Italy accepts a UK certificate of no impediment as its nulla osta, but only once the CNI has been apostilled and translated, and only alongside a bilingual statutory declaration signed before a UK notary, which needs its own apostille. Spain does not accept a UK CNI at all: the British Consulate General Madrid exchanges it for a local one by post, which can take up to 30 working days.
The rules belong to the country where you marry. The UK's part is narrow: confirming you are free to marry, apostilling UK documents and, afterwards, reading your foreign certificate.
Below: documents, the CNI, seven destinations, apostilles, translations, timing and the certificate back home.
What documents do I need to get married abroad?
Most files are built from the same pieces:
- A valid passport, which the FCDO's online documents service requires.
- Proof you are free to marry: a CNI, a marital status affirmation or affidavit, or the destination's own declaration.
- A full birth certificate, where the destination asks for one, as France does.
- Proof that any earlier marriage or civil partnership ended: a decree absolute or final order, or the former partner's death certificate. You "cannot get a CNI while you're still in a civil partnership".
- Evidence of any change of name, such as a deed poll.
Some also require a link to the country. In Spain "you or your partner must live in Spain or be a Spanish national"; in the Netherlands your partner must be Dutch or one of you must live there; in France you, your partner or one of your parents must have lived in the town for at least 40 days before the ceremony.
How do I get a certificate of no impediment in the UK?
By giving notice at your local register office and saying it is for a marriage abroad. The FCDO tells UK residents to "Tell them you need a CNI to get married abroad when you book your appointment." In England and Wales:
- Residence: you must have lived in the registration district for at least the past 7 days.
- Documents: a valid passport or UK birth certificate, proof of address, proof of any name change and proof that earlier marriages ended. A divorce granted outside the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man is checked first, for £55 at the register office or £83 at the General Register Office.
- Notice period: Dudley Council's register office, for example, issues the certificate "after the expiration of 28 clear days from the day after giving notice".
- Names: the names on the CNI "should match the names on your passports, including your middle names".
- Validity: the CNI is "issued without an expiry date but the country to which you will produce it will set their own validity period", so give notice inside that window.
Two exceptions matter. There is no CNI for Commonwealth countries such as Cyprus and Mauritius: if asked for one, the FCDO says to "explain that the UK does not issue these for Commonwealth countries". And if you live abroad, you apply online to the British embassy, which charges £50 for a marital status affirmation in countries such as Turkey and Thailand. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, ask your local registrar.
What do popular wedding destinations ask for?
Seven popular destinations, mainly from the FCDO's country-by-country answers for UK residents:
| Country | Proof of freedom to marry | How long it is accepted | Legalisation and translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | UK CNI exchanged for a local CNI through the British Consulate General Madrid: £50, plus £15 return post | Usually 3 or 6 months from issue, depending on the certificate | UK public documents apostilled by the FCDO; sworn translator registered with Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Italy | UK CNI (the nulla osta) plus a bilingual statutory declaration signed before a UK notary | 6 months | Both apostilled; CNI translated into Italian; a no trace letter is refused |
| Greece | UK CNI, which "should be accepted" | Ask the person conducting the ceremony | Some documents may need an apostille or a Greek translation |
| France | No CNI: an FCDO self-declaration form and explanatory note are used instead of the certificat de célibat and certificat de coutume | Birth certificate no more than 6 months old when the file is lodged, or older with an attestation that UK certificates are never updated | Foreign-language documents translated by a traducteur assermenté |
| Cyprus | None: no CNI or affirmation for Commonwealth countries | Ask the municipality | Ask the municipality |
| Turkey | Affirmation sworn before a UK notary or commissioner of oaths, then apostilled | 6 months | Ask the registry; some, such as Melikgazi in Kayseri, want a Turkish translation made in Turkey and approved by a notary |
| Thailand | Marital status affirmation from the British Embassy Bangkok: £50, plus £25 for a certified passport copy | Most district offices accept affirmations dated up to 3 months before the marriage | Translated into Thai and legalised by Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
Germany and Portugal follow the Greek pattern: a UK CNI "should be accepted". The Netherlands wants a personal declaration, and the embassy "cannot give you a declaration of single status". In Thailand, "Religious ceremonies are not valid on their own", and although Thailand has joined the Apostille Convention, it takes effect there only on 28 February 2027.
Which wedding documents need an apostille and a translation?
Whatever the destination lists. The FCDO's standard advice is that "You may also need to get some documents legalised (certified with a stamped official certificate called an apostille) or translated into the local language by a qualified translator."
The apostille on an original UK public document comes from the FCDO Legalisation Office: a birth certificate as issued, a court order if it carries a wet-ink court seal, and your statutory declaration or affirmation once made before a UK notary or solicitor. Birth certificates get only the paper apostille, which usually takes up to 25 working days plus postage; see apostilles on UK birth certificates.
The translation needs as much care, because many destinations name the translator:
- Spain: translations by sworn translators appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs "tendrán carácter oficial" (have official status).
