If you are in a long term partnership (with a British citizen or person with indefinite leave to remain) you can apply for an Unmarried Partner Visa from outside the UK or inside the UK if you already have a visa on another route.
To apply for an unmarried partner visa, you must be:
- Both of you are over 18 years of age;
- Your partner is British or has ILR;
- You have a genuine relationship akin to marriage/civil partnership for a minimum of 2yrs;
- You intend to live together permanently;
- Any previous relationships have permanently ended;
- You have adequate accommodation for you and any dependents;
- You must be maintained in the UK without reliance public funds;
- You speak and understand English to the required level;
The precise requirements vary according to your circumstances. It is always advisable to seek expert legal advice.
UK Unmarried Partner Visa Financial requirements
To demonstrate that you can be adequately maintained without recourse to public funds, the financial requirement must be met. Your partner need to demonstrate a gross annual income of no less than:
- £18,600; and
- £3,800 for a first child (who is not British, settled or an EEA national); and
- £2,400 for each additional child (who is not British, settled or an EEA national).
Meeting the financial requirement:
You can satisfy the financial requirement through a combination of:
- Salaried/non-salaried income;
- Self-employed income;
- Salary and/or dividends as a company director;
- Property rental income;
- Dividends and income from investments;
- Stocks, shares, bonds or trust funds;
- Pension income, insurance payments;
- Maintenance payments;
Cash savings above £16,000 held for at least six months, or less if you can show the money came from a sale of assets or investments.
The financial requirements under the Immigration Rules are complex. UKVI require specific types of documentary evidence to demonstrate you comply and that you have access to relevant funds.