Fiancé(e) & Proposed Civil Partner Visa

The fiancé(e) and proposed civil partner route is for people who want to come to the UK to marry, or form a civil partnership with, a partner who is British, settled or has another qualifying status, and then stay in the UK together. It is part of the family (Appendix FM) partner route rather than a visitor route.

It is a short, one-purpose visa: you enter, marry, and then apply from inside the UK to switch to permission as a partner.

Who may be eligible

You may qualify if your partner is a British citizen in the UK, is settled in the UK (including with settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme), has refugee status or humanitarian protection, or falls within another eligible sponsor category, and:

• You are both aged 18 or over and have met in person.
• You are in a genuine and subsisting relationship and intend to live together permanently in the UK.
• You are coming to the UK so that the marriage or civil partnership can take place here.
• Neither of you is married to, or in a civil partnership with, anyone else when you apply.

Key requirements

The requirements are generally the same as for a partner visa applied for from outside the UK:

• Financial requirement: a minimum gross income of £29,000 a year, or qualifying savings, unless your partner receives one of the listed disability or carer's benefits.
• English language: A1 in speaking and listening, unless an exemption applies.
• Accommodation: adequate accommodation, without recourse to public funds.
• Intention to marry: evidence that the wedding or civil partnership is genuinely planned, such as correspondence with a register office or venue.

Documents and evidence commonly needed

• Passports and evidence of your partner's status.
• Evidence that any previous marriages or civil partnerships have ended.
• Financial documents in the specified format.
• An English test certificate or evidence of an exemption.
• Relationship evidence and evidence of your wedding plans.
• Details of where you will live.

How long you can stay and what happens next

• You are given permission for up to 6 months.
• You cannot work or study during this time, and you cannot claim public funds.
• You should marry or form your civil partnership within the 6 months, then apply from inside the UK for permission as a partner, usually granted for up to 2 years and 6 months. After that you can work and study.
• If the marriage has not taken place in time, you may be able to extend, but you will need a good reason and evidence that it will take place within the next 6 months.

Time spent in the UK as a fiancé(e) does not count towards the 5 years needed for indefinite leave to remain. The settlement clock starts once you are granted permission as a partner.

Fees

At the time of writing, the Home Office fee is currently £2,064, the same as for a partner visa from outside the UK. The Immigration Health Surcharge is payable in addition, and there is a further fee when you apply to switch to the partner route after the wedding (currently £1,407).

The Marriage Visitor visa: a different option

If you want to marry in the UK but do not intend to stay afterwards, the Marriage Visitor visa is usually the right route. It allows a stay of up to 6 months, the marriage must take place at a licensed venue, and you must leave afterwards; you cannot extend it or switch into another route.

Visitors from countries that do not need a visa to visit the UK should note that they cannot marry, or give notice of marriage, on an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) or as a Standard Visitor. They need a Marriage Visitor visa (or the fiancé(e) visa if they intend to stay).

Common problems we help with

• Choosing between the fiancé(e) visa, the Marriage Visitor visa and marrying abroad before applying for a spouse visa.
• Financial evidence that does not meet the specified requirements.
• Delays to the wedding and the need to extend.
• Preparing the switch to partner permission after the marriage.

How Stonebridge can help

We assess which route suits your plans, check your financial and English evidence, prepare the application and supporting representations, and then help you with the in-country partner application after the wedding so that there is no gap in your permission.

To talk through your plans, book a consultation. You may also find our Spouse & Civil Partner Visa page helpful.