Imagine the joy of reuniting with your loved one in the UK. If you’re not married or in a civil partnership but in a committed relationship, the Unmarried Partner Visa could be the key to making this dream a reality.
In this post, we will discuss the Partner Visa, including its eligibility requirements, how you can apply, and what you should keep in mind to have a successful application.
What is the UK Unmarried Partner Visa?
The Unmarried Partner Visa is one of the UK’s family visas that encourages the reunification of UK residents with their loved ones. It is specifically designed for citizens of countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who are in long-term relationships with British citizens or residents with settled status.
With this visa, you can enter the UK and live with your partner for 33 months. If you continue to meet the visa requirements, you can apply to extend your stay for another 30 months.
After living continuously on the Partner Visa for 5 years, you may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain.
The Requirements for the Unmarried Partner Visa
To be eligible for the Unmarried Partner Visa, you and your partner must fulfil a couple of requirements. First, your partner must be any one of the following:
● A British or Irish citizen
● Someone with indefinite leave to remain (ILR) or settled status.
● Someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein with settled status who started living in the UK before 1 January 2021.
● A person with protection status (leave to remain as a refugee, permission to stay as a refugee or a person with humanitarian protection)
● Someone with permission to stay in the UK as a stateless person.
Then, you and your partner must:
● Be at least 18 years of age
● Intend to live together permanently in the UK if your application is successful.
● Meet the minimum financial requirement to support yourselves in the UK.
● Have been in a genuine relationship for at least 2 years when you apply.
Furthermore, you must have sufficient knowledge of the English language.
The Genuine Relationship Requirement
A key aspect of the visa application process is to prove to the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) authorities that you and your partner are in a genuine relationship. You can do so by providing pieces of evidence that:
● Confirm your relationship with your partner
● Is less than 4 years old
● Comes from the government, a bank, a landlord, a utility provider, or a medical professional.
If you and your partner lived together within the last 4 years, you can submit a tenancy agreement, utility bill, or a letter from your doctor that confirms you lived at the same address. Otherwise, you can submit proof of:
● Regular communication with each other, such as through emails and text messages.
● Financially supporting each other through your bank statements
● Spending time together as a couple during holidays or events, including travel tickets to each other’s location.
● Gifts you’ve bought for each other with receipts.
The Financial Requirements
As part of the visa requirements, you and your partner must be able to support yourselves and any dependents you have financially.
The minimum income your UK-based spouse must earn to meet the financial requirement is £29,000 annually. This figure will rise to £34,500 in 2024 and further to £38,700 by early 2025.