UNMARRIED PARTNER VISA

1. UK Unmarried Partner Visa Overview

The Unmarried Partner Visa is available to long term partners of British or Irish citizens, persons who are settled in the UK, persons with pre-settled status, persons with a Turkish Businessperson or Turkish Worker visa, persons with permission to stay as a stateless person and persons with refugee status or humanitarian protection who wish to join, or stay with, their unmarried partner in the UK. You can also apply for a UK Unmarried Partner Visa if your unmarried partner is outside the UK, but is intending to return to the UK with you.

The UK Unmarried Partner Visa can lead to indefinite leave to remain or settlement in the UK after a period of 5 years.

2. Unmarried Partner Visa Compared With Spouse, Civil Partner and Fiancé(e) Visas

The Unmarried Partner Visa route may be appropriate where a couple is not married or in a civil partnership, but has been in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years and intends to live together permanently in the UK.

By contrast, a Spouse Visa or Civil Partner Visa will generally be the appropriate route where the couple has already married or entered into a civil partnership which is recognised for UK immigration purposes. In these applications, the Home Office will expect evidence of the valid marriage or civil partnership, as well as evidence that the relationship is genuine and subsisting.

A Fiancé(e) Visa or Proposed Civil Partner Visa may be relevant where the applicant is outside the UK and the couple intends to marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of arrival, before applying to switch into the spouse or civil partner route. Choosing the wrong partner route can lead to refusal, avoidable delay and unnecessary additional cost.

3. Unmarried Partner Visa Requirements

In order to qualify for a UK Unmarried Partner Visa you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that you meet the following requirements:

• Your partner is British or Irish, is settled in the UK, has been granted pre-settled status, holds a Turkish Businessperson or Turkish Worker visa, has permission to stay as a stateless person or has refugee status or humanitarian protection;
• You and your partner are both aged 18 or over;
• You and your partner have met in person;
• You and your partner have been in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years;
• Your relationship is genuine and subsisting;
• You and your partner intend to live together permanently in the UK;
• Any previous relationship has broken down permanently;
• You satisfy a financial requirement;
• There is adequate accommodation for you and any dependents;
• You speak and understand English to the required level.

The exact requirements you will need to satisfy in order to qualify for an Unmarried Partner Visa may vary depending on your circumstances. You may want to speak to an immigration lawyer for expert advice.

4. Status of the Sponsoring Partner

In order to qualify for a UK Unmarried Partner Visa, your partner must either:

• Be a British or Irish citizen in the UK; or
• Have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or permanent residence in the UK; or
• Have pre-settled status under Appendix EU; or
• Have limited leave to remain as a Turkish Businessperson or Turkish Worker under Appendix ECAA; or
• Have refugee leave or humanitarian protection status in the UK; or
• Have permission to stay as a stateless person in the UK, provided they obtained that permission before you became their partner.

A British Citizen in the UK includes a British Citizen who is coming to the UK with you as your partner. A person with indefinite leave to remain in the UK includes a person who is being admitted for settlement on the same occasion as you.

5. Minimum Age for an Unmarried Partner Visa

You and your partner must both be aged 18 or over on the date when you submit your Unmarried Partner Visa application.

6. UK Unmarried Partner Visa Relationship Requirement

The UK Unmarried Partner Visa relationship requirement has various elements to it:

• You and your partner must have met in person;
• You and your partner must have been in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years;
• Your relationship must be genuine and subsisting;
• You and your partner must intend to live together permanently in the UK;
• Any previous relationship must have broken down permanently.

We address these Unmarried Partner relationship requirements in the sections which follow.

7. Requirement to Have Met in Person

You and your unmarried partner must have met in person. The requirement to have ‘met’ means that you must be able to demonstrate a face-to-face meeting which resulted in the making of a mutual acquaintance. Simply coming face-to-face followed by telephone or written contact would not satisfy the requirements for a UK Unmarried Partner Visa.

8. Requirement to Have Been in a Relationship for at Least 2 Years

In order to qualify for an Unmarried Partner Visa, you and your unmarried partner must have been in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least two years prior to the date of your visa application.

The previous requirement to have physically lived together in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership for at least two years has now been removed from the Immigration Rules.

The Home Office will expect you to be able to provide documents which confirm that you and your partner have been in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership, but not necessarily living together, for at least 2 years.

