Summary
- The UK family partner route covers spouses, civil partners and qualifying unmarried partners.
- Unmarried partners must normally show a relationship similar to marriage lasting at least two years. Living together throughout that period is not mandatory.
- Most first partner visa applications require qualifying annual income of at least £29,000, although savings and financial exceptions may apply.
- This guide explains UK partner visa eligibility, evidence, application costs and settlement for couples planning to live together in the UK.
- LegalVision specialises in advising individuals and families on UK immigration matters.
Tips
Check which financial rules apply before gathering income or savings evidence. Collect documents showing your relationship and proposed accommodation. Confirm whether you need an English language test or tuberculosis certificate before applying. Speak to an immigration lawyer at LegalVision about checking your eligibility and preparing the supporting evidence for your partner visa application.
On this page
- Who Can Apply for a UK Partner Visa?
- How Do You Prove Your Relationship?
- What Is the Financial Requirement?
- What English Language Evidence Do You Need?
- Do You Need a Tuberculosis Test?
- What Accommodation Do You Need?
- Can You Apply From Inside the UK?
- How Much Does a Partner Visa Cost?
- Can a Partner Visa Lead to Settlement?
- Key Takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions
A UK partner visa can allow you to live in the UK with your spouse, civil partner, or qualifying unmarried partner. Your partner must have an eligible immigration status or nationality. You normally need to meet the Home Office’s relationship, financial, English language and accommodation requirements. Unmarried partners can qualify without having lived together throughout their relationship. However, they must normally show a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership lasting at least two years before applying. This article explains who can apply, the evidence you need, application costs and how the partner route can lead to settlement.
Who Can Apply for a UK Partner Visa?
You may be able to apply if your partner has a qualifying nationality or immigration status. Check their status first.
A family partner visa is different from a dependant visa linked to temporary work or study permission. The correct route depends on your circumstances.
The Home Office’s partner visa guidance identifies these eligible partners:
- British or Irish citizens;
- people settled in the UK, meaning they can live here without a time limit;
- qualifying European nationals with pre-settled status, meaning temporary permission under the EU Settlement Scheme;
- people with a Turkish Worker or Turkish Businessperson visa;
- people with protection status, meaning refugee permission or humanitarian protection; and
- people granted permission as stateless before you became their partner.
You and your partner must normally both be aged 18 or over. Your relationship must be genuine and subsisting. This means real and continuing.
You must intend to live together permanently in the UK. If your partner has a temporary work or student visa, you may instead need to apply as their dependant. The Skilled Worker visa route has separate rules.
How Do You Prove Your Relationship?
You must show that your relationship is genuine and continuing. The evidence depends on whether you are married, civil partners or unmarried partners.
The Home Office considers your circumstances and relationship evidence together. A marriage certificate alone does not prove that your relationship is genuine.
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Married and Civil Partners
Your marriage or civil partnership must be legally recognised in the UK. The Home Office must also be satisfied that any previous relationships have permanently ended.
Unmarried Partners
You do not need to be married or in a civil partnership to qualify. Unmarried partners must normally show a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership lasting at least 2 years before applying.
You do not have to have lived together throughout that period. You may have lived separately because of work, study, cultural reasons or immigration restrictions.
Explain why you lived apart and how you maintained your commitment. Evidence may include shared financial commitments, travel together and regular communication. You must also show that you intend to live together permanently after the application succeeds.
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What Is the Financial Requirement?
For most first applications, qualifying income must normally reach at least £29,000 per year. The Home Office’s financial requirements set this threshold for applications from 11 April 2024.
Meeting it involves more than showing your annual salary. You must also provide the evidence required for your income category.
The Immigration Rules Appendix FM: Family Members control whose income counts, qualifying income types, payment history and calculations. Depending on your circumstances, you may use employment, self-employment, pensions, certain other income or cash savings.
Can You Use Cash Savings?
Cash savings can replace income or, in some circumstances, supplement qualifying income. Only savings above £16,000 count towards the requirement.
For the standard income threshold, savings alone normally need to total £88,500 at the initial application or extension stage. The government’s financial requirement review explains the calculation applying since April 2024.
You, your partner or both jointly can hold the savings. You must normally have held at least the amount relied upon for 6 months before applying. You must also explain where the money came from.
What If Your Partner Receives Benefits?
Different financial rules apply if your UK-based partner receives certain disability or carer benefits. The standard minimum income requirement does not apply in those circumstances.
Instead, you must usually demonstrate adequate maintenance and accommodation without additional access to public funds. This means enough support and suitable housing without relying on additional restricted benefits.
What If You Applied Before the Threshold Changed?
Transitional rules may apply if you first applied before 11 April 2024 and received permission through that application. They can cover an earlier application as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner.
You must be continuing with the same partner and meet the other transitional conditions. Check your first application date, rather than only your arrival date, against the Home Office’s transitional financial rules.
