Marriage and civil partnership licence

Under the Marriage (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, we can grant other venues, such as hotels and restaurants, a three-year licence to hold civil marriage and partnership ceremonies, subject to a successful application.

A three-year licence to hold civil marriage and partnership ceremonies costs £400. 

You will also need to provide:

• three copies of plans of the location showing the interview and civil marriage and partnership room
• copy of fire certificate (if this applies)
• certificate of public liability insurance
• copy of entertainment licence (if this applies).

Apply for a licence

Apply for a licence to hold marriage and civil partnership ceremonies

Before you apply, please read the terms and conditions for online services as well as our privacy information.

We accept the following credit or debit cards:

• Mastercard
• Maestro (we cannot accept International Maestro cards)
• Visa
• Visa Delta
• Visa Electron.

Full terms and conditions relating to civil marriage and partnership venues are available in our guidance notes for an application for premises to be approved for a three-year period as a venue for civil marriages/partnerships. Please call 028 9027 0455 or email registrar@belfastcity.gov.uk with your contact details to request these.

Timescales

We will assess and acknowledge your application within ten days of receiving it. A decision will be made within three months, provided all the necessary requirements have been met.

We may also inspect your premises to make sure they comply with health and safety laws.

If your application is rejected, we will notify you in writing with a reason why your application wasn’t successful. 

Under the Marriage (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, we have to give public notice of all three-year applications. This means that members of the public have the right to object to your application, once public notice has been given.