If you have been in a relationship with your partner for less than 2 years then you will not meet the standard unmarried partner relationship requirement, but may still be able to seek permission to enter or remain on human rights grounds where exceptional circumstances for a family visa application apply. Our immigration lawyers in London can advise on the prospects of a successful application.

9. How to Prove a 2-Year Relationship Without Living Together

Although there is no longer a requirement for unmarried partners to have lived together for at least 2 years, the Home Office will still need to be satisfied that your relationship has been similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years. A casual relationship, even if genuine, will not be sufficient.

Where a couple has not lived together, useful evidence may include records of regular communication, travel to see each other, time spent together with family and friends, shared financial or practical responsibilities, evidence of plans to live together in the UK and any explanation for periods spent living apart.

The evidence should, where possible, cover the full 2-year period before the date of application. Applicants should avoid relying only on recent evidence, or on evidence which shows contact but does not demonstrate the nature and level of commitment in the relationship.

Applications based on a relationship without cohabitation may require careful preparation. The Home Office will consider the evidence as a whole, including whether the couple’s circumstances are consistent with a durable relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership.

10. Genuine and Subsisting Relationship Requirement

In order to qualify for a UK Unmarried Partner Visa you will need to provide the Home Office with evidence that your relationship with your partner meets the genuine and subsisting relationship requirement.

Decisions on whether a relationship is genuine and subsisting are made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all available evidence and individual circumstances.

Factors Considered by the Home Office When Deciding Whether a Relationship Is Genuine and Subsisting

Factors which may be considered by the Home Office when determining whether your relationship is genuine and subsisting include:

• Whether you and your unmarried partner are in a current, long-term relationship;
• Whether you and your unmarried partner have been or are now living together;
• Whether you and your unmarried partner have children together, whether biological, adopted or step-children, and shared responsibility for them;
• Whether you and your unmarried partner share financial responsibilities;
• Whether you and your unmarried partner have visited the other’s home country and family;
• Whether you and your unmarried partner have made definite plans concerning the practicalities of living together in the UK.

If the Home Office has doubts as to the genuine and subsisting nature of your relationship then it may undertake further checks, interview you and your unmarried partner or arrange a home visit.

11. Documents Required to Prove a Genuine and Subsisting Relationship

The Home Office will expect to see significant evidence of regular contact, signs of affection and companionship, emotional support, and an abiding interest in each other’s welfare and wellbeing.

Although there is no longer a requirement to have lived together for 2 years, the genuine and subsisting relationship requirement may more easily be met by evidence of cohabitation. Documents should ideally be in the name of you and your unmarried partner jointly. Alternatively, it is possible to rely on documents addressed to you both individually at the same address. Documents should be dated within the last few years and originate from a range of sources. Official documents are preferred, but if it is not possible to provide exclusively official documents then other documents proving cohabitation may also be submitted.

If you and your unmarried partner have not lived together for very long, it is also possible to provide unofficial evidence of a relationship.

As mentioned above, the Home Office will expect to see significant evidence of a genuine and subsisting relationship. If the Home Office has doubts as to the genuine and subsisting nature of your relationship then it may undertake further checks, interview you and your unmarried partner or arrange a home visit. If it has reasonable grounds to doubt that your relationship is genuine or subsisting then your Unmarried Partner Visa application will be refused.

Our immigration barristers regularly advise Unmarried Partner Visa applicants as to the documentary evidence that the Home Office will expect to see in order to be satisfied that their relationship is a real one, based on genuine affection and shared values, and that it is ongoing at the time of the application. We do not rely on templated lists of documents and only ever advise our clients on the documents needed to prove a genuine and subsisting relationship on the basis of their own personal circumstances.

12. Intention to Live Together Permanently in the UK

In order to qualify for an Unmarried Partner Visa, UK Visas & Immigration will want to be satisfied that you and your unmarried partner intend to live together permanently in the UK.

At the initial Unmarried Partner Visa application stage this will require a clear commitment from both of you that you will live together permanently in the UK immediately following the outcome of your Unmarried Partner Visa application or as soon as circumstances permit thereafter.

When you apply for further leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain as an unmarried partner, the Home Office will expect any periods of time spent outside the UK to be limited, for good reason and consistent with an intention to live together permanently in the UK. Good reasons could include time spent overseas in connection with work, holidays, training or study.

