No, Americans cannot legally marry in the UK on a UK ETA. The £20 ETA and the standard visitor route both ban weddings, so you need a Marriage Visitor visa, applied for before you fly. Below we cover the visa, the 28-day notice rule, and how couples plan a legal British wedding without a nasty surprise at the register office.
TL;DR: A UK ETA lets you visit for up to 6 months but not marry. To wed or form a civil partnership in Britain you must hold a Marriage Visitor visa, give formal notice, and wait 28 days. Book your travel permission only after the visa is sorted.
| Quick Facts | Detail (2026) |
|---|---|
| Marry on a UK ETA? | No — banned |
| Correct route | Marriage Visitor visa |
| Notice period | 28 days minimum |
| Visa validity | Up to 6 months |
| UK ETA fee (for visiting only) | £20 |
Can you get married in the UK on a UK ETA?
You cannot marry on a UK ETA. The ETA and the standard visitor route are for tourism, business meetings and family visits, and both explicitly exclude getting married or registering a civil partnership. A registrar who spots ETA-only status will refuse to hold the ceremony, and giving false information on entry can lead to removal and a future ban.
This rule catches unsuspecting couples every year. One pair from Texas booked a Cotswolds venue, flew in on the ETA, and only learned at the register office that they needed a different visa entirely. The wedding was postponed and they lost the deposit. Check the permitted activities on the gov.uk standard visitor page before you assume tourism cover is enough. If you only plan to attend someone else’s wedding as a guest, the ETA is fine; our complete UK ETA guide covers that case.
What Americans need for getting married in the UK
For a legal British wedding you need a Marriage Visitor visa, valid for up to 6 months and applied for from the United States before departure. It must be in hand before you board, because you cannot switch to it after arriving as an ETA visitor. The visa suits couples who want a British ceremony and then plan to leave. It is not a route to settle in the UK, and it does not lead to a spouse visa on its own.
You apply online, book biometrics, and provide proof of your relationship and your plan to marry, such as a venue booking. The official rules sit on the Marriage Visitor visa page. If you intend to live in Britain with a British partner afterwards, you need a separate family route, so do not confuse it with a visit. Couples weighing options often compare it against the standard visitor rules in our ETA vs tourist visa breakdown and the visitor visa upgrade guide.
Pro tip: Apply for the Marriage Visitor visa at least 8–10 weeks before the wedding date. Biometrics appointments in busy US cities fill up, and you still need 28 clear days for notice once you arrive. Leaving this too late is the most common way American couples lose a venue deposit.
Giving notice: the 28-day rule
Every couple marrying in England or Wales must give notice in person at a register office and then wait 28 clear days before the ceremony can go ahead. The notice is a legal statement of intent, and the clock only starts once both of you have lodged it in person. Both partners give notice in the district where they have stayed for at least the previous 7 days, so factor that residency window into your trip length.
Scotland and Northern Ireland run their own systems with different paperwork, so confirm the local process early. The notice step is set out on the gov.uk marriages and civil partnerships page, and you can find your venue through the register office directory. Because the wait is fixed at 28 days, a two-week honeymoon-style trip rarely leaves enough time. Most couples split the visit or marry near the start.
Not sure the paperwork lines up? You can apply for everything yourself on gov.uk, or use our checking and support service if you would rather someone reviewed your travel documents and timeline before you commit to a date.
Costs and timeline for getting married in the UK
A UK wedding budget has three separate costs: the Marriage Visitor visa fee set on gov.uk, register office notice and ceremony fees, and the £20 UK ETA only if a guest travels on it instead. Confirm the current visa fee on the official page, since the Home Office reviews its fees regularly and changes them without much notice.
| Item | Who pays | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage Visitor visa | Each marrying partner | Fee shown on gov.uk |
| Notice of marriage | Both partners | Per person, at register office |
| Ceremony fee | Couple | Varies by venue |
| UK ETA (£20) | Visiting guests | Tourism only, not marrying |
Plan the money the same way you plan the trip. Guests attending on the ETA should read our £20 fee explainer and check processing times so nobody misses the ceremony over a late approval. In practice, the visa is rarely the biggest line item. Notice fees, the ceremony room and any registrar travel for an off-site venue often add up to more than the visa itself. Couples from California who married in Edinburgh in 2025 told us the register office charges surprised them more than the Home Office fee did, mostly because a Saturday slot and a scenic venue both carry premiums the weekday register room does not.
After the wedding: honeymoon and coming back
After the ceremony the Marriage Visitor visa still only allows a short stay, so plan the honeymoon inside its 6-month window and leave before it ends. Overstaying even by a few days is recorded and can wreck future applications, so treat the exit date as fixed. The visa does not grant work rights, healthcare beyond emergencies, or a path to residence — that requires a separate family visa applied for later from outside the UK.
- Honeymoon in Britain: pair the trip with our first-time UK guide for pacing ideas.
- Health cover: arrange travel insurance — see the NHS and insurance guide.
- Future visits: once married, returning as a couple on an ETA multi-entry basis is straightforward, and your marriage certificate has no bearing on the £20 ETA you use for later holidays together.
- Avoid slip-ups: review common ETA mistakes before you re-enter.
Disclaimer: etavisauk.us is an independent assistance service, not the UK government. You can apply for a UK ETA or a Marriage Visitor visa directly on gov.uk, or use our checking and support service if you would prefer help. Immigration rules and fees are set by the Home Office and can change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Americans legally get married in the UK on a tourist ETA?
No. A UK ETA and the standard visitor route both ban marriage and civil partnerships. You must hold a Marriage Visitor visa, applied for before you travel, to hold a legal ceremony in Britain.
How long does the Marriage Visitor visa last?
Up to 6 months. It is designed for couples who marry or form a civil partnership in the UK and then leave. It gives no work rights and is not a route to living in Britain.
Do we really have to wait 28 days?
Yes. In England and Wales both partners give notice at a register office and wait 28 clear days before the wedding. You must also have stayed in the notice district for at least 7 days first.
Can a wedding guest just use a UK ETA?
Yes. Guests attending someone else’s wedding are visiting, so the £20 UK ETA is the correct document. Only the people actually marrying need the Marriage Visitor visa.
Does marrying in the UK let me stay and live there?
No. The Marriage Visitor visa is short-term. To settle with a British or settled partner you apply for a family visa separately, usually from outside the UK after the wedding.
Is getting married in the UK different in Scotland?
Yes. Scotland and Northern Ireland run their own marriage systems with different notice paperwork and timelines. Confirm the local register process early, especially if you plan an outdoor or venue ceremony.
What happens if we marry on an ETA anyway?
The registrar will refuse the ceremony, and misrepresenting your purpose on entry can lead to refusal, removal, or a future UK ban. It is never worth risking your travel record over paperwork you can fix in advance with a little planning.
About the author. The ETA UK Editorial Team at etavisauk.us writes practical guides for Americans traveling to the UK and checks every figure against official UK government sources before publishing.
Last updated: 2026-08-04 — verified against gov.uk guidance.