statutory conditions, that party can take all the steps necessary to obtain the licence and the residence of the other party is immaterial.

For a marriage in the Church of Ireland, when both parties are Protestant Episcopalians and one of them lives in England or Wales,

• Banns may be published in respect of the latter party in the parish or place of residence in England or Wales
• In such cases banns should also be published in the parish or district of residence of the party living in Northern Ireland

In the case of an intended marriage in Northern Ireland for which authority from a Registrar is needed, and where one of the parties lives in England or Wales,

• The party living there should give notice to the Superintendent Registrar of the district where he or she resides and seven days later obtain from him a certificate
• A further seven days must elapse before the certificate becomes valid for the purpose of marriage in Northern Ireland
• The certificate must be given to the Registrar in Northern Ireland who may issue his authority for the marriage provided that the party living in his district has also taken the necessary steps there
• If notice is given for the marriage by Registrar's certificate the authority cannot be issued until twenty-one days from the date that notice was given

If One Party Lives In Scotland

A party living in Scotland who is a member of the Church of Scotland:

• May obtain a certificate signed by the minister of the congregation of which he or she is a member, stating that banns of the intended marriage have been proclaimed on three Sundays
• Seven days must elapse before the certificate becomes valid for the purpose of marriage in Northern Ireland
• The certificate should be given to the Registrar in Northern Ireland who may issue his authority for the marriage provided that the party living in his district has taken the required steps there
• The certificate regarding banns is not required if the marriage is to take place by licence issued by a licensing minister or by special licence

In any other case the person living in Scotland would have to establish the appropriate residence in Northern Ireland before notice of marriage may be given.

Marriage in England or Wales

In the case of an intended marriage in England or Wales where one party is living in Northern Ireland:

• A Registrar in Northern Ireland may grant a certificate but not a licence, as his authority for a marriage to be solemnized
• The party living in England or Wales must take the necessary steps there

Where the marriage is intended to take place in a church of the Church of England or the Church of Wales, it is within the power of the minister to refuse to act upon such a certificate, and his prior consent should be obtained.

Further information about marriage in England or Wales may also be obtained from the Registrar General.

Marriage in Scotland

In the case of an intended marriage in Scotland where one party is living here notice is not required to be given to the Registrar in Northern Ireland.

It is not necessary for either of the parties to have resided in Scotland before notice is given to the Registrar there.

Notice may be given either in person or by post and it is recommended that about six weeks before the date of the marriage, enquiries should be made with the Scottish Registrar in whose district the marriage is to take place.

Further information about marriage in Scotland may be obtained from the Registrar General.

This guide is issued for general guidance and is not a complete statement of the law. For further information on any aspect of the formalities to, or the ceremony of marriage, please seek the advice of the superintendent registrar at the local register office. Their telephone number and address can be found in your local telephone directory under 'Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages'.