- France: the sworn translator town halls ask for is, in service-public.fr's terms, a traducteur agréé, a court expert on an appeal court's list; for translations made abroad, "La signature du traducteur devra être certifiée matériellement par le consulat" (the consulate must certify the translator's signature).
- Italy: a foreign document needs an Italian translation "certified as compliant by the competent diplomatic/consular Mission or by an official translator".
A translation by anyone outside those systems, even notarised and apostilled, is not a sworn translation in these countries, so use the translator or consular certification the destination names. Where a destination accepts a certified translation, or one notarised and apostilled, our apostille service can supply it, with the apostille attached to our translation, not to your document. See certified vs notarised translation.
How far ahead should I start?
Work backwards from the civil registry appointment:
- Check the destination's rules, residence conditions and the validity of each document.
- Give notice for the CNI so that it falls inside the destination's window: the FCDO says Spain wants consular certificates applied for about 3 months before the civil registry appointment, while Thai district offices want an affirmation dated within 3 months of the marriage.
- Allow 28 clear days for the CNI, then up to 25 working days plus postage for each FCDO paper apostille (15 working days from receipt in October 2026).
- Allow for exchanges: Spain's local CNI can take up to 30 working days after the consulate receives the documents, and "cannot be processed any faster".
- Translate last, once every apostille is attached, so the translator can include it if the destination wants the whole document in its language.
Will my marriage abroad be recognised in the UK, and do I need the certificate translated?
It is recognised if you "follow the correct process according to the law" of that country and "it would be allowed under UK law". It is not registered here: "You cannot get a UK marriage or civil partnership certificate if your marriage or civil partnership happened abroad." The foreign certificate is your proof, and the FCDO suggests you "may want to get it translated".
For UK offices, a foreign-language certificate needs a certified English translation:
- Spouse and partner visas: paragraph 39B(f) of the Immigration Rules requires a full translation, dated, with confirmation that it is accurate, the translator's or company official's full name and signature, and contact details; applications for leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain made in the UK also need certification by a qualified translator and details of the translator's or company's credentials. See the spouse visa document checklist.
- A passport in your married name: HM Passport Office wants the marriage certificate with the application and, for documents not in English or Welsh, a certified translation. Its guidance for paper applications asks for a translator "who is a member of a recognised professional organisation", so use a translator who meets that if you apply on paper.
Our guide to marriage certificate translation for UK authorities covers what the translation must show.
Common mistakes when marrying abroad
- A UK CNI taken to Spain without exchanging it for a local CNI.
- Names on the CNI that differ from the passports, such as a missing middle name.
- A CNI requested for a Commonwealth country, where none exists.
- Documents issued too early for the destination's window, such as a CNI older than Italy's 6 months.
- An ordinary certified translation where a sworn translator was required, as in Spain or France.
Checklist: before you marry abroad
Questions people ask
How long does it take to get a certificate of no impediment?
At least 28 clear days after you give notice at your local register office. Add time to book the notice appointment, and for any exchange abroad: Spain's local CNI can take up to 30 working days after the consulate receives your documents.
Does a certificate of no impediment expire?
A UK CNI is issued without an expiry date, but the destination sets its own validity period. Italy accepts a UK CNI for 6 months, Spanish authorities usually treat certificates as expiring 3 or 6 months after issue, and Thai district offices want affirmations dated within 3 months of the marriage.
Does the CNI need an apostille?
It depends on the destination. The FCDO says Italy needs the UK CNI apostilled and translated, plus an apostilled bilingual statutory declaration, while Spain needs the UK CNI exchanged for a local one. Ask the local registry before you send anything off.
Do I need a CNI to get married in Cyprus or another Commonwealth country?
No. The UK does not issue certificates of no impediment or marital status affirmations for marriages in Commonwealth countries, and the FCDO tells couples marrying in Cyprus or Mauritius to explain this to the local authorities. Ask the authority which other documents it wants instead.
Can I translate the wedding documents myself?
Only if the destination allows it. Spain gives official status to its sworn translators, France wants a traducteur assermenté, and Italy wants a translation certified by its consulate or an official translator, so a translation you make yourself will not do in those countries.
Is my marriage abroad registered in the UK?
No, unless it was a consular marriage at a British embassy or consulate. GOV.UK says only UK marriages and civil partnerships are registered in the UK, and you cannot get a UK certificate for a marriage abroad. Keep the foreign certificate and spare copies; it is your proof of the marriage.
Do I need my foreign marriage certificate translated for a spouse visa or a passport?
Yes, if it is not in English or Welsh. The Home Office wants a full, dated translation confirming its accuracy, with the full name and signature of the translator or a company official and contact details; applications made in the UK also need certification by a qualified translator and the translator's or company's credentials. HM Passport Office asks for a certified translation.
Can Official Translations help with a wedding abroad?
We translate UK documents for authorities abroad and foreign marriage certificates for UK offices, as certified translations at £29.95 per page. Where a destination accepts it, the certified translation can be notarised and apostilled; where it insists on its own sworn translator, use one there.
