EEA and non-EEA getting married in embassy/consulate in UK?

[apriliapegaso28]

Hiya,

I can't find any written information about the subject. I've heard in the past that some people get marry in consulate/embassies.

I'm a Spanish guy trying to get married with a Japanese girl whilst we're both living in the UK. Anyone knows if it's possible to get married in the Japanese or Spanish consulate/embassy in London?

Once we've got a marriage certificate, we'd like to formalized the marriage applying for a Residence card (EEA2) under the EEA regulations...

Thanks for any info/link guys.

[geriatrix]

1. Your Japanese partner will need a CoA to get married in the UK. See also 1.1. Marriage in a foreign embassy.
2. Check with the respective embassies if they provide civil marriage services for their citizens wishing to marry a non-national in the UK.


regards

[apriliapegaso28]

Many thanks for that infor and that link, I'll read it carefully later on.

1.1. Marriage in a foreign embassy
A foreign embassy, high commission, consulate or other diplomatic premises in the United Kingdom are not regarded as being outside the United Kingdom because in the case of RADWAN V RADWAN (1972) ALL ER 967 it was found that a diplomatic premises forms part of the state in which it is situated. Since the Marriage Act of 1994 (which came into effect on 1 April 1995) it would be possible for an embassy to be listed as an approved building for a civil marriage in the United Kingdom

We've asked both embassies and they both said that they cannot marry because the UK doesn't recognize marriages which have taken place in embassies. Although reading the quote above it seems some embassies could be approved to marry people? If that's the case, I'm surprised that ours, aren't :S

[geriatrix]

Since the Marriage Act of 1994 (which came into effect on 1 April 1995) it would be possible for an embassy to be listed as an approved building for a civil marriage in the United Kingdom.

It doesn't say that embassies are authorized to solemnize marriages. It just says that embassies can be used as a place to solemnize marriages (a marriage conducted and solemnized in accordance that it can be recognized as a valid marriage as per UK laws).


regards

[apriliapegaso28]

Ah, got it! My bad reading something I didn't fully understand...

I suppose then that it's just a way to get married there following the EEA regulations in this case (basically what you do in a British register), well, if the embassies allow it. But that's nothing that really worries us, I thought it was more a case of getting married through different laws and then maybe, less paperwork.

Thanks for the quick clarification!