Unmarried Partner Visa UK Requirements & Application Support

What Is The UK Unmarried Partner Visa?

The Unmarried Partner Visa, also called the de facto partner visa, allows foreign nationals to enter or remain in the UK in order to live with their British or Irish citizen partner. This is allowed on the basis that they are in a provably genuine, committed and long-term relationship with a British national or a person who has settled status in the UK through something such as indefinite leave to remain.

UK Unmarried Partner visas are issued for an initial period of 33 months (2 years and 9 months), but can then be extended for another 30 months (2 years and 6 months).

After spending 5 years in the UK on an Unmarried Partner visa, you may then be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

Here at the Immigration Advice Service, we recommend that anyone intending to submit an Unmarried Partner visa application seeks professional legal advice on the matter. Our experienced and IAA-qualified immigration lawyers can help to provide the advice and assistance you need to make the right decision and submit an application with the best chances for success. Get in touch with us on +44 (0)333 414 9244 today to discover more about how we can help you achieve success.

Unmarried Partner Visa Requirements in 2026

In order to be considered eligible for this visa, you’ll need to not only meet but also prove that you satisfy all the requirements set in place by the Home Office and UKVI (UK visas and immigration). These eligibility requirements include meeting the following criteria:

• You must be able to demonstrate and prove that any previous relationships have ended.
• Both you and your sponsor must both be over the age of 18 at the time of applying.
• The UK-based sponsor must be able to show that they have one of the following:
  • British or Irish citizenship
  • Indefinite leave to remain
  • Settled status or pre-settled status
  • A Turkish Businessperson visa or Turkish Worker visa
  • Humanitarian protection in the UK
• Both parties have been living together for at least two years at the time of applying, or you have been together for at least two years but are unable to live together, such as for study or cultural reasons.
• Your relationship must be entirely genuine and both parties intend to live together in the UK on a permanent basis.
• There must be suitable and adequate accommodation available for the couple and any necessary dependents.
• You must demonstrate that you are able to speak and understand English to the required level. 
• You and your partner must be able to fully support yourselves in the UK without needing to claim public funds, which will normally involve meeting the minimum income requirement.

What Are The Financial Requirements For An Unmarried UK Partner Visa?

When applying for the de facto partner visa, it’s important to prove that you will be able to fully support yourselves while living in the UK without needing to access public funds, as per UK immigration rules.

To do this, the person living in the UK with settled status needs to be able to meet the specific financial requirement of a minimum income threshold before their partner can join them in the UK (unless the partner is already living and earning in the UK).

You won’t need to meet this minimum financial requirement if you are in the UK with humanitarian protection or have refugee status.

Ensuring that you meet the financial requirements for an Unmarried Partner visa is crucial. Let IAS assist with the process and remove the stress and hassle from applications. Call us on +44 (0)333 414 9244 or reach out to us online.

How To Meet The Visa Financial Requirements for an Unmarried Partner Visa?

You can meet the Unmarried Partner visa financial income requirement through both salaried and non-salaried income in a variety of different ways. You can reach the threshold using income from a combination of different sources, such as:

• Cash savings – It’s possible to count personal cash savings towards the minimum income threshold for the foreign national unmarried partners visa. If your income fails to meet the minimum financial requirement, then you may be able to use your savings. You need to have had these savings for at least six months, and it is possible to use the savings of the non-EEA applicant towards this amount.
• Property rental income – Non-work income is also viable, such as if you own properties and have a regular source of income via rental of these properties. While you can’t use the sale value of any property towards meeting the financial requirement, earnings made through rent can be considered viable income.
• Employed or self-employed income – Any income you make from employed or self-employed work can be used towards your income requirement – as long as you currently have settled status in the UK and are earning the money in the country. You can use your income before National Insurance and tax. You can also use self-employed income, such as if you are a director of a UK-based company. It’s worth noting that you need to have been earning the given wage for at least six months or longer.
• Trust funds – If you are in the possession of a trust fund, then you can use this amount in order to help reach the minimum financial requirement for the unmarried partner UK visa. This counts as a non-salaried income but is viable to be counted towards your annual gross income when applying for the visa.
• Maternity, paternity, adoptions, or sick pay – If you have had your annual earnings altered out of necessity, such as going on maternity or paternity leave, taking sick pay, or anything else, then you will be able to use these payments towards meeting the minimum financial requirement for the unmarried partner visa.
• Pension – If the settled person in the UK is currently on their pension, then this income can be counted towards the financial requirement for the unmarried visa UK instead. This counts as non-employment earnings and is most often counted instead of employed or self-employed income.

Subsisting Relationship Proof for Unmarried Partner Visa UK

An important aspect of the Unmarried Partner visa is proving to the Home Office that your relationship with your partner is genuine.

You should be able to do this by providing supporting documents. These documents should be official documents from the government, a bank, landlord, utility provider, or a medical professional and should confirm the status of your relationship with your partner.

You should use documents that are no older than 4 years old.