If you or your unmarried partner spend the majority of your time overseas, this could cause the Home Office to doubt your intention to live together permanently in the UK. The Home Office will consider the reasons for travel, length of absence and whether you and your unmarried partner travelled and lived together during the time spent outside the UK.

13. Previous Relationship Broken Down Permanently

The Home Office will want to be satisfied that any previous relationship of yourself or your partner has broken down permanently.

If you or your unmarried partner have been previously married or in a civil partnership then you will generally need to provide specified evidence that this marriage or civil partnership has ended.

If you or your unmarried partner have previously been married or in a civil partnership and this marriage or civil partnership has not been legally dissolved then you may still qualify for an Unmarried Partner Visa. You will need to provide evidence that the new relationship is genuine and subsisting and that the previous relationship has broken down permanently.

Related Articles:

• Spouse, Partner and Family Visa Success Stories
• Unmarried Partner Visa – Top 10 FAQs
• Partner Visa Extension & ILR Application Top Tips

14. UK Unmarried Partner Visa Financial Requirement

In order to demonstrate that you can be adequately maintained in the UK without recourse to public funds, you will need to satisfy the Unmarried Partner Visa financial requirement.

The financial requirement for a UK Unmarried Partner Visa application states that, unless exempt, you will need to demonstrate that your unmarried partner, or both of you jointly if you are in the UK with valid permission to stay and permission to work, has a gross annual income of at least £29,000. Transitional arrangements may apply if you first successfully applied as a partner, fiancée or proposed civil partner before 11 April 2024 and are applying to stay with the same partner; in that case, the lower £18,600 threshold plus any child element may continue to apply, capped at £29,000.

There is no longer a separate child element to the minimum income requirement for applicants subject to the £29,000 minimum income requirement.

Different considerations will apply if your unmarried partner is in receipt of certain state benefits or entitlements, when the financial requirement for a UK Unmarried Partner Visa is that the sponsor can ‘adequately maintain and accommodate’ the family member being sponsored to enter or remain in the UK.

You will need to meet the financial requirement when you first apply to enter the UK as an unmarried partner, when you apply to extend your stay as an unmarried partner and when you apply for indefinite leave to remain as an unmarried partner.

The Immigration Rules relating to the Unmarried Partner Visa financial requirement are complex and include mandatory documentary evidence requirements. The onus is on applicants to demonstrate that the financial requirement is met. One of the most common reasons for refusal of an Unmarried Partner Visa application is because mandatory financial evidence is not provided.

15. How to Satisfy the UK Unmarried Partner Visa Financial Requirement

The UK Unmarried Partner Visa financial requirement can be satisfied in a variety of different ways, including by relying on:

• Income from salaried or non-salaried employment of your unmarried partner, and/or you if you are in the UK with permission to work;
• Non-employment income, for example, income from property rental or dividends from shares;
• Cash savings of your unmarried partner and/or yourself, above £16,000, held by your unmarried partner and/or you for at least 6 months and under their / your control;
• State, UK or foreign, occupational or private pension of your unmarried partner and/or yourself;
• Income from self-employment, and income as a director or employee of a specified limited company in the UK, of your unmarried partner, and/or you if you are in the UK with permission to work.

In some circumstances it is possible to combine sources of income to satisfy the financial requirement.

As mentioned above, different considerations will apply if your unmarried partner is in receipt of certain state benefits or entitlements.

Also, Unmarried Partner Visa applicants relying on cash savings to satisfy the Unmarried Partner Visa financial requirement may wish to keep in mind that the level of cash savings required in an entry clearance and extension application is different from the level required when applying for indefinite leave to remain as an unmarried partner.

In exceptional circumstances in which refusal of the Unmarried Partner Visa application could otherwise breach ECHR Article 8, other credible and reliable sources of income, financial support or funds available to the couple may be taken into account.

Our immigration barristers are experts in the Unmarried Partner Visa financial requirement rules and regularly assist UK Unmarried Partner Visa applicants to navigate the complex evidential requirements.

16. Financial Requirement Evidence: Common Applicant Scenarios

The evidence required to satisfy the Unmarried Partner Visa financial requirement will depend on the source, or sources, of income or funds relied upon. Common scenarios include reliance on salaried or non-salaried employment income, income of the applicant where this is permitted, self-employment income, income as a director or employee of a specified limited company in the UK, cash savings, pension income or non-employment income.

