UK Spouse: Secure your Visa

UK Partner

The UK Partner route allows eligible partners of British citizens and settled persons to live together in the UK. This page covers all four UK Partner visa routes: Spouse, Civil Partner, Unmarried Partner and Fiancé/Fiancée.

What Is the UK Partner Route?

The UK Partner category is a collection of four related immigration routes that enable foreign nationals to live with their British or settled partner in the UK. While they share core requirements, the specific visa you need depends on your current relationship status.

It includes the following four visa routes:

• Spouse Visa – for legally married couples
• Civil Partner Visa – for couples in a registered civil partnership
• Unmarried Partner Visa – for long-term partners who have lived together for at least two years
• Fiancé/Fiancée Visa – for those entering the UK to marry within six months

These visas are the primary pathway to long-term settlement. After living in the UK for a qualifying period, usually 5 years, successful applicants can apply for ILR.

Who Can Apply for a UK Partner Visa?

Eligibility depends on both general requirements and route-specific conditions.

1. Core Eligibility (applies to all routes)

For all UK Partner visas, you must demonstrate:

• A genuine and subsisting relationship
• A clear intention to live together permanently in the UK
• The financial requirement is met
• The English Language requirement is met
• Adequate accommodation without recourse to public funds

1. Route-Specific Eligibility

• Spouse / Civil Partner: You must be legally married or in a legally recognised civil partnership
• Unmarried Partner: You must usually show at least 2 years of cohabitation in a relationship akin to marriage
• Fiancé/Fiancée: You must show proof that you have made plans to marry within 6 months of arrival. Note: You cannot work in the UK on this visa.

Meeting these requirements allows you to start the 5-year journey toward ILR.

Optional: If you are married to a British citizen, you may be eligible for a faster 3-year pathway to British Nationality immediately after settlement.

Optional: Please note that you generally cannot switch into this category if you are currently in the UK on a Family Visit Visa.

Optional: If you are the partner of someone studying in the UK, you may need to apply as a dependant on their Student Visa instead.

Documents You’ll Need

1. Core Documents

You will normally need:

• Passports and immigration status documents
• Evidence of a genuine relationship (photos, messages, joint responsibilities)
• Financial evidence meeting the income threshold
• Accommodation evidence
• English language qualification (where required)
• TB certificate (if applicable)

1. Route-Specific Evidence

• Spouse / Civil Partner: Marriage or civil partnership certificate.
• Unmarried Partner: Official documents (bills, bank statements) linking you to the same address over the last two years.
• Fiancé/Fiancée: Wedding plans, venue bookings, notice of marriage.

How to Apply for a UK Partner Visa

Step 1 – Identify the Correct Partner Route

You must apply under the correct category based on your legal relationship status and whether you are already married.

Step 2 – Gather Your Documents

Collect all required evidence before you start the online form to ensure you meet the dates and thresholds required.

Step 3 – Submit the Application

Complete the online application form (Appendix FM) and pay the relevant fees.

Step 4 – Biometrics & Decision

You will attend a biometrics appointment, after which the Home Office will assess your application.

Important: Once you are on the 5-year partner route, you must extend your visa after 2.5 years before you are eligible for ILR.

Optional: After obtaining ILR, many partners choose to naturalize. You can read more about that process in our guide to British Nationality.

Optional: Remember, if you are currently visiting the UK, you must return to your home country to apply; you cannot switch from a Visit Visa.

Fees and Processing Times

Application fees vary based on:

• Whether you apply inside or outside the UK
• Which Partner route you choose
• Priority and super-priority processing
• Whether children dependants are included
• Fiancé/Fiancée visas require an additional application later to switch to a Spouse Visa

You should also plan for the full lifecycle cost from initial visa through to settlement.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Refusals are often due to simple errors rather than ineligibility.

• Financial Evidence: Failing to provide the exact sequence of bank statements or payslips required (e.g., missing a month).
• Relationship Proof: Assuming a marriage certificate is enough; you must also prove the relationship is "subsisting".
• Incorrect Visa Status: Attempting to apply while in the UK as a visitor. Visit Visa holders are strictly prohibited from switching to partner routes inside the UK.

Optional: Mistakes can reset the clock on your 5-year residency requirement for ILR.

Optional: There is also frequent confusion regarding when spouses can apply for citizenship. See our British Nationality page for the specific timelines.

After You’re Approved

1. Spouse / Civil Partner / Unmarried Partner

You will be granted leave for 2 years and 9 months (if applying from outside the UK) or 2 years and 6 months (if applying from inside).

• You can work and study immediately.
• You must apply for an extension before your visa expires.
• After 5 years, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
• Once settled, the final step is usually

1. Fiancé/Fiancée Visa

You will be granted entry for 6 months.

• You must marry your partner within this timeframe.
• You are not permitted to work.
• Once married, you must switch to the Spouse category to begin your 5-year route to settlement.

Why Choose Migrate UK

Navigating the UK immigration rules can be stressful and complex. At Migrate UK, our specialists ensure your application is technically sound and professionally presented, giving you the best chance of a successful outcome without the stress.