10-year Partner Route Application Process, Document Checklist & Eligibility

Under UK immigration rules, this is possible for a person applying as a partner to receive a visa under a 5 or 10-year route to settlement in the UK. The 10-year partner route for entry clearance or leave to remain is open to those who meet some or no eligibility requirements, but there are exceptional circumstances. For example, a person may not qualify for the 5-year route to settlement if they do not meet the financial eligibility, English language, or adequate accommodation requirements. In this case, they can consider applying for the 10-year partner route.

Who is an Applicant’s Partner?

A partner is defined as one of the following:

• The applicant’s spouse or civil partner

• Unmarried partner, where the couple have been in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years

Family life as a partner – Suitability 

A person applying for family life with a partner, whether on the 5-year route or the 10-year route, will normally need to meet the partner visa’s suitability requirements. If they fail to meet these requirements, they must be or may be refused entry clearance or permission to stay in the UK.

Family life as a partner – Eligibility

The eligibility criteria for entry clearance as a partner are set out in Appendix FM - paragraphs E-ECP.2.1. to E-ECP.4.2. and for leave to remain as a partner are set out in Appendix FM - paragraphs E-LTRP.1.2. to E-LTRP.4.2.

An applicant must meet all eligibility criteria for a partner to qualify for entry clearance to the UK or leave to remain here on the 5-year partner route.

Otherwise, to qualify for leave on a 10-year partner route:

• A person applying as a partner must satisfy all eligibility criteria and rely on other sources of income to fulfil the financial eligibility criteria because there are exceptional circumstances that are in accordance with Appendix FM – Paragraph GEN.3.1.

• An applicant must fulfil some criteria and qualify for an exception to the other criteria because Appendix FM – Paragraph EX.1.(a) or EX.1. (b) applies. 

• An applicant satisfies some or no eligibility criteria, but there are exceptional circumstances that are in accordance with Appendix FM – Paragraph GEN.3.2.

Exceptional Circumstances

For applicants applying as a partner on a 10-year route, paragraph GEN.3.1. (1) of Appendix FM applies where: 

• Appendix FM - minimum income requirement applies and is not met from the specified sources of income referred under the Appendix FM and all other eligibility requirements for the 10-year partner route have been met 

• It is quite evident from the information submitted by the applicant that there are exceptional circumstances which could cause refusal of entry clearance or leave to remain, a breach of ECHR (European Convention on Human Rights) Article 8, because the refusal could result in unjustifiably harsh consequences for the applicant, their sponsoring partner, or a relevant child.

In such circumstances, leave should be granted on the 10-year partner route.

Exceptions to certain eligibility criteria being met by a partner in the UK

Where an applicant in the UK is not a candidate to be granted leave on a 5-year route as a partner because certain eligibility - financial, suitable accommodation, English language, or immigration status - criteria are not met, they may still be granted leave on a 10-year route if Appendix FM – Paragraph EX.1. (a) or (b) applies.

Paragraph EX.1. (a) (i) The applicant applying as a partner has a genuine and subsisting parental relationship with a child who-

• is aged under 18;

• is in the UK;

• is either a British Citizen or has lived in the UK continuously for 7 years or more immediately preceding the date of application; and

• taking into account the child’s best interests as a primary consideration, it is not reasonable to expect them to leave the UK; or

The applicant has a genuine and subsisting relationship with a partner who is in the UK and is a British Citizen, present and settled here, with protection status, an EEA or Swiss national with limited leave (also known as ‘pre-settled status) under Appendix EU, with a Turkish worker or business person visa, or with permission as being a Stateless person and there are insurmountable obstacles in continuing family life with that partner outside the UK..’

“Insurmountable obstacles” means the applicant or their partner would face very significant difficulties in continuing their family life together outside the UK, and these difficulties could not be overcome or would entail very serious hardship for the applicant or their partner.

If an applicant is being considered under the 10-year partner route, they must meet the criteria set out at either EX.1. (a) or EX.1. (b). The applicant is not required to meet both (a) and (b).

Eligibility for entry clearance for a 10-year partner route 

To succeed when applying for entry clearance to the UK on a 10-year partner route, the applicant must fulfil all the following criteria.

Relationship 

The applicant’s partner in the UK must be

• A British Citizen; or

• Present and settled; or

• With protection status; or

• An EEA or Swiss national with limited leave (also known as ‘pre-settled status) under Appendix EU; or

• With a Turkish worker or business person visa; or

• With permission as being a Stateless person.

• The applicant must be 18 or over on the date of application.  

• The applicant’s partner must be 18 or over on the date of application. 

• The applicant and their sponsoring partner must not be within the prohibited degree of relationship.

• The applicant and their sponsoring partner must have met in person.

