Spouse/Unmarried Partner Visa (Five-Year Route)
Eligibility Requirements
When applying for a UK Unmarried Partner visa, applicants must satisfy a set of eligibility requirements intended to confirm that the relationship is genuine, stable and comparable to a long-term partnership.
In general, the main requirements include the following:
• Both you and your partner must be at least 18 years old
• The relationship must be genuine, ongoing and not entered into for immigration purposes
• You must be able to demonstrate that you have lived together for a minimum of two years in a relationship similar to marriage or a civil partnership
• You and your partner must intend to live together on a permanent basis in the UK
• Any previous relationships must have ended permanently
• You must meet the applicable English language requirement
• You must have suitable accommodation for yourselves and any dependants
• You must be able to show sufficient financial resources and income, without reliance on public funds
1. Partner Status
You may apply to live in the UK on the basis of your family life, provided that your partner falls within one of the following categories:
• A British or Irish citizen;
• A person settled in the UK, holding Indefinite Leave to Remain or status under the EU Settlement Scheme;
• A holder of a Turkish Businessperson or Turkish Worker visa; or
• A person granted refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK.
2. Relationship Requirement
The UK Home Office defines an unmarried partner as a person in a long-term, durable and genuine relationship with a British citizen or a person who is settled in the UK.
To qualify, the relationship must meet all of the following criteria:
• The relationship must be genuine and subsisting, with real emotional and practical commitment comparable to marriage or a civil partnership;
• The couple must have lived together for at least two years in a relationship akin to marriage. This period of cohabitation may have taken place either inside or outside the UK and must be supported by documentary evidence;
• The couple must intend to live together permanently in the UK once the visa is granted.
Unmarried partners also include fiancés(ees) and proposed civil partners. In such cases, the applicant must demonstrate a clear intention to marry or enter into a civil partnership within six months of arrival in the UK.
Merely being in a relationship for two years is not sufficient; the two-year cohabitation requirement must be met prior to the date of application.
3. Cohabitation and Evidence
Cohabitation for a minimum of two years is a mandatory requirement under the Unmarried Partner route and reflects the Home Office’s emphasis on stability and durability within the relationship.
Acceptable evidence may include joint tenancy agreements, council tax records, utility bills, or other official documents demonstrating shared living arrangements.
While the qualifying period of cohabitation may have taken place outside the UK, the applicant must either be present in the UK or demonstrate a genuine intention to relocate to the UK once the visa is granted.
4. Financial Requirement
Unless an exemption applies, applicants must meet the minimum income requirement set out in Appendix FM, Appendix FM-SE and the relevant Home Office policy guidance.
You must demonstrate that you and your partner are able to maintain yourselves in the UK without recourse to public funds. Income must derive from permitted sources, be calculated in accordance with specific rules, and be supported by the required evidence.
In most cases, the minimum gross annual income threshold is £29,000. There is no separate income requirement solely due to the presence of children.
Income composition can also become complex. In general, income may be derived from the following sources:
a) Employment income before tax and National Insurance deductions
b) Income earned in the UK through self-employment or as a director of a limited company
c) For applications submitted before 11 April 2024
d) Required cash savings = (Minimum income requirement × 2.5) + £16,000
e) For applications submitted on or after 11 April 2024, the minimum income requirement is £29,000.
f) This means the total cash savings required would be:
g) £29,000 x 2.5 + £16,000 = £88,500
h) Cash savings must generally exceed £16,000 and be held for at least six months, unless the funds are derived from the recent sale of property or investments.
i) Income from pensions, investments, shares, stocks, bonds or trust funds
j) Non-employment income, such as rental income or insurance payouts.
Applicants must provide documentary evidence of their financial position, such as payslips, bank statements, tax returns or employment contracts, to demonstrate that the required income threshold has been met.
Transitional Arrangements for Partner Visas Issued Before 11 April 2024
If you first applied for a partner visa before 11 April 2024 and are now applying for an extension with the same partner, the minimum income requirement remains £18,600.
Additional income may be required for dependent children who are applying with you or who already hold dependant status, unless an exemption applies. Where additional income is required, the applicable thresholds are:
• £3,800 per year for the first child;
• £2,400 per year for each additional child.
Where the total household income requirement exceeds £29,000 under these rules, only the £29,000 minimum threshold must be met.
English Language Requirement
Applicants must meet the English language requirement by holding an academic qualification taught in English and recognised as equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree or higher, or by passing an approved English language test.
The required English language level depends on the stage of the application:
• Initial partner visa application: Applicants must meet CEFR level A1 (speaking and listening).
• Extension of stay (further leave to remain): Applicants must meet CEFR level A2 (speaking and listening).
• Indefinite Leave to Remain (settlement): Applicants must meet CEFR level B1 (speaking and listening), and must also satisfy the Life in the UK Test requirement.
Exemptions apply where the applicant is aged 65 or over, has a physical or mental condition preventing compliance, or where
exceptional circumstances make it unreasonable to meet the requirement before entry. Nationals of majority English-speaking countries are also exempt.
Supporting Document
An application for an Unmarried Partner visa must be supported by a comprehensive set of documents. A well-prepared and properly evidenced application can significantly increase the likelihood of success.
