British Citizens who are resident in Ireland and wish to marry outside Ireland (except Commonwealth countries) must obtain a Certificate of No Impediment, as proof that they are eligible to marry under British Law. 

How to apply for a Certificate of No Impediment:

Please note that you will need Adobe Acrobat software to download the required forms. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat installed on your PC, please click here to download.

The documents listed below should be completed fully and returned to:

The Consular Section
British Embassy,
29 Merrion Road
Dublin 4

NB: Please ensure you also enclose both passports, the original long birth certificates of both parties, and divorce papers, if applicable.

1: Notice of Marriage:

After completion, the Notice of Marriage is published on the Consular Notice board at this Embassy. It will remain here for 21 clear days starting from the day after it is published.

If, by the end of the 21 day period, we are not advised of any impediment to your marriage, the Notice will be endorsed by this office stating that no impediment was shown.

2: Marriage - questionnaire:

These details are required to complete the formalities for your forthcoming marriage.

3: Form of Affidavit:

It will be necessary for you to swear an Oath before a Justice of the Peace or a Commissioner for Oaths, (or Notary Public).

This is to confirm that:

(a) you have been resident in the Republic of Ireland for the 21 days preceding the application, that;
(b) you are lawfully free to contract the marriage, and that;
(c) the marriage is not of the prohibited degree of family relationship shown in the attached guidance

Please then forward the Affidavit document to:

Consular Section, Department of Foreign Affairs, St Stephens Green, Dublin 2 to be apostilled. If you wish you can ask the Consular Section to forward the apostilled Affidavit to us at the British Embassy. The fee for this service is €20.00.

4: Fees:

There are two fees payable for this service.  Fee 1 of  €78.00 payable to the British Embassy Dublin, is for the preparation of your documents and Notice of Marriage. Fee 2 of €78.00 is payable to the British Embassy/Consulate in the country in which the marriage will take place.  This fee covers the issuing of the Certificate of No Impediment/Nula Osta.  For further guidance on the payment of fee 2 please contact the relevant Embassy/Consulate directly.   Click here for contact details.

NB: Fees are payable in Euro only. Bank drafts or postal orders, made payable to the British Embassy are the only acceptable ways to pay by post. Visitors to the Embassy may also pay by cash or Irish cheque, on production of a valid cheque guarantee card and only to the value of €130.00. (This is standard Banking practice). At the moment we have no facility to accept payment by credit or debit card.

The documents will be forwarded to the British Consular Office in the country where you wish to be married. A Certificate of No Impediment will then be issued on the basis of these documents and when all fees have been paid. It can be collected from the Consular Office in the country in which the marriage will take place or posted to an address in that country. Please note that it cannot be returned to Ireland.

For further information, please contact us on (01) 205 3813