Eligible documents you could submit include (but are not limited to) the following:

• A tenancy agreement, utility bills or council tax bills confirming you live in the same address
• Bank statements confirming you live in the same address
• Letters from doctors or other medical professionals confirming you live in the same address
• Bills, invoices or payment sheets confirming you live in the same address
• If you do not live together, then documents proving that you have an ongoing commitment to each other, such as:
  • Evidence of time spent together
  • Evidence of shared childcare duties
  • Evidence of shared financial support
  • Evidence of regular communication

It can be tricky to successfully prove to the Home Office that your relationship is genuine. With the assistance of a professional immigration lawyer, the process can be made much simpler. IAS have extensive experience in helping couples settle in the UK and offer bespoke document checking services to help with Spouse, Civil Partnership or Unmarried Partner visa applications. Call us on +44 (0)333 414 9244 or reach out to us online for immediate help.

What Are The English Language Requirements For An Unmarried Partner Visa?

You must normally prove that you can speak English to a required minimum level to be eligible for an Unmarried Partner visa.

There are several ways of demonstrating this, including:

• Passing at least level A1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale
• Showing proof of a degree or educational qualification that was taught in the UK or taught internationally in English
• Being from one of the exempt countries that speak English as a majority language

Note that you will be exempt from this requirement if you are over 65 or you have a physical or mental condition that prevents you from meeting the requirement.

Intention to Live Together Permanently in the UK

In order to be eligible for the Unmarried Partner visa, you must plan to live permanently with your partner upon your arrival in the UK. This is the case even if you have not lived with your partner prior to submitting your application. 

The Unmarried Partner visa is intended for couples who, despite not being married, are still in genuine and committed relationships. The cohabitation requirement upon arrival is an extension of this requirement, as the intention to live together further demonstrates that your relationship is genuine and committed and that you have a strong case for moving to the UK in order to join your partner. 

As a further condition of eligibility, you will also need to prove that your partner has suitable accommodation to house both of you upon your arrival. The details of this requirement are given later in the article. 

Accommodation Requirement for Unmarried Partner Visa

When you are applying for an Unmarried Partner visa, you will be expected to demonstrate that your UK partner has appropriate housing to accommodate you and any dependants who will also be living with you in the UK. 

Specifically, the housing must have sufficient space to accommodate you and any dependants and must meet the UK’s health and safety standards for accommodation. If the housing is overcrowded or does not satisfy UK safety standards, for instance, it will not be accepted in support of your application, and your Unmarried Partner visa application is likely to be unsuccessful. 

How to Apply for an Unmarried Partner Visa UK?

When you’re putting together an application for the Unmarried Partner visa, you’ll need to fill in an online form through the Home Office application website. Here, you’ll also be able to submit your various supporting documents at the same time.

To complete the Unmarried Partner visa application process, you will also need to attend a physical appointment at which your biometric information will be taken, such as fingerprints and a photo. If your non-EEA national partner is applying from outside the UK, you can expect a decision within around 12 weeks – this is reduced to around 8 weeks for applications made within the UK.

If your application for the unmarried UK partner visa is approved, you’ll be granted a visa with permission to visit and stay in the UK for two years and nine months.

IAS’s Application Package service can organise the entire process of applying for an Unmarried Partner visa for you, removing any stress and worry for you and your partner. Call us on +44 (0)333 414 9244 or reach out to us online for more information.

UK Unmarried Partner Visa Document Checklist: Required Documents for Application

You must provide an extensive range of information and documents with your Unmarried Partner visa application to demonstrate you meet all of the requirements.

These can include (but may not be limited to) the following:

• The names of you and your partner
• Your date of birth
• A current passport or other travel ID
• A biometric residence permit, if applicable
• Details of any previous immigration applications
• Details of any criminal convictions
• Your national insurance number, if applicable
• Your parents’ dates of births and nationalities
• Tuberculosis test results (if you’re from a required country)
• Proof that you meet the financial requirements
• Proof that you meet the English language requirements
• Proof that you meet the genuine relationship requirements
• Proof that you meet the accommodation requirements, such as evidence that where you will be living will not be overcrowded, meets health and safety guidelines and is legally owned or will be exclusively occupied by your family
• Your partner’s personal information and background, including proof of their status in the UK
• Any details of previous relationships and proof that those relationships have ended
• Details of any children you or your partner have
• Details of the countries you have lived in previously

Note that you will have to provide certified translations of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.

Unmarried Partner Visa UK Cost: Fees and Processing Times

It costs £2,064 to apply for an Unmarried Partner visa from outside the UK. If you’re applying from inside the UK, it will cost £1,407.

You will also have to pay the immigration healthcare surcharge, which costs £1035 a year. It will ultimately cost £5,175 if you plan to stay in the UK for five years.

It normally takes up to 24 weeks for UKVI to process your application if you’re applying from outside the UK.

If you’re applying from inside the UK, it may take up to 8 weeks to process your application, or possibly up to 12 months if you do not meet all the necessary requirements.

You may be able to pay to have your application processed quicker, though this will normally incur additional charges.

If you need to submit your Unmarried Partner visa application in a hurry, IAS can assist with our Priority Application Services. We can help assemble a complete application and document package in a matter of days, if your case is urgent. Call us on +44 (0)333 414 9244 or contact us online for immediate help.

