Unmarried Partner Visa

The unmarried partner route allows a person who is not married or in a civil partnership to join, or remain with, a partner who is British, settled or has another qualifying status in the UK. It sits within the same family rules as the spouse visa, with the same financial, English and accommodation requirements, and it is a route to settlement.

The main difference is how the relationship is proved. Because there is no marriage or civil partnership certificate, the evidence of your relationship history carries much more weight.

The two-year relationship test

The rules define an unmarried partner as someone who has been in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years before the date of application.

Living together is not strictly required by the rules. Many couples do live together, and joint tenancies, bills and bank accounts are strong evidence. However, couples who cannot live together, for example because they work or study in different places or because living together before marriage is not accepted in their culture, can still qualify if they show ongoing commitment. That might include regular communication, financial support and time spent together.

Who can sponsor

Your partner must generally be a British citizen in the UK, settled in the UK (including with settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme), in the UK with refugee status or humanitarian protection, or in another eligible category such as pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme where they started living in the UK before 1 January 2021.

Key requirements

• You are both aged 18 or over, have met in person and intend to live together permanently in the UK.
• Any previous marriage, civil partnership or similar relationship has permanently broken down.
• A minimum gross income of £29,000 a year (since 11 April 2024), or qualifying savings of £16,000 plus two and a half times any shortfall, unless an exemption applies.
• Where you were first granted permission under an application made before 11 April 2024 and are extending with the same partner, the transitional threshold of £18,600 (plus amounts for any children) applies.
• English at A1 speaking and listening for the first application, unless an exemption applies.
• Adequate accommodation without recourse to public funds.

Documents and evidence commonly needed

• Evidence covering the full 2-year period, such as joint tenancy agreements, bills or bank statements at a shared address.
• If you have lived apart, evidence of why, and of your ongoing commitment, such as communication records, evidence of visits and financial support.
• Evidence that previous relationships have ended.
• The sponsor's status documents.
• Financial evidence in the specified format, an English test certificate or exemption evidence, and accommodation documents.

The strongest applications present the evidence as a clear timeline so that the caseworker can see the relationship has continued throughout the 2 years.

How long you can stay and settlement

Permission is usually granted for up to 2 years and 9 months from outside the UK, or up to 2 years and 6 months if you switch or extend inside the UK. After 5 years on the partner route you can normally apply for indefinite leave to remain. If you are granted permission on the basis of exceptional circumstances, for example because the financial requirement is not met, you will usually be on a 10-year route instead.

English requirements increase at each stage: A1 at entry, A2 at your first extension, and currently B1 plus the Life in the UK test at settlement. From 26 March 2027, settlement applications are set to need B2.

You can work and study, but you cannot claim most public funds.

Fees

At the time of writing, the Home Office fee is currently £2,064 per person from outside the UK and £1,407 from inside the UK, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Recent and upcoming changes

• From 26 March 2027: B2 English is set to be required for settlement applications.
• Earned settlement (proposal only): the government has consulted on a longer standard qualifying period for settlement. Nothing has been implemented. The consultation states that partners of British citizens would keep a 5-year route; the position for partners of other sponsors has not been confirmed.

Common problems we help with

• Gaps in the evidence of living together, or periods spent apart.
• Showing a relationship "similar to marriage" where there is little formal paperwork.
• Self-employed or mixed income that is hard to evidence in the specified format.
• Deciding whether to marry first and apply as a spouse instead.

How Stonebridge can help

We review your relationship history against the 2-year test, help you identify and organise the evidence you already have, check your financial documents, prepare the application with clear written representations explaining your circumstances, and deal with the Home Office on your behalf.

To discuss your relationship and the evidence you have, book a consultation.