If a British subject is getting married to a foreign national in a foreign country notice can be given under the provisions of the Marriage with Foreigners Act.  For the purposes of marriage a British subject is a British or Commonwealth citizen, Foreign means a non-British, non-Commonwealth country or dependency.  The British subject must give notice of marriage in the district, in England or Wales, in which he/she has lived for three weeks before giving the notice.  Only one notice of marriage is given and the 'Certificate of No Impediment' can be issued 21 clear days after the notice.  To give notice you must know the full names, age, marital status, occupation and address of your intended, as well as the name of the town or locality and the foreign country where the marriage will take place.  The 'Certificate of No Impediment' may:

• Be valid for only a limited period abroad
• Need to be translated into the language of the country of the marriage
• Need legalising by the Embassy of the country concerned here or by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• Need to exchanged in the foreign country at the British Consulate for a consular certificate.

All of these possibilities are things you will need to confirm and act on accordingly otherwise your marriage may not be allowed to proceed, or if proceeded with may not be recognised by foreign/UK authorities.

In circumstances where two British subjects are getting married in a foreign country and both live in England and Wales notice of marriage must be given by both parties in the district/s in which they have lived for the seven days before giving the notice.  The informal 'Certificates of No Impediment' can be issued 15 clear days from the date on which the notices were given.  Please remember, the 'Certificate of No Impediment' may:

• Be valid for only a limited period abroad
• Need to be translated into the language of the country where the marriage will take place
• Need legalising by the Embassy in London of the country concerned or by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• Need to be exchanged in the foreign country at the British Consulate for a consular certificate.

For further information you can contact the relevant Embassy or High Commission of the country you wish to marry in or the Marriages Abroad section of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London  Tel: 020 7270 1500 between 9.30am and 12.30pm.

You can also get further advice from the General Register Office.