Marriage and civil partnership licence

Licences for marriage and civil partnerships

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 should email registrar@belfastcity.gov.uk or call 028 9027 0455 with your contact details to request an application form. You will need to provide certain documentation with your application.

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.