How to Marry Your Thai Fiancée in the UK

Planning a wedding in the UK with your Thai fiancée? Before booking the ceremony, decide where you intend to live afterwards. That decision determines which UK visa she should apply for.

If you plan to marry and build your life together in the UK, the usual route is a UK family visa as a fiancée. If you plan to marry during a short visit and then leave the UK, a Marriage Visitor visa may be appropriate. A Standard Visitor visa does not allow someone to give notice of marriage or marry in the UK.

Which visa does your Thai fiancée need?

Fiancée visa: marry and live together in the UK

A fiancée visa is a family visa for a couple who intend to marry in the UK and then live together there. Your Thai fiancée must generally intend to marry within six months of arriving. You will need to show that your relationship is genuine, that any previous marriages have ended, and that the applicable financial, English language and other family visa requirements are met.

She cannot work or study while she holds permission as a fiancée. After the wedding, she should apply in the UK for permission to stay as a spouse before her fiancée permission expires. Once that application is approved, she can work or study.

Read our guide to the UK fiancée visa and our comparison of fiancée and marriage visa options.

Marriage Visitor visa: marry and leave the UK

If you want to hold the wedding in the UK but your Thai partner does not intend to live there afterwards, consider a Marriage Visitor visa. It allows a qualifying visitor to give notice and marry during a visit of up to six months. It is not a route to settling in the UK, and the visitor must leave when their permission ends.

See our UK Marriage Visitor visa guide for more detail.

How do we arrange the wedding in England or Wales?

1. Choose the correct visa before travelling. Explain your plans honestly in the application and provide evidence that supports the route you have chosen.
2. Contact the register office and venue. Ask about available dates, the documents they require and when you can book an appointment to give notice.
3. Give notice after arrival. Both partners must complete the required legal notice process. In England and Wales, notice must normally be given at least 29 days before the ceremony. Immigration checks can affect the timetable, so allow extra time rather than booking a tight schedule.
4. Marry within the visa’s permitted period. If your partner entered as a fiancée, plan the ceremony within her six-month permission.
5. Take the correct next step. A fiancée who intends to remain should apply to stay as a spouse before her permission expires. A Marriage Visitor should leave the UK in accordance with their visa.

Marriage procedures differ across the UK. If your ceremony will be in Scotland or Northern Ireland, check the requirements with the relevant local authority or registrar.

What documents might we need?

The exact list depends on the visa route and your circumstances. It may include passports, evidence of your relationship and wedding plans, proof that previous marriages have legally ended, financial evidence, accommodation details, and any required English language or tuberculosis test evidence. The register office may ask for additional documents, including translations of documents that are not in English.

Do not assume that a wedding booking alone guarantees a visa. The application must meet the relevant immigration requirements and clearly explain your plans.

Can my Thai girlfriend marry me while visiting on a tourist visa?

No. A Standard Visitor visa is not intended for giving notice of marriage or marrying in the UK. If marriage in the UK is the plan, apply for the appropriate visa before she travels. If she already holds a visitor visa, obtain advice about the circumstances before making any arrangements with a registrar.

Help with your UK wedding visa application

Thai Visa Express can assess your plans, help identify the appropriate route and prepare the supporting evidence for an application from Thailand. We can also advise on the spouse application after a UK wedding under the fiancée route.