Different evidential rules apply to different sources of income. For example, employment income, self-employment income and specified limited company income are each subject to distinct documentary requirements and different relevant periods. Cash savings must also meet specific requirements as to ownership, control and timing.

Where the sponsoring partner receives certain state benefits or entitlements, the applicant may not need to meet the minimum income requirement, but will instead need to show that the sponsor can provide adequate maintenance and accommodate the family member being sponsored.

Applicants should not assume that all income sources can be combined, or that the same documents will be sufficient in every case. The permitted combinations and evidential requirements should be checked carefully against the current Immigration Rules and Home Office guidance at the date of application.

17. Unmarried Partner Visa Accommodation Requirement

Whether you are applying for entry clearance or for further leave to remain as an unmarried partner, you will need to provide evidence that there will be adequate accommodation available to you and your unmarried partner, without the need to rely on public funds, in accommodation which you and your family own or occupy exclusively.

In order to satisfy the accommodation requirement you will need to provide evidence as to the basis on which the property is owned or occupied, that the family is legally and exclusively entitled to occupy the property and that the property will not be overcrowded or contravene public health regulations.

18. Applying for an Unmarried Partner Visa With Children

Where children are applying at the same time as an unmarried partner, or are already in the UK and need permission in line with a parent, the requirements for each child should be considered separately. A child will normally need to meet the relevant dependent child requirements, including as to age, dependency, family life and care arrangements.

The evidence required will depend on the family circumstances. Where relevant, applicants may need to provide evidence of parental responsibility, the child’s relationship with the applicant and sponsor, any arrangements with the child’s other parent, and where and with whom the child will live in the UK.

The accommodation and maintenance requirements must also be considered by reference to the family unit as a whole. Applicants should ensure that the proposed accommodation will be adequate for all family members and that the financial evidence addresses the relevant requirements for the partner and any children applying.

Including children in the application will also have practical consequences for Home Office application fees, the Immigration Health Surcharge and future settlement planning. In some cases, a child’s grant of permission may be aligned with the parent’s leave. Applicants should check the current dependent child requirements carefully before applying and seek legal advice where the position is uncertain.

19. Unmarried Partner Visa English Language Requirement

Unless exempt, as part of your Unmarried Partner Visa application you will need to satisfy the Home Office that you satisfy an English language requirement.

When applying for entry clearance or to switch into the Unmarried Partner Visa route you will need to demonstrate competence in the English language to at least CEFR level A1. When you apply for further leave to remain as an unmarried partner you will need to demonstrate competence in the English language to at least CEFR level A2.

You can meet the Unmarried Partner Visa English language requirement by:

• Holding the nationality of a majority English speaking country;
• Passing an approved English language test at or above the required CEFR level, with an approved provider as set out on Approved Secure English Language Tests and Test Centres; or
• Having an academic qualification which is either a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree or PhD if awarded in the UK; or, if awarded outside the UK, is deemed by Ecctis, formerly UK NARIC, to meet or exceed the recognised standard of a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree or PhD in the UK, and Ecctis, formerly UK NARIC, has confirmed that the degree was taught or researched in English at or above the required CEFR level.

In order to be exempt from the English language requirement you will normally have to prove that either:

• You are aged 65 or over at the date of application;
• You have a physical or mental disability which prevents you from meeting the English language requirement;
• There are exceptional circumstances which mean that you cannot satisfy the English language requirement before entry to the UK, or which otherwise prevent you from meeting the requirement in an in-country application.

If you are not able to demonstrate that you meet the English language requirement, or are exempt, then your Unmarried Partner Visa application will be refused.

20. UK Unmarried Partner Visa Supporting Documents Checklists

The most common reason for an Unmarried Partner Visa application to be refused is because the applicant fails to include sufficient documentary evidence in support of their application.

The Immigration Rules contain strict requirements in terms of the documents that must be submitted in support of a UK Unmarried Partner Visa application. Every case is different and the required supporting documents for an Unmarried Partner Visa application will vary from case to case.

Applicants should be very careful when using pre-prepared document checklists for Unmarried Partner Visa applications. Advice from an immigration lawyer will ensure that the documents listed are appropriate for individual circumstances.

