Civil Partner Visa UK

The Civil Partnership visa allows those in civil partnerships with British citizens or residents to come and join them in the UK. You can apply for civil partner visa under 5 years route if you are a civil partner of a British Citizen/settled person and you meet all the civil partner visa requirements as set outin Appndix FM of the Immigration Rules. Civil partner visa is also known as settlement visa or Appendix FM Partner visa. UK civil partner visa is initially granted for 2.5 years (30 months) and a further extension is granted for another 2.5 years (30 months). You can apply for ILR as a civil partner under 5 years route upon completion of 5 years on civil partner visa.

Specialist Civil Partner Visa Solicitors

To succeed in a civil partner visa, the applicant must meet the requirements as set out in Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. Civil partner visa is also known as settlement visa or Appendix FM Partner visa. As a result of an application for entry clearance for civil partner visa, the applicant is granted initial leave for a period of 33 months. In case of an in-country application for switching into civil partner visa, the applicant is granted an initial leave for 2.5 years (30 months) and a further extension  is granted for another 2.5 years (30 months). You can apply for ILR as an civil partner under 5 years route upon completion of 5 years on civil partner visa.

What Services We Offer

Eligibility Requirements for Civil Partner Visa UK

To qualify for a UK Civil Partner Visa, the applicant and the sponsor must not be within a prohibited degree of relationship as prescribed in the Marriage Act 1949, the Marriage (Prohibited Degrees of Relationship) Act 1986, and the Civil Partnership Act 2004.

A civil partnership will not be recognised where the parties are related as:

• Former adoptive parent
• Grandparent
• Sibling
• Adoptive child
• Parent’s sibling
• Grandchild
• Sibling’s child
• Child
• Adoptive parent
• Former adoptive child
• Parent

For the purposes of the above, “sibling” includes a brother, sister, half-brother, or half-sister.

A civil partnership between any of the following parties will not qualify unless both are aged 21 years or over and the younger party has not, before the age of 18, been a child of the family in relation to the other party:

• Former spouse of a grandparent
• Child of a former civil partner
• Grandchild of a former civil partner
• Former civil partner of a parent
• Former spouse of a parent
• Grandchild of a former spouse
• Former civil partner of a grandparent
• Child of a former spouse

Financial Requirement of Civil Partner Visa

• Minimum Income Threshold – The applicant and sponsor must demonstrate a gross annual income of at least £29,000. There is no additional income requirement for dependent children.
• Transitional Provisions: Where the initial application was submitted before 11 April 2024 and the applicant is switching from a fiancé(e) visa or renewing existing leave, the applicable minimum income threshold is £18,600. In such cases:
  • An additional £3,800 per year is required for the first dependent child.
  • An additional £2,400 per year is required for each subsequent dependent child.
  • Where the total calculated requirement exceeds £29,000, the maximum requirement is capped at £29,000.
• Exemptions for Children: No additional income is required for a child who is a British or Irish citizen, holds indefinite leave to remain, or has settled or pre-settled status.
• Permitted Sources of Income: The minimum income requirement may be met through one or more of the following:
  • UK-based employment income before tax and National Insurance deductions.
  • Income from self-employment or as a director of a UK-registered limited company.
  • Cash savings of at least £16,000, held by the applicant and/or sponsor for a minimum of six months and under their control.
  • Income from a pension.
  • Non-employment income, including rental income or dividends.
• Exemption from Financial Requirement: The financial requirement does not apply where the sponsor receives specified benefits or allowances, as set out in Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules.

How To Satisfy Home Office on Financial Requirement?

An applicant must provide documentary evidence to demonstrate compliance with the minimum financial requirement. Acceptable evidence may include, but is not limited to:

• Bank Statements – Showing the income of the applicant or sponsor.
• Payslips – Six months of consecutive payslips.
• Employer’s Letter – A letter issued on the employer’s headed paper, dated, and confirming:
• • That the applicant or sponsor is employed by the organisation.
  • The job title or position held.
  • The duration of employment.
  • The nature of the contract (e.g., permanent, fixed term).
  • Gross annual salary before tax and National Insurance deductions.
  • The period for which the current salary has been paid.
  • Confirmation of the authenticity of the payslips.

Meeting the financial requirement is mandatory to qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain after a continuous period of five years. Where the requirement is not met at the initial application stage, the applicant may still be granted leave under the 10-year route to settlement, subject to meeting the relevant criteria under Appendix FM.

English Language Requirements for Civil Partner Visa UK

Unless exempt, an applicant must satisfy the Secretary of State that they meet the English language requirement for a Civil Partner Visa.

• Initial Application – For entry clearance or switching into the Civil Partner Visa route, the applicant must demonstrate competence in English to at least CEFR level A1.
• Further Leave to Remain – For an extension as a civil partner, the applicant must demonstrate competence in English to at least CEFR level A2.

The requirement may be met by:

• Holding nationality of a majority English-speaking country as defined by the Immigration Rules.
• Passing an approved English language test at or above the required CEFR level with an approved provider listed on the “Approved Secure English Language Tests and Test Centres” list.
• Holding an academic qualification equivalent to or higher than a UK Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD:
  • If awarded in the UK, it is accepted automatically.
  • If awarded outside the UK, it must be confirmed by Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) as meeting or exceeding the UK standard, and verified by Ecctis as taught or researched in English at or above the required CEFR level.

Exemptions

• Is aged 65 or over on the date of application.
• Has a physical or mental disability preventing compliance with the requirement.
• Can demonstrate exceptional circumstances that make it impossible to meet the requirement before entry to the UK.

