What kind of proof of relationship is required for a partner visa?

If you are applying for a UK partner visa, you will need to provide proof of your relationship with your partner.

To apply for a partner visa in the UK, you must demonstrate that your relationship is genuine and subsisting, and that you meet all the eligibility criteria. There are several types of proof that you can submit to support your partner visa application.

Certificate

One type of proof of a genuine and subsisting relationship is a marriage/civil partnership certificate. You will need to provide a copy of your certificate as part of your visa application. This certificate must be an official document (i.e. it cannot be a religious confirmation, for example) issued by a government authority in the country where the ceremony took place.

Proof of cohabitation

Another type of proof is evidence of cohabitation. If you are not married/in a civil partnership but have been living together for at least two years, you will need to provide evidence of this. There is a large number of documents which you can submit to show cohabitation, such as tenancy agreements, bank statements, utility bills, council tax bills and HMRC documents. They should be spread over the entire 2 years. It is a good idea to submit a number of recent cohabitation documents even if you are married/in a civil partnership.

Other eligibility requirements

There is, of course, a number of other requirements all applicants have to meet including financial and English language requirements. Partner visas are document-heavy, so it is important to understand which documents are required and the format they should be submitted in.

How Gherson can assist

Gherson’s Immigration Team are highly experienced in advising on UK visa matters. If you have any questions arising from this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

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