The Civil Partnership Act came into force in the UK on 5 December 2005. This allows same sex couples to register their partnership in a civil ceremony that will confer the same rights, under British law, currently enjoyed by married couples of the opposite sex. British law allows for couples, where at least one partner is a British national, to register their partnership overseas, provided the local authorities have no objection to this. In Portugal, the British Embassy in Lisbon is authorised to register civil partnerships. However, there is no provision for a marriage ceremony to be held.

• Both parties must reside for 7 clear days in the consular district of the British Embassy.
• The British party must then give written notice of the intended registration to the registration officer on a notice of civil partnership form, and both parties must make the necessary declaration and pay the appropriate consular fee.
• If the other party is not a British national, he/she must produce a Certificate of No Impediment issued by the appropriate authorities of his/her home country or its local diplomatic mission.*
• If one or both parties have previously been married or have entered into a civil partnership, the relevant documentation (eg, a divorce decree absolute or death certificate) must be submitted.
• Both parties must produce their original passports or identification cards.The notice of intended registration will be signed and stamped by the registration officer and posted on the consular notice board for 14 full days (the day of application and the day of issue do not count). If no objection to the registration is lodged, the registration can be made. You do not have to remain in the country following the application for registration, but you must return within 3 months to complete the registration process.
• Civil partnership registrations are performed by the Consul or the Vice Consul. There will be no official ceremony, but two witnesses will be required.  Further consular fees are payable and a certified copy of the entry in the consular civil partnership register will be issued.