At the same time, if a required document is not provided, is in the wrong format or does not contain all mandatory information then the application for an Unmarried Partner Visa may be refused. Appeals can take many months to be determined and the outcome may be uncertain. A fresh application will involve further cost and additional delay.

Our immigration barristers provide expert advice to Unmarried Partner Visa applicants in relation to the documents required for a successful Unmarried Partner Visa application and also check supporting documents for compliance with the Immigration Rules.

21. Common Reasons Unmarried Partner Visa Applications Are Refused

Common reasons for refusal of an Unmarried Partner Visa application include insufficient evidence that the couple has been in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years, or weak evidence that the relationship is genuine and subsisting at the date of application.

Applications may also be refused where the financial evidence is missing, incomplete or does not meet the strict requirements of the Immigration Rules. This can include, for example, bank statements, payslips, employer letters, self-employment documents or specified limited company evidence which do not cover the required period or do not contain the required information.

In-country applications can also encounter difficulties where the applicant is in the UK as a visitor, or otherwise has leave granted for 6 months or less and does not fall within a relevant exception. Applicants should also ensure that they provide adequate English language evidence, accommodation evidence and, where relevant, evidence that any previous marriage, civil partnership or durable relationship has broken down permanently.

Because the evidence required will depend on the applicant’s circumstances, it is important to identify the applicable requirements before applying and to ensure that the documents provided address each requirement relied upon.

22. UK Unmarried Partner Visa Application Fee

The Home Office application fee for a UK Unmarried Partner Visa application submitted outside the UK is currently £2,064. The Home Office application fee to switch into the unmarried partner category from within the UK or extend stay as an unmarried partner is currently £1,407. You may also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of your application. Additional fees will apply if you use the Priority or Super Priority Service where available.

23. UK Unmarried Partner Visa Processing and Decision Waiting Times

The current Home Office processing time for an Unmarried Partner Visa application submitted outside the UK is 12 weeks. If you apply via the Priority Service where available then you will usually receive a decision within 30 working days. Availability of faster decision services should be checked in the relevant country at the time of application.

Related Article: Can I Visit the UK While My Partner Visa Is Being Processed?

Applications to switch into or extend as an unmarried partner submitted from within the UK are currently being decided by the Home Office within 8 weeks. However, if you do not satisfy the minimum income or English language requirements then it may take about 12 months to receive a decision.

There is no 5 working day Priority Service for in-country unmarried partner applications, but if you apply via the Super Priority Service then you should receive a decision by the end of the next working day after your appointment, or within 2 working days if your appointment is at the weekend or on a bank holiday.

24. Duration of a UK Unmarried Partner Visa

If your application for a UK Unmarried Partner Visa is successful, your unmarried partner visa will be valid for 33 months initially. If you apply for leave to remain in the UK as an unmarried partner then you will be granted leave valid for 30 months.

Before your initial grant of leave expires, you will need to apply to UK Visas and Immigration to extend your stay. If your application for further leave to remain as an unmarried partner is successful then you will be granted further leave to remain for a period of 30 months.

After spending 5 years in the UK as an unmarried partner on the 5-year partner route, you may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

25. 5-Year Route and 10-Year Route: Why It Matters

Most successful Unmarried Partner Visa applicants who meet all the relevant suitability and eligibility requirements will be granted permission on the 5-year partner route to settlement. This means that, after spending 5 years, 60 months, in the UK with leave as an unmarried partner on the 5-year route, they may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

In some cases, particularly in applications made from within the UK, an applicant who does not meet all the standard requirements for the 5-year route may instead be granted permission on a 10-year route, if the relevant Immigration Rules or human rights provisions are met. This may arise, for example, where the financial requirement or English language requirement is not satisfied, but refusal would otherwise result in unjustifiably harsh consequences.

The route granted matters for settlement planning. A grant on the 10-year route will usually mean that further periods of leave are required before an application for settlement can be made. Applicants should check their decision letter and eVisa carefully to confirm the route and conditions of their grant, and should seek legal advice if they are uncertain whether they have been placed on the correct route.

26. Switching Into the Unmarried Partner Visa Route From Within the UK

An application for leave to remain as an unmarried partner can be made from within the UK, unless you are in the UK as a visitor or, with few exceptions including leave as a fiancée or proposed civil partner, or permission to stay pending family court or divorce proceedings, with valid leave granted for a period of 6 months or less.

