UK Civil Partner Visa Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for a UK Civil Partner Visa, you must demonstrate to UK Visas and Immigration that you meet the following criteria:

• Your partner is British or Irish, settled in the UK, granted pre-settled status, holds a Turkish Businessperson or Turkish Worker visa, or has refugee status or humanitarian protection;
• Both you and your partner are at least 18 years old;
• You and your partner are not within a prohibited degree of relationship;
• You and your partner have met in person;
• Your civil partnership is legally recognized in the UK;
• Your relationship is genuine and ongoing;
• You and your partner intend to live together permanently in the UK;
• Any previous relationship has ended permanently;
• You meet the financial requirement;
• Adequate accommodation is available for you and any dependents;
• You possess the required English language skills.

The specific criteria you need to satisfy to be eligible for a UK Civil Partner Visa can vary depending on your circumstances. You may wish to speak to an immigration lawyer for specific advice and guidance on your Civil Partner Visa application.

Specialist Advice and Representations  

Our civil partner visa solicitors have regularly assisted applicants with their civil partner visa applications and are experts in preparing civil partner visa applications. We have successfully handled standard to highly complex civil partner visa applications and can leverage our expertise to help you join or remain with your civil partner in the UK in an efficient and timely manner. Our team of specialist immigration lawyers will take the time to understand your objectives, assign the right lawyer or a team of lawyers – where necessary – to your case and agree a strategy to help you achieve your objectives as cost-effectively and as quickly as possible.

Who Can Apply for a Civil Partnership Visa?

Top qualify for a Civil Partnership visa you must demonstrate that your sponsoring Civil partner:

• Is a British or Irish citizen;
• Has indefinite leave to remain or has been granted settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme;
• Has been granted pre-settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme;
• Has a Turkish Businessperson visa or Turkish Worker visa;
• Has been granted refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK.

Additionally, you must meet the following criteria:

• Your civil partnership must be legally recognized in the UK;
• Both you and your civil partner must be at least 18 years old;
• Your relationship must be genuine and subsisting;
• Any previous relationships must have permanently broken down;
• You have adequate accommodation in the UK and plan to live with your civil partner permanently;
• You meet the minimum financial requirements;
• You meet the minimum language requirements.

What Are the Relationship Requirements for a Civil Partnership Visa?

A crucial aspect of fulfilling the relationship requirement for this visa is demonstrating that you are in a valid, legally binding civil partnership. You can do this by providing evidence of a civil partnership certificate that is legally recognized in the UK. In addition, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will need to verify that your relationship is genuine and subsisting. This means that your connection with your civil partner must be authentic, enduring, and not created solely for deceitful purposes. This requirement ensures that people do not enter into a civil partnership merely to circumvent UK immigration rules. There are several ways to prove that your civil partnership is genuine and subsisting, which typically involve presenting a variety of proof and evidence collected throughout your relationship with your civil partner.

Proving the Genuine Nature of Your Relationship

To qualify for a Civil Partnership visa, you must provide evidence to the Home Office that your civil partnership is genuine and subsisting. You can achieve this by submitting various documents in support of your visa application, which may include, but are not limited to:

• Proof of cohabitation, such as shared utility bills or a tenancy agreement;
• Evidence of shared financial responsibilities, like joint bank accounts or utility bills;
• Documentation showing joint involvement in raising children, if applicable;
• Proof of visits to each other’s home countries;
• Informal evidence or correspondence, such as photographs, text messages, personal letters, or details of trips taken together;
• Additionally, you must also supply evidence that any previous relationships, like marriages or civil partnerships, have been permanently dissolved. This can be done by providing documentation of a divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership.

Intention to Reside Together Permanently in the UK

To qualify for a Civil Partner Visa, you will need to satisfy the Home Office that you and your civil partner intend to reside together permanently in the UK. At the initial application stage, both parties must demonstrate a commitment to living together permanently in the UK immediately following the outcome of the Civil Partner Visa application or as soon as circumstances permit thereafter. You will also be required to demonstrate the intention to went to live permanently in the UK at the time of your application for extension of your leave and subsequently at the time of your application for indefinite leave to remain.

