UK Partner Visas: How to Bring Your Partner to the UK

Depending on your immigration status, you might have the option to bring your partner to the UK to join you. To facilitate your partner's entry, you should either possess a valid visa that allows your partner to accompany you or be a UK citizen or an individual with settled status in the UK (e.g., ILR).



To bring your partner to the UK, you both need to be married, civil partners, unmarried partners, or have the intention to marry (or enter into a civil partnership) within six months of arrival and subsequently reside together in the UK.


In the case of unmarried couples, you and your partner must have cohabited for a minimum of two years before applying for a long-term partner visa.

Among the widely chosen UK partner visa options are:

  • UK Spouse visa / Civil partner visa
  • Unmarried partner visa
  • Fiancé visa
  • Dependant visa

Requirements for UK Partner Visas

The requirements for UK partner visas differ based on the specific visa category. Nevertheless, in broad terms, applicants must be at least 18 years old, be in a authentic relationship, possess ample financial resources for self-support, and exhibit good character.

Spouse visa / Civil partner visa

The Spouse visa/Civil partner visa facilitates the relocation of married or civil partners to the UK to reside with their British or settled partner. To qualify for a Spouse visa, applicants must fulfill the:


1. Relationship requirements – meaning they are the married or civil partner of a British citizen or someone with indefinite leave to remain or another form of settled immigration status.

2. English language requirements – for instance, by successfully completing an English language test at level A1 or above on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.

3. Financial requirements – both the applicant and their partner must have a combined income of at least £18,600 per year. This can be satisfied through various means, including utilizing savings.


If granted a Spouse or Civil partner visa, the partner can stay for an initial period of 33 months. A visa extension allows them to remain for an additional 30 months. After residing in the UK for 5 years, the partner may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

Unmarried visa

The eligibility criteria for the Unmarried Partner visa are identical to those of the Spouse visa/Civil partner visa mentioned earlier. Nevertheless, if you are not married or in a civil partnership, you must have lived together for a duration of 2 years.


Similar to the Spouse visa, upon obtaining an unmarried partner visa, your partner can stay in the UK for 33 months. This visa can be extended for an additional 30 months. After residing in the UK for 5 years, your partner may qualify to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

Fiancé visa

The eligibility criteria for the Fiancé visa (fiancée partner visa) align with those of the Spouse visa/Civil partner visa mentioned earlier, excluding the relationship requirement. Fiancé and fiancée visa applicants must have the intention to marry or enter into a civil partnership with their British or settled partner within 6 months of arrival.


Upon marriage or entering into a civil partnership in the UK, your partner can subsequently apply for a spouse/civil partner visa.

Applying for a UK Partner Visa: A Step-by-Step Guide

The procedure for your partner to apply for a UK partner visa will vary based on the specific type of visa they seek. Generally, the process involves the following key steps:


1. Complete and submit the online application form for a UK partner visa.

2. Pay the necessary application fees, including the immigration healthcare surcharge if applicable.

3. Schedule and attend an appointment at a visa application centre (VAC) for photo and fingerprint biometric scans.

4. Upload all required documents requested by the Home Office to support the application.


Typically, a decision is reached within 3 weeks. However, expedited options may be available for a faster decision, subject to an additional fee.

In the event of a visa application refusal for your partner

If the Home Office deems that your partner fails to meet eligibility criteria or if there's evidence of incorrect information, a partner visa application may face rejection. Typically, there are five primary courses of action in the event of a refused partner visa:

1. Submit a new application

2. Apply for a different type of visa

3. Request an administrative review if you suspect an error by the Home Office

4. Seek a judicial review to challenge the decision's legal foundation

5. Appeal the decision, an option applicable only when the application is grounded in human rights under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)."

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