The exact documents required will depend on the applicant’s circumstances, but typically include the following:
a) A valid passport or other travel document
b) Evidence of the sponsor’s status in the UK, such as a British passport or proof of settled status
c) Recent bank statements
d) Evidence that the financial requirement is met, such as payslips and corresponding bank statements
e) Evidence of English language ability
f) National Insurance number, where applicable
g) Details of any children applying with you, including their names, dates of birth and nationalities
h) Details of your accommodation in the UK
i) Your parents’ dates of birth and nationalities
j) Details of any criminal convictions, if applicable
k) Details of countries where you have lived or travelled outside the UK
l) Evidence of a tuberculosis (TB) test result, where required
Evidence of a Genuine and Subsisting Relationship
Applicants must demonstrate that they are in a genuine and ongoing relationship and that they have lived together in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership for at least two years prior to the application date.
Supporting evidence may include, for example, photographs taken throughout the relationship, records of communication during periods of separation, statements from friends or family members, and a personal statement outlining the development of the relationship, key milestones and future intentions.
Evidence of Cohabitation
Applicants must provide documentary evidence covering at least two years of cohabitation.
This may include, for example, joint tenancy agreements or mortgage statements, council tax records, utility bills showing the same address, or joint bank account statements.
Financial Evidence
Applicants must provide evidence demonstrating that they meet the financial requirement and are able to maintain themselves in the UK without recourse to public funds.
Depending on the circumstances, this may include, for example, payslips, employment contracts, P60s, self-assessment tax returns, bank statements showing qualifying income or savings, and evidence of other permitted income sources such as pensions, investments or rental income.
Identity and Personal Documents
Identity documents are required to verify the identities of both the applicant and the sponsor.
These may include, for example, valid passports, biometric information provided at a visa application centre, birth certificates (where relevant), and any other official identity documents available.
Application Process
To apply for a UK family visa as an unmarried partner, you must complete an online application and submit the required supporting documents.
As part of the process, you will also be required to attend an appointment to provide your biometric information, including fingerprints and a digital photograph. Instructions on how to book this appointment will be provided once the application is submitted.
Step 1: Online Application
The application must be submitted via the UK government’s official visa and immigration website. If this is your first application, you will need to create an online account using a valid email address.
You must select the Family visa route and ensure that Unmarried Partner is chosen as the correct visa category. The application form must be completed accurately and honestly, covering personal details, relationship history, financial circumstances and other relevant information.
All required supporting documents, including evidence of the relationship, financial evidence and identity documents, must be uploaded electronically. All documents should be clear, complete and legible.
Step 2: Payment of Fees
Once the online application is completed, you must pay the visa application fee. The amount payable depends on whether the application is submitted from inside or outside the UK and whether priority processing is selected.
Applicants must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which allows access to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) during the period of leave. Payment is made online, and receipts should be retained for reference.
Step 3: Biometric Enrolment
After submitting the application and paying the fees, you must attend a biometric enrolment appointment at a visa application centre. Appointments are usually booked online through the same application portal.
At the appointment, your fingerprints and digital photograph will be taken for identity verification and security checks. You must bring your passport and appointment confirmation to the centre.
Step 4: Decision
If the application is submitted from outside the UK, a decision is usually made within 12 weeks. Applications submitted from within the UK are typically decided within 8 weeks.
Successful applicants are normally granted leave for 2.5 years. Applicants applying as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner are granted leave for 6 months, after which they must apply to switch to the spouse or civil partner route.
All partner visas are granted on a limited basis. Applicants must complete a minimum of five years’ continuous residence before becoming eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). In most cases, applicants must also satisfy the Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK (KoLL) requirement at the settlement stage.
Once granted, unmarried partner visa holders may live in the UK with their partner and are permitted to work and study. Fiancé(e) and proposed civil partner visa holders are not permitted to work or study.
Processing Times
Processing times may vary depending on the quality of the application and the volume of cases being handled by the Home Office.
Under standard processing:
• Applications submitted outside the UK are usually decided within 12 weeks;
• Applications submitted within the UK are usually decided within 8 weeks.
In all cases, a decision is generally expected within 24 weeks.
Priority and Super Priority services are available for an additional fee:
• Priority service (£500): a decision within five working days;
• Super Priority service (£1,000): a decision by the end of the next working day.
Visa Fees
The application fees for an Unmarried Partner visa are as follows:
• £1,938 for applications submitted outside the UK
• £1,321 for applications submitted inside the UK
These fees apply per applicant. The same fees apply to each dependant included in the application.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) allows applicants to access National Health Service (NHS) care during their stay in the UK. The surcharge is charged in addition to the visa application fee and must be paid in full at the time of application.
The IHS is currently charged at £1,035 per person, per year.
The total amount payable is calculated based on the length of leave granted, rather than the place of application. Applicants are required to pay the IHS upfront for the full period of leave approved under their visa.
All fees are payable online by credit or debit card. Visa application fees are generally non-refundable, even if the application is refused. A refund may only be available if the Home Office has not yet begun processing the application.
For applications submitted outside the UK, fees are paid in local currency. The Home Office applies the OANDA exchange rate plus a 4% conversion fee.
Speak to LNvisa
Every partner visa application is different. Small details around income structure, cohabitation evidence or timing can have a significant impact on the outcome.
LNvisa works with individuals and couples to provide tailored immigration advice based on their relationship history, financial position and long-term plans in the UK.
If you would like guidance on your Spouse or Unmarried Partner visa application, or would like to discuss your eligibility before applying, our team would be happy to assist.