When applying for further leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain as a civil partner, the Home Office expects periods spent outside the UK to be limited, justified, and consistent with an intention to reside together permanently in the UK. Acceptable reasons for time spent abroad may include work, holidays, training, or study.

If you or your civil partner spend the majority of your time overseas, the Home Office may question your intention to reside together permanently in the UK. They will consider the reasons for travel, duration of absence, and whether you and your civil partner travelled and lived together during the time spent outside the UK.

Any Previous Relationships Must Have Permanently Broken Down

The Home Office requires confirmation that neither you nor your civil partner are married to or in a civil partnership with another person at the time of your entry clearance application as a civil partner. If you or your civil partner have previously been married or in a civil partnership, you must provide evidence that the marriage or civil partnership has been legally dissolved.

If you or your civil partner were previously married or in a civil partnership that has not been legally dissolved, you may still qualify for an Unmarried Partner Visa. In this case, you must provide evidence that the new relationship is genuine and ongoing, and that the previous relationship has permanently dissolved.

What are the Financial Requirements for a Civil Partnership Visa?

To be eligible for a Civil Partnership visa, you and your civil partner must demonstrate a combined income of at least £29,000. The minimum income requirement can be met through:

• UK-based employment income before tax and National Insurance;
• Self-employment income or income as a director of a UK limited company;
• Cash savings above £16,000;
• Pension income;
• Non-work income, such as property rentals or dividends.

Exemptions may apply if your civil partner receives certain state benefits. To prove that you meet the financial requirements of a UK Civil Partner Visa application, you may need to provide documents such as:

• Bank statements showing income;
• Six months of payslips;
• A dated, headed letter from an employer confirming employment details and salary;
• Meeting the financial requirements is crucial for obtaining indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after five years. If initially unmet, eligibility may still be possible through a 10-year ILR route.

Accommodation Requirements for a Civil Partnership Visa

In addition to financial requirements, you must also demonstrate that you have secured adequate accommodation in the UK. The accommodation must:

• Be owned or occupied exclusively by you and your family;
• Have been obtained without recourse to public funds;
• Comply with the overcrowding guidelines set by the UK government;
• Adhere to public health regulations;

To satisfy the accommodation requirement, you can submit:

• Proof of property ownership, such as a title deed or mortgage agreement;
• Proof of legal occupancy, such as a tenancy agreement;
• A letter from a friend or family member confirming that you will be staying with them, and that they will provide you with adequate accommodation for the entirety of your stay in the UK;

By addressing both the financial and accommodation requirements in a comprehensive manner, you increase the likelihood of a successful Civil Partnership visa application.

English Language Requirements for a Civil Partnership Visa

Demonstrating English language proficiency is a crucial aspect of eligibility for a UK Civil Partnership visa. However, you are exempt from proving your English language skills or taking an English language test if any of the following conditions apply:

• You are over 65 years of age;
• You come from a majority English-speaking country;
• You possess a degree or an academic qualification taught or researched in English. In this case, you must apply for a certificate from Ecctis to confirm that your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree or higher and that it was taught in English;
• You hold a degree or an academic qualification from a UK college or university;
• A physical or mental condition prevents you from meeting the language requirement.

If none of the above exemptions apply, you must take an approved English language test and pass at the A1 level or higher on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) for an initial UK Civil Partnership Visa application. Please note that the minimum language requirement increases after residing in the UK for 2.5 years. At this point, you must pass an approved English test at the A2 level or higher to extend your visa and continue living in the UK. However, if you initially pass the test at the A2 level or higher, you can use the same test result when extending your visa, provided the test provider has not withdrawn the result.

How to Apply for a UK Civil Partnership Visa?

