You will need to apply for an unmarried partner visa if you can demonstrate that you have been cohabiting with your partner for 2 years and intend to permanently live with them in the UK.

To make an application your partner must either be a British Citizen or be present and settled in the UK.

Types of unmarried partner visa application

In-country applications- made inside the UK by applicants who currently have a valid visa

Entry Clearance applications- made at the British Embassy or Consulate in your partner's country of residence prior to them travelling to the UK

Frequently Asked Questions

The most frequent questions we receive from prospective clients with respect to unmarried partner visas are:

What are the criteria set by UK Border Agency for an unmarried partner visa?
How long will it take?
Can my partner switch from a visit visa to a spouse visa inside the UK?
What documents do we need to provide?
How much will it cost?
I have previous criminal convictions
Public funds
My partner has been refused a visa before, can they reapply?
My partner is illegal in the UK- how can we get a visa
What happens if the application is refused?

What are the criteria set by UK Border Agency for an unmarried partner visa?

When an application is considered, the following rules must be satisfied for a visa to be issued:

• the applicant is seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom as the unmarried partner of a person present and settled in the United Kingdom or who is on the same occasion being admitted for settlement; and
• the parties have met; and
• the parties have been living together in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership for 2 years or more; and
• each of the parties intends to live permanently together; and
• the parties will be able to maintain and accommodate themselves and any dependants adequately without recourse to public funds;
• both of the parties are over the age of 18; and
• the applicant can demonstrate that they satisfy the English Language Requirement.

How long will it take?

Applications made inside the UK- It currently takes between 3- 6 months to process applications made to the UKBA inside the UK. The complexity of your application will determine how long it will take for your application to be processed as well as the volume of applications they have to process.

Applications made outside the UK- It can take up to three months to obtain a decision from the British Consulate. Some applications can be processed within a month however the likelihood of this depends on the complexity of your application and how busy the Consulate is when you apply. We advise you to plan for the processing of your application to take 3 months.

Can my partner switch from a visit visa to a settlement visa inside the UK?

There is no provision in the Immigration Rules to switch from a visit visa to an unmarried partner visa inside the UK. If your partner is currently in the UK and wishes to make an application to settle in the UK, they will have to return to their country of origin and make an application to the British Consulate.

What documents do we need to provide?

The documents that are required vary depending on your personal circumstances and we advise that you contact us to ensure that you submit all of the relevant documentation.

How much will it cost?

The visa application fees vary depending on where the application is made.

The current fee for applications made outside the UK is £810 (subject to the relevant exchange rate)

The current fee for making an application inside the UK is £550 via post and £850 if using the premium service

I have previous criminal convictions

The fact that an applicant has previous criminal convictions does not automatically mean an application will be refused however you must declare any conviction even if it occurred many years ago. Failure to include information can be determined as non disclosure and the application can be refused.

Public funds

It is imperative that you do not seek recourse to public funds. If your sponsor in the UK is in receipt of any public funds please advise and we can give you more detailed information.

My partner has been refused a visa before, can they reapply?

Having been previously refused does not prevent you from making any further applications unless you have incurred a ban due to providing fraudulent documents.

We suggest that you contact us to ensure that you have correctly addressed the concerns in the refusal notice prior to submitting a fresh application. Most of the time a refusal is easily fixed by supplying the correct documentation.

My partner is illegal in the UK – how can we get a visa

We have worked with many clients over the years whose immigration status negatively impacted on their wish to be with their partner in the UK either because their existing visa had expired, they had breached the conditions attached to their status or had a previous entry clearance refusal. When contacting us, it would be useful for you to have copies of refusal letters and / or a schedule of past immigration history and we will be able to confirm the steps to take to remedy the problem.

What happens if the application is refused?

If your partner's application is refused we will request a copy of the refusal document so that we can understand the grounds of refusal.

Depending on where an application was made and the grounds for refusal we will advise you as to next steps and if Counsel will need to be instructed.

If an application was refused outside of the UK it can take up to 9 months for an appeal to be heard. We recommend in these cases that a fresh application is submitted when the reasons for refusal can be easily addressed by making a fresh application.