COA needed for spouse visa?

Hi guys, hoping you may be able to advise. My fiance was granted a 27 spouse visa (as marked in passport) from abroad. He came over to the UK in April and we are due to be married in July. Recently we have been informed we may require a Certificate of Approval (COA) from the Home Office before we can give notice of marriage. Is this so? as previously we were advised there is no need for a COA if he has received entry clearance on a spouse visa?

Any help would be appreciated.

he shouldn't have a 27 month spouse visa if you aren't married. he should have a 6 month fiance visa or maybe a 27 (I think) unmarried partners visa if you have been living together for more than a couple of years.

It seems they may have made a mistake in granting him the spousal entry clearance.

On a side note, no a COA is not needed for people on a spouse visa because COA is permission to marry. Those on a spousal are already married.