From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishspecial licenceˌspecial ˈlicence noun [countable, uncountable] British English SCLRRCspecial permission given by the Church of England for a marriage to take place at a time or place not usually allowed
Examples from the Corpus
special licence• He bragged that he needed a special licence to bring it on the bus.• Each brothel has to obtain a special licence from the police and the names of the women must also be registered.• You can be married more quickly with a special licence but that will cost you £80.• On May 11 Maisie and Thomas were married by special licence at Dunfermline. 