Unmarried Partner Visa UK

Unmarried Partner Visa – UK Visa Application Services

As an unmarried partner of a person settled or living in the UK you may be able to apply for an unmarried partner visa to join them in the UK either temporarily or permanently.

We can explain everything you need to know about the immigration rules regarding your unmarried partner visa UK application. Our immigration solicitors are here for you throughout;

• the initial UK visa application process,
• the visa extension application process that will allow you to remain in the UK for a further 30 months after you have lived in the UK with your partner for 33 months and,
• the indefinite leave to remain application process after you have resided in the UK for the minimum five year period on your unmarried partner visa.

We can help you get settled in the UK with your partner, even if you choose not to enter into marriage or civil partnership. Our UK immigration solicitors are here for you.

Are You Looking to Marry in the UK?

• Yes, I would like to travel to the UK to get married and settle down
• Yes, I would like to travel to the UK for my wedding, but I do not wish to settle in the UK afterwards
• No, I would like to live in the UK with my partner without getting married

Applying for an Unmarried Partner Visa UK

Your Legal Rights as an Unmarried partner

If you and your partner have been living together in a ‘relationship akin to marriage’ for at least two years, then you qualify as having an unmarried partner relationship.

If you are classed as being in an unmarried partner relationship, you will have the same rights as a spouse under UK immigration rules. That means you can apply for a UK unmarried partner visa that allows you to live in the UK with your partner for an initial period of 33 months, after which you can apply for a further 30-month extension. Under the immigration rules, you can then apply to live together permanently on indefinite leave to remain, as long as you meet all the requirements including the English language requirements.

Apply to Settle in the UK with Your Partner

If your partner is a British citizen, on indefinite leave to remain in the UK,  you have the right of abode. If they are on a long term visa and are settled in the UK, our expert immigration solicitors can help you join them and settle in the UK with them as their unmarried partner.

Get in touch today for personalised immigration advice and guidance to get you started.

General Requirements of an Unmarried Partner Visa

You are eligible to apply for an unmarried partner visa for the UK if your partner:

• Is present and settled in the UK, or
• Has limited leave to remain in the UK – this excludes students and other short-term visa categories

You and your unmarried partner must meet the below requirements:

• Both you and your partner must be over 18 at the time of applying
• Your partner must be ‘present and settled in the UK’. This means being physically present in the UK at the time of the application unless they are accompanying the applicant. If so, they need to hold either indefinite leave to remain, a permanent right of residence, British citizenship or the right of abode in the UK
• Both of you must intend to live together permanently
• You need to provide evidence that you have arranged appropriate accommodation
• You need to meet the English language requirements – level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference

When you apply for indefinite leave to remain once you have been in the country for the minimum qualifying period you may need to meet different requirements.

Financial Requirements

As part of the application process for your unmarried partner visa, you’ll need to prove that you can meet the minimum financial requirements.

If your partner in the UK wishes to sponsor you, then they will have to prove they can meet them instead. To sponsor a spouse, fiancé, partner or civil partner for settlement in the UK, sponsors need to earn a minimum of £18,600.

If a child is also being sponsored, the minimum earning threshold is £22,400 with an additional £2,400 for each further child.

How Long You Can Stay in the UK

If your application for entry clearance is successful you will be able to live in the UK for up to 33 months. After this, you will need to apply for a further 30 months extension visa before you are eligible to settle indefinitely. All partners, civil partners and spouses must have been in the UK for a minimum of five years before they can do this.

If you are already in the UK when you apply you would be allowed to stay in the UK for 30 months, after which you would need to apply for another 30 months’ leave to complete the required five years. Once you do we can help you to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

If while you are here you and your partner decide to get married, you can apply for a spouse visa instead of an unmarried partner visa. This could then give you a further 2.5 years’ leave to remain.

Documents You Need to Provide for Your Visa Application

You’ll need to provide a range of documents to demonstrate that you can meet the financial requirements for the unmarried partner visa as set out by the Home Office. These include:

• Income from employment or self-employment of yourself, or your partner if they have permission to work in the UK
• A specified non-employment income of either you or your partner
• Proof of a pension that you or your partner receives. This can be either a state pension, UK or foreign, or private
• Any maternity allowance or bereavement benefits that you or your partner receive in the UK

You can also prove your exemption from the financial requirement if your partner receives a specified disability-related benefit or carer’s allowance in the UK.

Remember, your partner must be what is called ‘present and settled in the UK’. They must be physically present in the UK at the time of the application unless they are accompanying you. If so, they need to hold either indefinite leave to remain, a permanent right of residence, British citizenship or the right of abode in the UK.

Apply for Your Unmarried Partner Visa with Cartwright King

Get the Help You Need to Apply for Your Unmarried Partner Visa

Are you ready to join your partner and apply for settlement in the UK? We can help make sure you understand the process in full before you begin, and guide you through each stage to the end. Thanks to the expertise of our immigration solicitors, we’ll make sure you have the best chance of a swift approval, so you can start your life in the UK.

We assess your eligibility to apply before guiding you through the unmarried partner visa UK application process.

Get in touch with our immigration solicitors today to find out more about how we can help with your UK family visa application.