To apply for a Civil Partnership visa, you must complete the online application form, provide all the necessary supporting documents and address any complications with your application in a letter of representations. You must ensure that the application form is correctly completed, has all the necessary details regarding your circumstances and that all the supporting documents have been uploaded onto the application portal prior to your enrolment of your biometrics.

You can only travel to the UK once your application for a UK Civil Partner Visa has been approved and you have been granted UK Civil Partner visa.

You will not be able to submit any further documents in support of your application after you have submitted them via the online application portal. Therefore, it is very important to carefully consider the documents you need tom provide in support of your application to avoid the possibility of your application being refused.

UK Civil Partner Visa Supporting Documents

One of the main reasons for Civil Partner Visa applications being rejected is the lack of sufficient supporting documents. The Immigration Rules have strict requirements regarding the necessary documents for a UK Civil Partner Visa application, which may vary for each case. It is essential to seek advice from an immigration lawyer to ensure that the documents listed are suitable for individual circumstances.

Failure to provide a required document in the correct format or with complete information may lead to a visa application being refused. Appeals can take many months to conclude, can be extremely costly and outcomes of appeals may be uncertain. Submitting a fresh application can also prove time-consuming, costly and without any guarantees that it will be successful.

UK Civil Partner Visa Application Fee

The current application fee for a UK Civil Partner Visa submitted outside the UK is £1,523, while the fee to switch or extend within the UK is £1,033.

UK Civil Partner Visa Processing & Decision Waiting Times

For applications submitted outside the UK, the Home Office’s standard service takes 12 weeks (3 months). However, recent updates indicate a processing time of 60 working days for standard family visa applications, including Civil Partner Visas. Applications to switch to the UK Civil Partner Visa or extend a UK Civil Partner Visa from  within the UK should be decided within 8 weeks. The Super Priority Service is unavailable for new Civil Partner Visa applications outside the UK. However, existing applicants can upgrade to a 15 full working days/3 weeks Priority Service. The Home Office plans to reintroduce the Priority Visa service for overseas applications in early 2023.

Duration of a UK Civil Partner Visa

A successful UK Civil Partner Visa will result in the grant of an initial period of 33 months of leave (if you apply from outside the UK). If you apply for a UK Civil Partner Visa from inside the UK, you will be granted 30 months of leave to remain. Before your initial leave expires, you must apply to extend your UK Civil Partner Visa. After completing five years of residence in the UK under the Civil Partner Visa category, you will be eligible for indefinite leave to remain.

Switching Into the Civil Partner Visa Route From Within the UK

You are permitted to switch to the Civil Partner Visa category from within the UK provided you satisfy the eligibility of the UK Civil Partner Visa. To do so, you must have valid leave to remain in the UK at the time of your application for a UK Civil Partner Visa.

If you are on a visitor’s visa and you wish to switch to the Civil Partner Visa category, you will be expected to leave the UK and apply from abroad.  If you are in the UK with leave granted pending the outcome of Family Court proceedings, you may be permitted to apply for a UK Civil Partner Visa from inside the UK if you can demonstrate that you have exceptional reasons for doing so.

Working in the UK on a Civil Partner Visa

Civil Partner Visa holders have the full right to work in the UK without any restrictions.

Indefinite Leave to Remain as a Civil Partner

If your Civil Partner Visa application is successful, you will be granted leave for an initial period of 30 months, with an additional 3 months if applying from abroad. Before your leave expires, you must apply for an extension of your Civil Partner Visa. If your civil partner extension application is successful, you will be granted leave for a further 30 months.

After completing five years (60 months) in the UK under the Civil Partner Visa route, you may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain. To qualify for indefinite leave to remain as a civil partner, you must demonstrate the following, in addition to the previously mentioned requirements:

• Since being granted your initial period of leave in the Civil Partner Visa category, you have lived together with your civil partner in the UK, or there is a valid reason consistent with a continuing intention to live together permanently in the UK for any period when you have not done so.
• You meet the higher CEFR Level B1 English Language requirement applicable to settlement applications.
• You have passed the Life in the UK test (unless exempt).