• The couple must be in a genuine and subsisting relationship.

• If the couple is either married or in a civil partnership, it must be a recognised marriage or civil partnership, as specified.

• If the applicant is a fiancé, fiancée, or proposed civil partner, they must be seeking entry clearance to the UK to marry or enter into a civil partnership with their UK partner.

• Any previous relationship the applicant and/or their partner was previously in must have broken down permanently, unless the relationship falls within paragraph 278 of the immigration rules; and

• If the applicant is a fiancé, fiancée, or proposed civil partner, both the applicant and their partner cannot be married to, or in a civil partnership with, another person on the date of application.

• The applicant and their partner must have the intention to live together permanently in the UK.

Eligibility for leave to remain for a 10-year partner route 

To succeed when applying for leave to remain on a 10-year partner route in the UK, the applicant must fulfil all the following criteria.

Applicant’s Immigration status

To meet the eligibility criteria for leave to remain on the 10-year partner route, the applicant must not be:

• As a visitor in the UK

• With valid leave in the UK granted for a period of 6 months or less, unless their leave is as a fiancé, fiancée, or a proposed civil partner, or was granted pending the outcome of divorce or family court proceedings

Relationship requirements

The applicant’s partner must be in the UK as-

• A British Citizen; or

• Present and settled; or

• With protection status; or

• An EEA or Swiss national with limited leave (also known as ‘pre-settled status) under Appendix EU; or

• With a Turkish worker or business person visa; or

• With permission as being a Stateless person.

• The applicant must be 18 or over on the date of application.  

• The applicant’s partner must be aged 18 or over on the date of application.

• The applicant and their sponsoring partner must not be within the prohibited degree of relationship.

• The applicant and their sponsoring partner must have met in person.

• The couple must be in a genuine and subsisting relationship.

• If the couple is either married or in a civil partnership, it must be a recognised marriage or civil partnership, as specified.

• Any previous relationship the applicant and/or their partner was previously in must have broken down permanently, unless the relationship falls within paragraph 278 of the immigration rules.

• The applicant and their partner must show intention to live together permanently in the UK and, in any application as a partner for further leave to remain (except where the applicant is in the UK as a fiancé, fiancée, or proposed civil partner), the applicant must submit evidence that, since the applicant was granted entry clearance as a partner. The applicant and their sponsoring partner have lived together in the UK or if they have not done so for any period, it was due to a 'good reason' such as applicant’s or their partner’s work, study, training, or holidays. The reasons must be consistent with the intention to live together permanently in the UK.

• If the applicant is on leave as a fiancé, fiancée, or proposed civil partner in the UK and they did not marry or form a civil partnership with their partner during that leave period, there must be a good reason for it. They must provide evidence that it will take place within the next 6 months.

• The applicant’s partner cannot be the fiancé, fiancée, or proposed civil partner of the applicant, unless the applicant received entry clearance as that person’s fiancé, fiancée, or proposed civil partner.

Applying for a UK Partner visa under the 10-year route?

Applying for a UK Partner visa involves several steps. Here is a general outline of the application process:

1. Determine Eligibility

Before applying for a UK 10-year Partner visa, the applicant should ensure they are eligible. 

2. Gather Supporting Documents

For a successful UK 10-year Partner route application, the applicant must provide supporting documents. 

Documents and evidence they must provide include:

• Their valid passport

• Their marriage/civil partnership certificate

• The application form FLR (FP)

• Proof of a genuine and subsisting relationship such as joint mortgage document, personal correspondence, joint tenancy agreement, or shared bank account or savings

• Details of any criminal convictions

• TB (Tuberculosis) test results (if Appendix TB applies)

The applicant may be required to provide additional supporting documents depending on their circumstances.

3. Submit Online Application

The applicant must apply online through the UK government’s official website gov.uk. They will also need to pay the UK Partner visa application fee and IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) at this stage.

4. Attend Biometric Appointment

As part of the application as a partner on a 10-year route, the applicant is required to prove their identity by enrolling their biometric information (fingerprints and facial photograph) at a VAC (Visa Application Centre) in their home country or at a UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services) service point in the UK.  

5. Wait for a Decision

When an application is made for entry clearance from outside the UK, it typically takes up to 12 weeks to process. On the other hand, if the application is for leave to remain made from within the UK, where meeting the minimum income and English language criteria is not required, it usually takes up to 12 months.

Decision to grant entry clearance or leave to remain as a partner on the 10-year route

A person seeking entry clearance as a partner from outside the UK is granted an initial leave of no more than 33 months (6 months as a fiancé, fiancée, or proposed civil partner). On the other hand, if an applicant is seeking leave to remain as a partner in the UK, they will be granted leave of no more than 30 months.