Failure to meet the English language requirement, or to qualify for an exemption, will result in refusal of the Civil Partner Visa application.

Accomodation Requirements

The applicant must demonstrate to the Secretary of State that adequate accommodation will be available in the United Kingdom, in accordance with the Immigration Rules, without recourse to public funds.

Accommodation must:

• Be owned or occupied exclusively by the applicant, the sponsor, and any dependants.
• Have been secured without the use of public funds.
• Comply with statutory overcrowding standards.
• Not breaching public health regulations.

Evidence to satisfy this requirement may include:

• Official documents proving sole ownership or mortgage of the property, such as a title deed or mortgage statement.
• A tenancy agreement showing legal right of occupancy.
• A signed and dated letter from a third party confirming that the applicant and sponsor will reside at the property and that it meets the adequacy requirements for the full duration of the applicant’s leave.

How to Apply?

The application for a UK Civil Partner Visa must be submitted online. Entry clearance will only be granted upon approval of the application, and the application must be made prior to travel to the United Kingdom.

The applicant must:

• Complete the prescribed online application form in full and with accurate information.
• Upload all required supporting documents in accordance with the Immigration Rules and evidential requirements.
• Pay the relevant application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge at the time of submission.

Following submission, the applicant may be required to attend a visa application centre to provide biometric information, including fingerprints and a digital photograph, as part of the application process. Failure to comply with any procedural requirement may result in refusal of the application.

Documents Required

An application for a Civil Partner Visa must be accompanied by the following documents and information:

• Current passport or other valid travel document.
• Copies of the passport photo page and all visa or entry stamp pages from previous passports.
• Details of any prior immigration applications made by the applicant.
• Details of any criminal convictions.
• Dates of birth and nationalities of the applicant’s parents.
• Tuberculosis test results, where required by the Immigration Rules.
• Evidence that the relationship between the applicant and the sponsor is genuine and subsisting.
• Evidence that the financial requirement is met.
• Evidence that the English language requirement is met, or proof of exemption.

Any document not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a certified translation.

Visa Application Fee

Keep in mind that the applicants has to pay health surcharge as well that is £1035 yearly for adults. For child under 18, the health surcharge is £776.

Application Proccess Time

The standard Home Office processing time for a Civil Partner Visa application submitted outside the United Kingdom is 24 weeks. Applications submitted under the Priority Service are normally decided within 30 working days. The Super Priority Service is not available for applications made outside the United Kingdom.

Benefits of Successful Civil Partner Visa Application

Upon a grant of leave, the applicant will be issued with an eVisa, constituting the official online record of their immigration status. The decision notice, whether by email or letter, will contain instructions for accessing the eVisa, which requires the creation of a UKVI account.

Where a biometric residence permit (BRP) has been authorised as part of the application, the applicant must follow the prescribed process to obtain it.

Conditions of Leave:

• The holder is permitted to work in the United Kingdom.
• The holder is permitted to undertake studies in the United Kingdom.
• The holder is prohibited from accessing public funds, including most benefits, for themselves or any dependants, unless expressly authorised under the Immigration Rules.
• The holder may not apply for settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) until they satisfy the applicable eligibility requirements under the Immigration Rules.

What if Civil Partner Visa got Refused?

A refusal of a UK Civil Partner Visa application carries a right of appeal, as such applications are treated as human rights claims under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Appeals are heard before the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) in the United Kingdom. Where the appellant is in the UK, both the appellant and the sponsor may attend the hearing and give oral evidence before the Tribunal. Where the appellant is outside the UK, the sponsor may attend the hearing, and the appellant may submit a written statement and documentary evidence for consideration. In appropriate cases, arrangements may be made for the appellant to give oral evidence remotely. Immigration appeal proceedings are subject to significant timescales and the outcome is dependent on the Tribunal’s assessment of the evidence and applicable law.

Civil Partner Visa (5 Years Route)

An applicant may apply for a Civil Partner Visa under the 5-year route where they are the civil partner of a British citizen or a person settled in the United Kingdom and meet all the requirements set out in Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. This visa category is also referred to as a settlement visa or Appendix FM Partner visa. Leave to remain under this route is granted for an initial period of 33 months, with a further extension of 30 months. Upon completing a continuous period of five years as a civil partner under this route, the applicant may apply for ILR.

Civil Partner Visa (10 years Route)

An applicant may apply for a UK Civil Partner Visa under the 10-year route if they do not meet all requirements for the 5-year route. This route generally applies where the immigration status, English language, or financial requirement is not met. Applications for leave to remain under the 10-year route must be made online using form FLR(FP).

Proposed Civil Partner

An applicant may apply for a Proposed Civil Partner Visa to join a British citizen or settled person in the UK. This visa allows entry for six months to register a civil partnership with the UK sponsor within the permitted period. After registering the civil partnership, the applicant may switch to a Civil Partner Visa from within the United Kingdom.

How can Sunrise Solicitors Help?

Applying for a Civil Partner Visa can be complex due to strict eligibility requirements and extensive supporting documentation requirements. Sunrise Solicitors is a team of highly experienced immigration lawyers specialising in UK immigration law. We have assisted numerous clients in successfully obtaining Civil Partner Visas and overcoming application challenges.

We provide expert legal advice on meeting Civil Partner Visa requirements, preparing supporting documents, and challenging visa refusals through administrative review or appeal. Our expert team of solicitors guide you through every stage of the process to maximise your chances of a successful outcome.