If you apply for indefinite leave to remain as a civil partner and do not satisfy the above requirements, UK Visas and Immigration will consider whether you meet the requirements for a further extension of stay as a civil partner.

How Can Our Immigration Lawyers Help You?

Our team of specialist immigration lawyers can assist you in relation to your civil partner visa application through expert legal advice, guidance, and representation on a fixed fee basis. Our fixed fee covers all the work in relation to your civil partner visa application from initial instructions until a decision is reached on your application by the Home Office. If instructed, your case will be handled by a specialist immigration lawyer whose work will entail the following:

• Taking detailed instructions to find out all relevant facts;
• Advising you on the eligibility requirements of your application;
• Advising you on the suitability requirements of your application;
• Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of your case in light of your personal circumstances;
• Where necessary, advising you on the weakness if your case and the steps you may be able to take to mitigate those weaknesses;
• Presenting you with a comprehensive list of documents to provide in support of your application;
• Reviewing your documents to ensure they are in line with the requirements of the immigration rules in relation to your application and they are in the right format;
• Advising you on further documents to be provided where necessary following review of collated documents;
• Drafting your application form and presenting you with draft application for your consideration;
• Advising on the application form details and making amendments where necessary or requested by you;
• Drafting detailed letter of representations, demonstrating that all legal requirements relating to your application have been satisfied;
• Drafting witness statements for you and other relevant witnesses where necessary;
• Where possible, taking necessary steps to submit your application via Priority service to ensure faster processing time;
• Uploading all the necessary documents in support of your application onto the Home Office application portal;
• Arranging an appointment for you to enrol your biometrics as part of your application process;
• Liaising with the Home Office, where there has been a request for further information or documents;

Why Choose Our Specialist Immigration Lawyers For Civil Partner Visa Application?

Our expert immigration lawyers have a wealth of experience in handling all types of immigration applications and have successfully assisted many applicants with their spouse visa applications. Below is a summary of reasons why we are different and are the right fit for you:

High Quality Advice and Representations

Our team of specialist immigration lawyers handle each case with great care and attention to detail from outset to its conclusion. Our expert immigration lawyers will ensure that your case if progressed in a timely manner and that you receive the highest quality legal advice and representation throughout the life of your retainer. The quality of service provided by our team of specialist immigration lawyers are self-evident from our Google review.

Remote Legal Services

Our team of specialist immigration lawyers can provide you with excellent advice, guidance and legal representations remotely using modern means of communication. Whilst our expert immigration lawyer can meet you face to face in our offices at the heart of London, where a face-to-face meeting is not possible or convenient, our lawyers can represent you remotely without the need for you to attend our offices. Our expert immigration lawyers have successfully represented clients remotely from all four continents without their needing to attend our offices for a face-to-face meeting and can also represent you remotely if necessary.

Specialist Advice and Representation

If instructed, your matter will be assigned to a lawyer with specialist knowledge of immigration law who will handle your matter from initial instructions to its conclusion, and where necessary – such as in complex matters – your immigration lawyer will be assisted by other immigration lawyers to ensure the best possible legal advice and representation.

Fast Track Visa Processing Service

The Home Office (UKVI) provide a faster processing of application via its Priority Service application which enables you to get a decision on your (in-country) application within 24 hours of enrolling your fingerprints or within 5 days of enrolling your biometrics for out of country applications. Our specialist immigration lawyers can take all steps to submit your application via Priority service so that you can get a decision on your application in the shortest time possible.

Fixed Fees With Payment Plan

To help you with certainty regarding the costs of your legal representation, we provide services for a reasonable and affordable fixed fee. To further help our clients manage the costs associated with their application, we can offer an instalment plan so that you can pay your fixed fees in instalments. Please do note, however, that all instalments must be completed before you enrol your biometrics.