Congratulations on falling in love! As Celebrants, we have worked with many prospective visa couples and couples applying for fiancé visas, and partner visas and we understand your application process and the documents you require to support your visa application.
Celebrant’s Letter for Visa Application
If you are applying for your fiancé visa, prospective marriage visa or partner visa, we have an approved letter template for your “Letter from Marriage Celebrant”, generated by our system, which we can provide to you for the purpose of your visa application. This letter confirms your NOIM form (Notice of Intended Marriage form) has been lodged with us, and your marriage has been booked. This can be issued by us once your NOIM form has been lodged with us and the payment to secure our Celebrant service has been received.
your wedding date
We understand that we can only tentatively pencil in your proposed wedding date, as your confirmed marriage date may depend on how long it takes for your visa application to be processed, and each stage to be approved. Then we can be flexible with the actual date your marriage will take place, as your fiancé visa application progresses. We do require as much notice as possible, in the event that your ‘tentatively booked wedding date’ will be changing due to the status of your visa application (e.g. if your marriage date is brought forward or delayed).
QUESTION 1. My partner is currently based overseas; how do we complete the NOIM FORM from different countries?
As Authorised Celebrants, we have the discretion to initially accept and lodge a NOIM form with just one of your signatures in circumstances such as this.
With ourselves, or an alternative authorised person (as outlined on the NOUM form), witnessing this signature. This option is only available when it is not reasonably possible for the other person (usually the overseas based person) to sign this form in the presence of an authorised witness.
Please note: It is a requirement that the second person also signs the NOIM form (in the presence of an authorised witness, (which is usually us, your Celebrant) before your marriage can take place.
In our experience, the second person (usually the overseas based person) typically signs their part of the NOIM form when they arrive in Australia.
QUESTION 2. Where do I find the NOIM form to complete?
It’s always best to use the NOIM form provided to you by us, your Celebrant, as this form does get updated from time to time and an out-of-date form will not be accepted by BDM QLD (the department that registers your marriage). Also the form can be a little confusing, so by using our system we can guide you through completing this accurately.
For your convenience, we use an efficient online system, that we email you a link to, then you complete both of your details on the online form (it only takes 5 minutes). Our system converts your details in to all the required forms, saving you from having to complete multiple forms, and allowing us to check that its completed correctly, before printing or emailing this to you.
The same system also generates the Marriage Celebrants booking confirmation, or visa letter when requested, to confirm your marriage booking as is typically required for prospective marriage and fiancé visas.
Question 3. How do you witness us signing the NOIM form?
We will make a time to meet with one or both of you, either in person at our office in Indooroopilly, or via video call. During this meeting we will talk about the kind of ceremony you would like, and we will ask you a few questions, like if you intend to write vows to each other or exchange rings.
In person meetings – If the meeting is taking place in person, we will print your NOIM form and other paperwork, ready for you to check and sign during our meeting.
Video call meetings – If the meeting is taking place via video call, prior to our meeting we will email you your completed NOIM form, for you to print and sign during our meeting. Noting this cannot be signed electronically, it must be printed and signed by hand, then after our meeting, you can scan and email your signed NOIM form back to us, if everything is in order then your NOIM form is lodged with us from the date we receive it.
Other authorised persons witnessing your NOIM form (e.g. a JP) – In this case we email you your completed NOIM form as a PDF document, for you to print and take to the authorised person (we will provide you with a list of authorised witnesses) to sign in their presence, then you can scan and return this to us.
If you decide on having a full wedding ceremony experience, with more guests than a small elopement, a more detailed discussion will be required to run through ceremony options, ideas, inclusions and vibe.
More information and our fees and inclusions for full ceremonies can be found over at: Jamie + Cara – Brisbane City Celebrants.
QUESTION 4. Where can my marriage take place?
A huge benefit of getting married in Australia is that legal marriage ceremonies can take place almost anywhere! We provide our full ‘With Love’ Celebrant experience, and our legals only and elopement marriage services in the following glorious locations:
Brisbane Elopements
With its subtropical climate, endless choice of beautiful outdoor ceremony locations and warm sunny weather, Brisbane is a fantastic place for couples to marry. This climate makes Brisbane perfect for outdoor weddings and elopements throughout most of the year.
For elopement ideas, photos and descriptions, you will find a detailed overview of some of Brisbane’s best elopement spots.
Palm Cove & Surrounds Elopements
There’s a whole variety of stunning tropical elopement locations along the Northern Beach suburbs of Cairns in Far North Queensland.
Cairns Northern Beaches Elopements
Fun fact
As a married couple that were actually born on opposite sides of the world, we completely understand the detail, documentation and patience required for your visa application process. Having both lived abroad, we really believe that Australia (and dare we add – Queensland) is the best place in the world to live. So, in our humble opinion and based on our own experience, while the visa process can have its challenges, we think it’s well worthwhile.
We hope this answers all your questions relating to your marriage paperwork, forms and the Celebrants role in supporting your fiancé visa or prospective marriage visa application.
If you found this information about marriage and fiancé visas in Australia helpful, and you are looking for a Celebrant for your special day, we would love to hear from you. get in touch and let’s get the ball rolling and get your NOIM form lodged.
Images by Twig and Fawn Photography with Celebrant Cara and wedding arbour by With Love – Brisbane Wedding Decorators.