Visitors who wish to settle in the UK with their unmarried partner should leave the UK and apply for entry clearance as an unmarried partner from overseas.

27. Working in the UK on an Unmarried Partner Visa

Unmarried Partner Visa holders have a full right to work in the UK.

28. Indefinite Leave to Remain as an Unmarried Partner

If your Unmarried Partner Visa application is successful, you will initially be granted permission to enter the UK for a period of two and a half years, plus an additional three months if applying for entry clearance. You will need to make an extension application before the expiry of your leave. If your unmarried partner extension application is successful then you will be granted further leave for a period of two and a half years.

After spending 5 years, 60 months, in the UK on the Unmarried Partner Visa route on the 5-year route, you may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

In order to qualify for indefinite leave to remain as an unmarried partner you will need to demonstrate, in addition to the above requirements, that:

• Since you have been in the unmarried partner category you have lived together with your unmarried partner in the UK or there is good reason, consistent with a continuing intention to live together permanently in the UK, for any period when you have not done so;
• You meet the higher CEFR Level B1 English Language requirement that applies to settlement applications;
• You have passed the Life in the UK test, unless exempt.
• If you make an application for indefinite leave to remain as an unmarried partner but do not satisfy the above requirements, UK Visas and Immigration will go on to consider if you meet the requirements for a further extension of stay as an unmarried partner.

29. When Should You Apply for an Unmarried Partner Visa?

Applicants should normally wait until they can evidence that they and their unmarried partner have been in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years at the date of application. Applying too early may mean that the standard relationship requirement is not met, unless there are exceptional circumstances or another basis on which the application can properly be made.

Timing is also important for applicants applying from within the UK. If your current leave is due to expire, you should ensure that any application is submitted before your leave expires and that it is validly made. A valid in-time application may extend your existing leave while the application is pending, but an invalid or late application can have serious consequences.

Applicants should also consider the timing of their supporting evidence. Financial documents must cover the relevant period and meet the date and format requirements in the Immigration Rules. English language evidence should be obtained in good time, and other supporting documents should be checked carefully before the online application form is submitted.

Travel plans should be considered before applying. If you apply from within the UK and then leave the Common Travel Area before a decision is made, your application may be treated as withdrawn. Applicants applying from overseas should also consider whether they can travel to the UK as a visitor while a partner application is pending. Current Immigration Rules, Home Office guidance, application fees and service availability should always be checked before applying.

30. Where and How to Apply for a UK Unmarried Partner Visa

If you are applying for an Unmarried Partner Visa from outside the UK then you should apply in the country where you are resident, otherwise than as a visitor. You do not need to be a citizen of the country.

If you are already in the UK and have been granted permission to stay for a period of more than six months then you may be able to apply for leave to remain as an unmarried partner from within the UK.

If you have been granted a period of leave of six months or less, such as a visitor, you will need to leave the UK and apply for entry clearance as an unmarried partner from overseas unless you fall within one of the specific exceptions, such as leave as a fiancée or proposed civil partner, or permission to stay pending family court or divorce proceedings. The concession which allowed visitors to apply from within the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic is no longer in force.

Unmarried Partner Visa applications are made using an online application form. There is a different application form, depending on whether the applicant is applying from inside the UK or overseas.

Before you apply for a UK Unmarried Partner Visa you should check the correct application form for your individual circumstances with an immigration lawyer.

You should prepare your supporting documents while you are preparing your Unmarried Partner Visa application form, as there are some specific document requirements which necessitate that your documents are dated before the date that you submit the online application form.

The current system allows individuals to upload scans of their Unmarried Partner Visa supporting documents for the Home Office to review. However, you should check the individual procedure for the country in which you intend to apply at the time when you are applying, as the Home Office changes this system from time to time.

31. British Citizenship and British Passport Eligibility

When Can I Apply for British Citizenship and a British Passport?

When you first enter the Unmarried Partner Visa category you will be granted a period of two and a half years, plus an additional three months if applying for Entry Clearance. You will then have to make an extension application before the expiry of this leave and will be granted a further two and a half years.

