Partner Visa

The Partner route visa is designed for unmarried partners of British citizens or individuals settled in the UK.

Partner Visa

The Partner route visa is designed for unmarried partners of British citizens or individuals settled in the UK. Successful applicants can eventually acquire indefinite leave to remain or settle in the UK after 5 years, unless exceptional circumstances apply.

Partner Visa Requirements

To qualify, you must demonstrate that:

  • Your partner meets one of the specified statuses (including British/settled).
  • Both of you are at least 18 years old.
  • Both of you have been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years.
  • Your relationship is genuine and ongoing.
  • Intention to cohabit permanently in the UK.
  • Completion of any previous relationship.
  • Financial sufficiency for both and any dependents.
  • Adequate accommodation available.
  • Meeting the English language requirement.

Sponsoring Partner’s Status

Your partner must be either:

  • A British or Irish citizen in the UK.
  • Holder of indefinite leave to remain, settled or pre-settled status, or permanent residence in the UK.
  • A Turkish Businessperson or Worker under Appendix ECAA.
  • A refugee or someone with humanitarian protection in the UK.

Minimum Age

Both partners must be over 18 at the time of application.

Status and Duration of Relationship

Evidence of a genuine and ongoing relationship and cohabitation of at least 2 years is essential.

Intention to Live Together

You must intend to live together permanently in the UK.

Previous Relationship

Proof of the end of any previous relationships is required.

Financial Requirement

You must meet the financial requirement, including having enough funds to support yourself and any dependent, without public funds. The minimum income requirement from 4th April 2025 is;

  • £29,000


The financial requirement can be met through several ways including, salaried and non-salaried employment, savings, income from a business, investments, stocks and shares. Alternative ways include demonstrating adequate maintenance through specified welfare benefits including Personal Independence Allowance and Carers Allowance.

Accommodation Requirement

Adequate accommodation without overcrowding or public health violations is required.

English Language Requirement

You must meet a specified level of English language proficiency unless exempt. This is currently CEFR Level A1 for initial entry clearance applications and CEFR Level A2 for extension applications.

Application Fee

The fee varies depending on whether you apply from inside or outside the UK.

Processing Time

Decision time can vary, with options for expedited processing in some cases.

Visa Duration

Initial grants are for 33 months (overseas) or 30 months (within the UK), with the possibility of extension.

Right to Work

Partner visa holders can work in the UK.

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)

Eligibility for ILR arises after 5 years on the Partner visa route. This is subject to several requirements including financial requirement, immigration status requirement, genuine relationship requirement, English language at CEFR Level B1, Knowledge of Life in the UK.

Switching to Partner Visa from Within the UK

Switching to a Partner visa is possible under certain conditions if you are already in the UK.

Exceptional Circumstances

If you do not meet the requirements of this route, you may still be able to apply for a visa or extend your permission to stay in the UK if:

  • you have a child in the UK who is a British or Irish citizen or has lived in the UK for 7 years and it would be unreasonable for them to leave the UK;
  • there would be very significant difficulties for you and your partner that could not be overcome if you lived together as a couple outside the UK;
  • refusing your application would breach your human rights.

Any application granted due to exceptional circumstances will place the successful applicant on the 10-year route to settlement. This means that because they do not meet to meet requirements such as the financial requirement, they will need to complete 10-year of continuous residence before being eligible to apply for settlement under this route.

How We Can Help

Our team specializes in Partner visa applications, offering expert advice and assistance tailored to individual circumstances. We focus on complex financial situations and exceptional circumstances and ensuring applications meet all requirements for a successful outcome. We provide clear, trustworthy advice as part of our professional services.

How we help

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Areas of focus

Partner & Family Visas

UK Family Visa allows you to bring family members (eligible foreign nationals) to join you in the UK for an extended period of 6 months or more. You can bring your spouse or partner, fiance or proposed civil partner, child, parent, or a relative to who you will provide long-term care.

Global Business Mobility Visas

The Global Business Mobility visa is an umbrella category of five different types of UK work visas. These visas are designed for employees of overseas companies to undertake specific types of work or assignments in the UK.

Short Term Visit Visas

Our lawyers act for schools, colleges and universities across the world. We understand your context and are able to advise on any legal and regulatory matters, as well as international projects.

Short Term Work Visas

The UK Temporary Worker Visa is a work visa that permits you to work in the UK temporarily. The time you can stay in the UK for a Temporary Worker Visa varies depending on the category you apply for and ranges from 6 months to 2 years.

EEA Nationals & Family

EEA nationals are required to obtain leave to enter or remain in order to visit or live in the UK. Unless a person is coming to the UK for a short visit, they will need to apply for a visa in advance of their arrival.

business Visas

Whether you wish to recruit a foreign worker, establish a UK branch of an overseas company or effect an intra-company transfer, our immigration barristers can assist. Our expertise covers immigration routes for individual investors and entrepreneurs, small and medium businesses, as well as multinational companies.

Global Talent Visas

Well versed in both the legal and technical languages of decentralized finance, our global team can support anyone wanting to navigate the fast-changing world of blockchain, cryptocurrency and digital assets.

Settlement in the UK

Often people want to come to the UK to settle in the UK, without a specific idea as to what they want to do when they are here. In fact, our clients regularly ask us, what is the quickest way to settle in the UK?

British Citizenship

With British citizenship you can apply for a British passport and you will be free of immigration control, allowing you to travel into and out of the UK freely without the need for a visa.

Student & Graduate Visas

The UK Graduate visa allows international students to remain in the UK after completing their studies for up to two years, or three for doctoral graduates.

Immigration appeals

If your UK visa or immigration application has been refused, our immigration appeal lawyers can advise you on the merits of appealing to the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), prepare your immigration appeal and represent you at your immigration appeal hearing.

Human Rights

Applications for leave to enter or remain in the UK can be made, in certain circumstances, on the basis that to require the individual to leave the UK or to not allow them entry into the UK would be a breach of the individual’s human rights.

Asylum & Protection

Applications for leave to enter or remain in the UK can be made, in certain circumstances, on the basis that to require the individual to leave the UK or to not allow them entry into the UK would be a breach of the individual’s human rights.

Hong Kong (BNO) Visa

The Hong Kong BN(O) route allows BN(O) status holders and certain family members to live, work and study in the UK. After 5 years, applicants will be able to apply for settlement, and after a further year, British citizenship, providing they meet the requirements.

Get in touch

Our website will give you a flavour of the advice we provide - if you would like to talk to us for more information, please contact our client services team who will be happy to assist.