What English Language Evidence Do You Need?
For a first partner visa application, you normally need at least A1 speaking and listening ability. This is a basic level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The Home Office’s English language guidance explains the accepted ways to prove your ability.
You can normally meet the requirement through an approved test or a qualifying degree taught or researched in English. Nationals of recognised majority English-speaking countries can also qualify without taking a test.
Do You Need a Tuberculosis Test?
You may need a tuberculosis test when applying from outside the UK. This depends on where you lived before applying.
What Accommodation Do You Need?
You must show that suitable accommodation will be available for you and your family in the UK. The property must not be overcrowded or breach public health requirements.
You do not need to own it. You can rent or, in some circumstances, live in accommodation provided by family or another person.
You must have permission to live there, and the accommodation must be suitable. The Home Office’s family immigration rules also require adequate accommodation without recourse to public funds.
“Plan your application date around the evidence you can provide. Checking the history behind your income or savings early gives you time to address missing records before you apply.”
Can You Apply From Inside the UK?
You cannot usually switch to the partner route while in the UK as a visitor. The restriction also normally covers permission granted for 6 months or less.
Limited exceptions apply. Visitors ordinarily need to leave the UK and apply from overseas, according to Home Office caseworker guidance.
How Long Can You Stay?
An initial partner visa following an overseas application normally lasts 33 months. Permission following an application or extension inside the UK normally lasts 30 months.
A shorter grant can apply if your sponsor holds 30 months’ protection permission. Your permission then ends on the same date as theirs. The Home Office’s family life guidance links this exception to asylum applications made on or after 2 March 2026.
How Much Does a Partner Visa Cost?
Your application cost depends on whether you apply inside or outside the UK. Most applicants also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which gives access to NHS healthcare during their permission.
Budget for the application fee and surcharge together. Optional services and other application expenses can increase the total.
The following amounts apply to a standard adult application, checked against Home Office fees on 24 September 2026.
| Cost | Outside the UK | Inside the UK |
| Home Office application fee | £2,064 | £1,407 |
| Adult healthcare surcharge | £3,105 | £2,587.50 |
| Combined standard total | £5,169 | £3,994.50 |
Source: Home Office family visa fees. Totals combine the application fee and standard adult surcharge.
These totals exclude additional applicants and optional services. They assume the standard grant lengths described above.
The adult surcharge rate is £1,035 per year. The Home Office’s surcharge guidance explains how it charges for part-years. A shorter grant may change the surcharge payable.
You may also need to pay for biometric appointments, document scanning or a tuberculosis test. Biometrics means your fingerprints and photograph.
Can You Pay for Faster Processing?
Faster processing depends on availability and the service offered for your application.
| Application | Service | Additional Fee | Usual Decision Target |
| Outside the UK | Priority | £500 | Within 30 working days |
| Inside the UK | Super priority | £1,000 | End of the next working day |
For overseas priority applications, the time usually starts from your identity appointment. For eligible app users, it starts the working day after uploading documents.
The Home Office’s in-country eligibility table excludes family visas from the standard 5-working-day priority service. Super priority may be available through an eligible appointment.
Can a Partner Visa Lead to Settlement?
The standard partner route normally allows an application for indefinite leave to remain after 5 continuous qualifying years in the UK. Indefinite leave to remain means permission to live here without a time limit. You normally make an initial partner application, extend your permission, then apply for settlement.
Different rules can apply to permission granted on human rights grounds or because of exceptional circumstances. Check your qualifying route before planning a settlement application. The Home Office’s settlement guidance for partners explains the standard qualifying period.
Key Takeaways
The UK family partner route covers spouses, civil partners and qualifying unmarried partners. Your relationship must be genuine and continuing, and you must intend to live together permanently in the UK. Unmarried partners do not have to show two years of continuous cohabitation. Most first applications require qualifying annual income of at least £29,000, although savings and financial exceptions may apply. You normally also need to meet English language and accommodation requirements. The standard partner route can lead to settlement after five continuous qualifying years, provided you meet the relevant requirements.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can unmarried partners apply without living together for 2 years?
Yes, living together continuously is not mandatory. You must normally show a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership lasting at least 2 years. Explain why you lived apart and provide evidence of your continuing commitment.
Can I use savings instead of employment income?
Yes, qualifying cash savings can replace income. Savings alone normally need to total £88,500 for a standard initial application or extension. You must meet the ownership, holding period and evidence requirements.
Can I switch from a visitor visa to a partner visa?
You cannot usually switch while in the UK as a visitor. You ordinarily need to leave and apply from overseas. Limited exceptions apply, so check your circumstances before submitting an application.
Does a partner visa lead to permanent residence?
The standard route can lead to indefinite leave to remain after 5 continuous qualifying years. You must meet the settlement requirements when applying. Different rules can apply to permission granted on human rights grounds or because of exceptional circumstances.
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