Most people in the Unmarried Partner Visa category are on a five year route to settlement. This means that after two grants of 30 months, they may be eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Some people are on a ten year route to settlement, and they will need to have four grants of leave. If, after you enter the UK you switch from the five year route to the ten year route, then you can count both grants of leave towards the period you need for the ten year route.

Once you have obtained Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK, you will need to become a British citizen before you can apply for a British passport. If you are married to, or in a civil partnership with, a British citizen, you may be able to apply to naturalise as a British citizen as soon as you have indefinite leave to remain. If you are not married to, or in a civil partnership with, a British citizen, you will normally need to have held indefinite leave to remain for 12 months before you can apply to naturalise as a British citizen.

32. If an Unmarried Partner Visa Application Is Refused

If your application for a UK Unmarried Partner Visa is refused then you should generally have a right of appeal. This is because an unmarried partner application under Appendix FM is treated as a human rights application, although appeal rights can be affected by issues such as validity and certification.

The appeal will be heard at the First-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber in the UK.

If you are in the UK, you and your unmarried partner will be able to attend and give evidence before the Judge.

If you are outside of the UK, your unmarried partner will be able to attend, but you can write a statement and provide evidence for the Tribunal to consider. Arrangements may be made for you to give evidence remotely if this is appropriate in your case.

Immigration appeal proceedings can take many months to be determined and the outcome may be uncertain. Again, we recommend seeking legal advice and representation from a specialist immigration lawyer before appealing against a decision to refuse an Unmarried Partner Visa application.

33. If You Cannot Satisfy the Requirements for an Unmarried Partner Visa

If you are not able to satisfy the requirements for a UK Unmarried Partner Visa you may still be able to enter or remain in the UK on human rights grounds if, for example:

• You have a child in the UK who is a British or Irish citizen;
• You have a child in the UK who has lived in the UK for at least 7 years and it would be unreasonable for them to leave the UK;
• There would be very significant difficulties for you and your unmarried partner that could not be overcome if you lived together as a couple outside the UK;
• It would otherwise breach your human rights to prevent you from coming to the UK or to make you leave.

Related Articles:

Exceptions to Appendix FM Partner & Parent Visa Requirements

Exceptional Circumstances in Appendix FM Family Visa Applications

34. Frequently Asked Questions: Unmarried Partner Visas

Who can apply for a UK Unmarried Partner Visa?

A UK Unmarried Partner Visa may be available to the long term partner of a qualifying sponsor, including a British or Irish citizen, a person settled in the UK, a person with pre-settled status, certain Turkish Businessperson or Turkish Worker visa holders, a person with permission to stay as a stateless person, or a person with refugee status or humanitarian protection.

Do unmarried partners need to have lived together for 2 years?

The previous requirement to have physically lived together in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years has been removed. However, applicants must still show that they have been in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years.

What evidence is needed to prove a genuine and subsisting relationship?

Evidence may include documents showing regular contact, affection and companionship, emotional support, shared responsibilities, cohabitation where relevant, and plans to live together permanently in the UK. The evidence required will depend on the couple’s circumstances.

What is the financial requirement for an Unmarried Partner Visa?

Unless exempt, the applicant will usually need to show that their partner, or both partners jointly where permitted, has a gross annual income of at least £29,000. Transitional arrangements may apply in some cases where the applicant previously applied as a partner, fiancé(e or proposed civil partner before 11 April 2024 and is applying to stay with the same partner.)

Can I switch to an Unmarried Partner Visa from inside the UK?

An application may be made from within the UK in some circumstances. However, visitors and those with permission granted for 6 months or less will generally need to leave the UK and apply from overseas, unless a specific exception applies.

How long does an Unmarried Partner Visa last?

An Unmarried Partner Visa is normally granted for 33 months where the applicant applies from overseas, or 30 months where the applicant applies for leave to remain in the UK. A further extension will be required before the initial grant of leave expires.

Can an Unmarried Partner Visa lead to indefinite leave to remain?

Yes. After spending 5 years in the UK on the 5-year partner route as an unmarried partner, an applicant may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain, provided the relevant requirements are met.

What can I do if my Unmarried Partner Visa application is refused?

If an Unmarried Partner Visa application is refused, the applicant should generally have a right of appeal where the application was treated as a human rights application. Appeal rights can be affected by issues such as validity and certification, so legal advice should be sought.