British nationals who are planning to marry in a foreign (non Commonwealth country) are required to obtain a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) prior to the marriage.  The British High Commission in Canberra do not issue these certificates however we forward the required documents to the Consulate in the foreign country where the marriage is to take place.

British nationals (including dual nationals), who are permanent residents in Australia may be issued a CNI by the Australian authorities, however if you are travelling on a British passport you will require a CNI from the British Embassy in the country where you are getting married.

What do I do? 

i) The British citizen must give public notice for one week (7 days) in his/her local newspaper (in Australia). In cases where both partners are British citizens, each person must make a separate  notice. 

ii) It is essential that the newspaper notice(s) be worded as follows:

“I, [full name], bachelor/widower/divorcé, of [full address] intend to marry [full name of fiancée], spinster/widow/divorcée, of [full address] at [name and address of place where marriage is to be solemnised] on [date of marriage].  Any person knowing of any lawful impediment to the marriage should notify without delay the Consular Section, British High Commission, Locked Bag 5011, Passport Section, Piccadilly House, 39 Brindabella Circuit, Canberra Airport ACT 2609.

iii) The British citizen should send all seven pages of the relevant newspaper (the whole page containing the same notice published on seven consecutive days in the same newspaper) along with the following documents:

• a photocopy of the applicant’s full birth certificate
• a photocopy of their British passport
• a photocopy of the divorce decree for every marriage (if the applicant has been married previously)
• an original affidavit
• fee sheet and payment.  Please print the payment sheet and submit with your application if paying by credit card.

NB: All applicants must swear an affidavit to the effect that the applicant is free to marry, in front of a Notary Public (not a Justice of the Peace) in Australia before they leave for overseas to get married.  Where both partners are British citizens, each person must swear an affidavit.

iv) If no objection to the marriage is received within twenty-one (21) clear days, the Consular Officer in Canberra will inform the Consular Officer in the consular district where the marriage is to take place.  The Consular Office in that country is then responsible for issuing the CNI. 

There are two statutory consular fees for this service.  If both parties are British they must each pay the two statutory fees.  The fees consist of $142 payable to the British High Commission in Canberra.  The other fee of ₤63 is to be paid in local currency to the Consular office in the district where the marriage is to take place.