UK Partner Visa Application Process, Eligibility and Documents Required

A non-UK national needs to apply for a UK family visa to live with a family member in the UK for more than six months. A family visa enables the applicant to come to or stay with their spouse or partner, child, parent, or adult dependent relative in the UK. If a person wishes to join or stay with their partner in the UK, they must apply for a family visa as a partner. In such applications, the partner in the UK is called ‘sponsor’. 

Who is a partner? 

A ‘partner’ is defined under Appendix FM as “Partner” means a person’s: 

1. spouse (husband/wife); or 

2. civil partner; or 

3. fiancé or fiancée or proposed civil partner

4. unmarried partner, where the couple has been in a valid relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for 2 or more years.

Suitability requirements for a Partner Visa

An applicant will be refused entry clearance on suitability grounds if any of Appendix FM - Paragraphs S-EC.1.2. to S-EC.1.9. apply

Introduction of ‘Part Suitability’ 

Effective from 11 November 2025, a new section called ‘Part Suitability’ is going to replace Part 9 - Grounds for Refusal, which serves as the central reference point for all suitability-based visa refusal and cancellation grounds.

The provisions of Part Suitability will now apply to Appendix FM also.  

Before this change, only a number of suitability provisions in Part 9 – grounds for refusal applied to applications (including partner visa applications) under Appendix FM. For example, the criminality provisions of Part 9 - Paragraphs 9.4.1 – 9.4.4 did not apply to applications under Appendix FM.

However, after the Part Suitability in place, Paragraph 9.4.1 of the previous Part 9 - grounds for refusal now appears at paragraph SUI 5.1 of Part Suitability, and it mandates decision makers to refuse an applicant where they have been convicted of a criminal offence whether in the UK or overseas, for which they got a custodial sentence of at least 12 months.

Eligibility requirements for Partner Visa

A person who is applying for a partner visa to enter the UK or switching to this visa from within the UK needs to meet various requirements, including relationship requirements, financial and accommodation requirements, and English language requirements.

Immigration status of the sponsoring partner

To apply as a partner, the applicant’s partner must:

• Be a British citizen or an Irish citizen; or

• Be settled in the UK - for example, they have ILR (indefinite leave to remain), settled status under the EUSS (EU Settlement Scheme), or proof of permanent residence; or

• Be from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland, and have limited leave to enter or remain (also called pre-settled status) under the EUSS – the sponsor must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021; or

• Have a Turkish Worker or Turkish Businessperson; or 

• Have protection status (leave to remain in the UK as a refugee, permission to stay here as a refugee or a person with humanitarian protection).

If the applicant’s partner has settled status or pre-settled status, they may be able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Relationship

The relationship requirements are: 

• Both partners are over 18 on the date of application 

• The partners must be in a valid marriage or civil partnership. Where partners are not married or in a civil partnership (also called unmarried partners), they must have been in a relationship akin to a recognised marriage or civil partnership for 2 or more years  

• Fiancé or fiancée or proposed civil partner who must marry or enter into a civil partnership with their sponsoring partner within 6 months of their arrival in the UK.

• The partners must not be so closely related to each other that they would be prohibited from a marriage or a civil partnership in the UK 

• Any previous relationships one or both partners were previously in must have broken down 

• The partners must not be in a polyandrous or polygamous marriage or civil partnership (unless an exception applies) 

• The partners must have met in person

• The partners must have been in a relationship for 2 or more years at the time of application, but they cannot live together, for example, because they are studying or working in different places, or it’s not accepted in the applicant’s culture

• The partners must have been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years (except those partners who are not married to or in a civil partnership with each other, but in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership for 2 or more years)

• The partners' relationship must be genuine and subsisting

Financial requirements

If a person is applying for a partner visa, they will usually need to satisfy the ‘minimum income requirement’ without relying on public funds. The applicant and their sponsoring partner usually need to prove that their combined annual income is at least £29,000. This amount includes any number of children in the family.

They may be able to use their savings alone (the minimum cash savings of at least £88,500) instead of income or a combination of savings and income (the minimum cash savings of at least £16,000) to show they meet the requirement.

The applicant will not need to meet this requirement if their sponsoring partner is receiving disability or carer’s benefits such as Disability Living Allowance, Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, or Carer Support Payment.

If the applicant cannot meet the financial requirements

If the partner visa applicant cannot meet these financial requirements, they may still be able to apply if:

• They have a child in the UK who is either a British citizen or an Irish citizen or has lived here for 7 or more years, and it would be unreasonable for the child to leave the UK

• The applicant's visa refusal to stop them coming to the UK or make them leave would breach their human rights

Knowledge of English

Unless exempt, a person applying for entry clearance as a partner will be required to prove their knowledge of the English language in listening and speaking to at least level A1 of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). 

