Beyonce and Jay-Z 'take out marriage licence'

Longtime couple Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z have taken out a marriage licence.

The pair, who began dating in 2002, successfully applied for the licence in Scarsdale, New York on Tuesday morning, according to website People.com.

Knowles and Jay-Z - real name Shawn Carter - now have 60 days to get married before the licence expires.

Over the course of their six-year romance, both singers have refused to discuss the status of their relationship, despite increasing speculation they are planning to wed.