Marriage fees if you are subject to immigration control
If either of you is subject to immigration control, you may need to give notice at a designated register office and your notice can be referred to the Home Office, which carries an additional fee on top of the standard notice fee. This route can also take longer, so build both the extra cost and extra time into your planning.
What 'subject to immigration control' means here
This generally applies if you are not a British or Irish citizen and do not hold qualifying settled or EU settlement status. Your register office will assess this from the immigration documents you bring to your notice appointment.
It does not mean you cannot marry — it means an extra check applies to the notice you give.
The referral and investigation fee
Where the scheme applies, an additional fee is charged on top of the standard notice fee to cover the Home Office referral and, where used, an investigation into the relationship. This fee is set nationally and reviewed periodically, so confirm the current amount with GOV.UK rather than an earlier figure you may have seen.
Designated register offices and timing
Not every register office handles referred notices — you may need to give notice at a designated office for your area rather than your nearest one, which can mean travelling further or booking earlier.
The Home Office has 70 days to decide whether to investigate, which can extend your effective waiting period well beyond the standard 28 days, so this route needs longer lead time.
What this means for you
- Start the notice process earlier than you would otherwise, since the referral period can add weeks.
- Bring complete, current immigration documents to the notice appointment — gaps are the main cause of delay here.
- Budget for the referral fee separately from the standard notice fee, and check the current amount directly.
Official sources
- GOV.UK — Marriage and civil partnership referral and investigation scheme
- GOV.UK — Give notice at your local register office
- GOV.UK — Fees for marriages and civil partnerships
Last reviewed: 17 August 2026 · Next review due 17 November 2026
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Simply Married is an independent planning service, not a register office or government department. Confirm current requirements and fees with your own register office and on GOV.UK.