They can prove this through an academic qualification or by taking an approved English language test from an approved test provider.

Accommodation

When a person applies for entry clearance or to switch to a UK partner visa, they will need to show that their sponsor is able to accommodate themselves, the applicant, and any dependants adequately in the UK without the need to rely on public funds.

The accommodation must be large enough to house the family, including other family members not included in the application but who form part of the sponsor's household. 

Accommodation in the UK must be owned or occupied exclusively by the family.

The applicant also needs to show that the property neither is, nor will be, overcrowded or contravene public health regulations.

Eligibility for dependent children

A person applying as a partner can include children in their partner visa application as dependants if both of the following apply:

• The child is under 18 when at the time of application, or was under 18 when they were first granted leave

• The child does not live an independent life

The applicant's child is living an independent life if, for example, they have left home, got married, and had children.

Documents Required for the UK Partner Visa Application

The applicant will be required to provide supporting documents to prove they satisfy the relationship, financial, accommodation, and English language requirements.

Proof of Relationship

Applicant can submit documents like:

• Proof of how they and their partner met and how often they see each other

• Evidence like council tax bills to show how long the couple has lived together

• A marriage or civil partnership certificate

• A tenancy agreement, utility bills such as electricity or water bills, or Council Tax bills confirming that the applicant and their partner live at the same address, or they pay bills together

• A joint bank account statement, or a bank statement confirming that the applicant and their partner live at the same address

• A letter from their dentist or doctor confirming that the applicant and their partner live at the same address

• Evidence of any previous marriages or civil partnerships ending, for example, a divorce certificate or civil partnership dissolution order.

• If the applicant does not have any evidence that meets these criteria, they can provide other documents instead, including:

• A one-off bill like home repair costs or vet’s fees 

• Letters confirming that the applicant and their partner are on the electoral register for the same address

• Student finance paperwork confirming that the applicant and their partner live at the same address

If the couple does not live together

If the applicant and their partner cannot live together due to study, work, or cultural reasons, the applicant will need to prove that they and their partner have an ongoing commitment to each other. They can provide evidence that the applicant and their partner:

• Communicate with each other on a regular basis  

• Support each other financially  

• Care for any children the couple has together  

• Spend time together as a couple, for example, at events or on holiday

Proof of finances

The applicant will need to provide proof of income with their application. Please note that if a person is applying for entry clearance from outside the UK, only the income of their sponsoring partner will be counted towards meeting the minimum income requirement. On the other hand, when a person is applying to switch to a partner visa from inside the UK and they are currently earning on their existing UK visa, they can combine their income with their partner’s income.

If the sponsoring partner and/or applicant are employed, they could include:

• bank statements showing the sponsor’s and/or the applicant’s income

• Payslips of the last 6 months, counting back from the day they apply

• A letter, dated and on headed paper, from an employer, 

The applicant will need to provide extra documents if:

• The sponsor’s income and/or the applicant’s income is not from employment, for example, it’s from savings, running a limited company, or a pension

• The applicant or their family member has taken maternity or paternity leave in the last 6 months

• They want to combine different income sources

Proof of accommodation

Applicants can submit documents like a tenancy agreement, a letter from the landlord, or a registry title, etc.

Proof of knowledge of the English language

The applicant must provide specified evidence that they-

• Are a national of a specified majority English-speaking country such as Australia, the US, Canada, or New Zealand;

• Have passed SELT (Secure English Language Test) in speaking and listening to at least level A1 of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) with an approved test provider;

• Have a certificate of a Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree, or a PhD, if awarded by an educational institution in the UK or if a degree has been awarded by an education provider abroad, the applicant must provide Ecctis verified documents to show that the qualification earned overseas meet or exceed the recognised standard of a UK Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree, or PhD, and the degree overseas was taught or researched in English to at least level A1 of the CEFR.

Applying for a UK Partner Visa?

A person applying for a partner visa from outside the UK or from within the UK must apply online through the official website GOV.UK.

The applicant will usually have to pay the application fee. It costs £1,938 per applicant (including dependent children) if applied from outside the UK and £1,321 per applicant (including dependent children) if applied from within the UK.

The applicant may also need to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of their partner visa application.

Healthcare surcharge is £1,035 per year per adult (18 or older) applicants and £776 per year for applicants under 18.

As part of the application process, applicant will be required to prove their identity, for which they need to provide their biometrics (fingerprints and facial photograph) at a VAC if applying from outside the UK and at a UKVCAS if applying from inside the UK.

At the end, they will have to upload or submit all required supporting documents and then submit the application.

Granting Permission 

Successful out-of-country partner visa applicants will be granted an initial leave of 2 years and 9 months, and in-country applicants will get an initial leave of 2 years and 6 months, after which they can apply for extension.