EEA getting married to unmarried non-EEA

Something strange happened the other day.

I am an EEA citizen, living with my unmarried partner together for 20 years now, 5 of which in UK.
When we wanted to give notice at the register office we were told since we don't have a marriage visa we need to get permission from the home office.

As I understood it before, a marriage visa is for people outside of the UK who want to travel to UK only for the purpose of getting married?

longuser wrote:Something strange happened the other day.

I am an EEA citizen, living with my unmarried partner together for 20 years now, 5 of which in UK.
When we wanted to give notice at the register office we were told since we don't have a marriage visa we need to get permission from the home office.

As I understood it before, a marriage visa is for people outside of the UK who want to travel to UK only for the purpose of getting married?

Did you go to a local register office or a designated register office?
And who did you speak to (anyone in authority)?

See https://www.gov.uk/marriages-civil-part ... n-national

When the marriage involves a foreign national, there is now the requirement to register the intention to marry at a Home Office designated Registry Office. The Registrar is legally bound to notify the Home Office. The HO can then (if they choose) extend the 28 day notification period to 70 days in order to interview the couple before the wedding can take place. It's nothing to be concerned about and not all couples are interviewed.

Yes, we went to a designated register office. And spoke to the lady that was assigned to us by them.

We might try again. Travelling in Europe is easier if you are married.