Certificate of No Impediment

If both of you are British, and plan to marry in a foreign (not Commonwealth) country, and have both been resident for 7 days, you may give notice at your local office, wait 16 days and then collect the “Certificates of no Impediment”.

You will need to present these certificates, together with translations, to the marriage authorities in the district where you wish to marry.

If one of you is British, and one of you is a foreign national, only the British party can give notice in their local office. You must have been resident in the district for three weeks. You must wait for 21 days then collect the “Certificate of no Impediment”.

You will need to present the certificate, plus a translation, to the marriage authorities in the district in which you wish to marry.

Please check with the marriage authorities in the district where you wish to marry whether you will need the “Certificate of no Impediment” endorsed by the British Authorities before you present it.

This endorsement is usually called an “Apostille”. This can be done before you travel, by the Legalisation Office (www.fco.gov.uk/legalisation) or by the British Embassy or Consular Office in the country in which you wish to marry.