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• Forming a civil partnership in Belfast
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• Civil partnership ceremonies in Registrar's office (Belfast City Hall)
• Civil partnership ceremonies in approved venues
• Civil partnership ceremonies in a venue of your choice
• Three-year marriage and civil partnership licences (for venues)

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Three-year marriage and civil partnership licences (for venues)

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

Apply for a licence online

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 (where applicable)
• certificate of public liability insurance
• copy of entertainment licence (where applicable).

We recommend using Internet Explorer for our online payment system.

	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 statement for online services

You can also download the application form and return it by post, along with the relevant documents, to:

Registrar's office
Belfast City Hall
Belfast
BT1 2GS

• Download the application for premises to be approved for a three-year period as a venue for civil marriages and partnerships (PDF - 105KB)

Terms and conditions

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.

• Download the guidance notes for an application for premises to be approved for a three-year period as a venue for civil marriages/partnerships
  (PDF - 191KB)

Timescales

Your application will be assessed and acknowledged within ten days of being received. A decision will be made within three months, provided all the necessary requirements have been met.

Your premises may also be inspected to make sure they comply with health and safety laws.

If your application is rejected, you will be notified in writing and a reason will be given.

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.