Can I Bring Dependents on an Unmarried Partner Visa?

Yes, anyone applying for the UK Unmarried Partner visa can also apply to bring dependents with them when they travel.

If you have any children under the age of 18, you can apply for them to enter the UK with you as your dependents.

This application for your dependents should always be made at the same time as you make your initial application for your own unmarried UK partner visa.

As of April 2024, you no longer have to provide proof of additional funds when bringing dependent children with you to the UK on an Unmarried Partner visa.

Unmarried Partner Visa UK Extension: Can the Visa Be Extended?

As is often the case, an unmarried partner of a UK citizen might reach their visa expiration date but wish to remain in the UK with their long-term partner. Fortunately, it’s possible to apply for a further extension of an additional 30 months while in the UK, on top of the initial 33 months of the visa’s validity.

Before your initial grant of leave expires, you can apply to UKVI (UK visas and immigration) to extend your stay. You’ll need to meet all the same maintenance and financial requirements as before, and you must still be living with the settled partner you came to the UK to live with.

For a lot of couples, the unmarried partner visa is the first step in the immigration route towards Indefinite Leave to Remain and permanently settling in the UK together. With an extension of 30 months on top of the initial 30 or 33 months granted, you will eventually reach the five-year mark, after which you may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Unmarried Partner Visa Refusal: What to Do Next?

You may have the right to appeal the decision not to grant you an Unmarried Partner Visa. However, going through the Unmarried Partner Visa appeals process can be complex and confusing.

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to appeal an Unmarried Partner Visa refusal:

1. Identify the time limit for submitting your request for an appeal or review (14 days if you applied in the UK, or 28 days if you applied outside the UK)
2. Apply for an appeal to the First-Tier Tribunal within the specific deadline
3. Work with an immigration solicitor to prepare your case, any relevant supporting documents, and the reason(s) why your application should be accepted
4. Attend the hearing
5. Await the decision
6. If you receive an unsuccessful decision at this point, you may be eligible to apply to the Upper Tribunal (within 14 days)

The best way to avoid the Unmarried Partner Visa appeals process is to submit the strongest possible application the first time.

Give yourself the best chance of a successful application by working with a firm of experienced immigration solicitors. Call us on +44 (0)333 414 9244 or contact us online if you require assistance with your case.

Can I Switch to an Unmarried Partner Visa in the UK?

Yes, there are some circumstances in which you will be able to switch to an Unmarried Partner visa. If you enter the UK under a different visa type and become eligible for an Unmarried Partner visa during your stay, you can generally apply to switch your visa. However, you will need to make sure to apply during the validity period of your current visa. 

If you are in the UK on a Student visa, for example, and have been with your UK partner for at least 2 years (and meet the additional eligibility criteria), you can apply for a UK Unmarried Partner visa before the expiry of your Student visa. As part of the application, you will need to provide evidence that you and your partner have been in a relationship for at least 2 years. 

However, note that not all UK visa types are eligible to be switched to the Unmarried Partner visa. If you enter the UK on a Visitor visa or on a visa with a duration of 6 months or less, you will not generally be able to switch to an Unmarried Partner visa. Instead, you will need to leave the UK before the expiry of your current visa and submit a new visa application from your home country. 

Additionally, if you are on a visa which is eligible for switching to an Unmarried Partner visa but you and your partner have not yet been together for at least 2 years, you will also not be eligible to switch your visa. Instead, unless you are eligible for a separate visa type, you will instead need to leave the UK and apply for the Unmarried Partner visa once you and your partner have met the 2-year threshold.

Applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain as an Unmarried Partner in UK

In general, you will need to have lived in the UK on an Unmarried Partner visa for at least 5 years before you become eligible for indefinite leave to remain. You will need to have lived in the UK continuously during this time (i.e. not spent more than 180 days outside of the UK during any given year of the 5-year period). 

In addition to satisfying the continuous residency requirement, you will also need to prove that you have sufficient proficiency in the English language (either through taking an approved test or providing evidence of a degree or equivalent qualification which was taught in English) and that you have passed the Life in the UK test. 

Permanent settlement in the UK brings a number of benefits, including the ability to live and work indefinitely in the UK without needing to secure further visas. You will also be able to access the NHS without needing to pay the annual surcharge and to apply for welfare benefits when necessary. After a year of holding permanent settlement status, you will also generally be able to apply for UK citizenship, after obtaining which you can vote in UK elections and apply for a British passport. 

How Can IAS Help You With an Unmarried Partner Visa?

Obtaining an unmarried partner visa can be difficult as the burden of proof is high. At IAS, our immigration lawyers can help ensure your application is of the best quality to increase your chances of success. From the start, we will provide advice, document collation support, application preparation, liaise with the Home Office on your behalf, and be with you every step of the way.

Our goal is to ensure you reunite with your partner in the UK with a partner visa, and we will work with you to ensure that outcome. Contact us today at +44 (0)333 414 9244 or complete a contact form and we will call you.