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No more confusion or wasted time. Tell us about your case, and we’ll provide an expert-backed, realistic plan to secure your UK visa.
The UK offers several family visas, including the Civil Partnership Visa, which allows foreign nationals to join or stay in the UK with their civil partners, usually British citizens or permanent residents.
Both same-sex and opposite-sex couples are eligible to form civil partnerships, which are legally recognised as relationships similar to marriage.
You can stay in the UK for an initial two years and nine months with a civil partnership visa, and then for another two years and six months with an extension.
The Key Facts You Can’t Afford to Miss
Civil Partnership Visa Benefits
A Civil Partnership Visa allows you to legally live with your partner in the UK, granting full rights to work and study. It provides a clear path to indefinite leave to remain after five years, securing your shared future. You also gain access to the NHS.
Eligibility & Application Routes
Applicants for a UK Civil Partnership Visa must meet specific eligibility criteria, including being in a legally recognised civil partnership. Other routes, such as the Proposed Civil Partner Visa for those planning to register in the UK or the Family Visa for de facto partners, are also available. We’ll guide you through the right option.
Civil Partnership Visa Approval
Applicants for a Civil Partnership Visa must be over 18, with the UK partner being a citizen or settled. You need to prove a genuine relationship with a valid certificate. Key requirements also include meeting the £29,000 financial threshold, sufficient accommodation, and English language proficiency.
Documentation & Processing Time
A successful visa application requires a valid passport, proof of a genuine relationship, and evidence of meeting financial and language requirements. You must also provide past passport copies, application history, and certified document translations. Standard processing takes up to 24 weeks, with an optional Super Priority service for a quicker decision.
The Immigration Health Surcharge is a mandatory fee for your Civil Partnership Visa UK, granting full access to the NHS. It costs £1,035 per year, with the total paid upfront. For a 2.5-year visa, this is £2,587.50. The fee is fully refunded if your application is refused.
The Immigration Health Surcharge is a mandatory fee for the Unmarried Partner Visa, giving you access to the NHS. The cost is £1,035 a year, paid upfront. For a five-year route to settlement, this totals £5,175
When applying for a Spouse Visa, you must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge to cover your healthcare costs while in the UK. Since February 2024, the surcharge has been £1,035 per year, following a 86% increase. For in-country application, it will be for 30 months and out-country application, it will be for 33 months.
The Marriage Visitor Visa allows for a single stay of up to 6 months. This visa cannot be extended, and you must leave the UK at the end of this period.
The Civil Partnership Visa UK grants an initial stay of 2.5 years (or 33 months for out-of-country applications), with the option to extend for another 2.5 years. This puts you on a clear path to indefinite leave to remain after five years, securing your long-term future.
This visa allows you to get married or register a civil partnership, but you cannot work, study, or live in the UK. You must use this visa solely to visit and get married.
Once your Civil Partnership Visa is approved, you are granted the full right to live, work, and study in the UK. You can register with the NHS and access public services. The visa does not, however, grant you the right to claim public funds (benefits).
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From Consultation to Visa Approval
Our immigration specialists streamline your application process by clearly identifying which evidence and strategies will strengthen your case.
By aligning your unique circumstances with Home Office requirements, we help you focus on high-impact preparations while addressing any potential weaknesses in your application.
From Consultation to Visa Approval
Our immigration specialists streamline your application process by clearly identifying which evidence and strategies will strengthen your case.
By aligning your unique circumstances with Home Office requirements, we help you focus on high-impact preparations while addressing any potential weaknesses in your application.
Maximising Your Approval Chances
Our goal is to maximise the chances of your visa being approved the first time. By carefully reviewing your circumstances, identifying potential weaknesses, and preparing strong supporting evidence, we significantly reduce the risk of refusals. Every application is checked by senior immigration solicitors who apply their expertise to make your case as clear, accurate, and persuasive as possible. This attention to detail is what improves success rates and helps our clients move forward with confidence.
Success Rate Optimisation
We carefully analyse every detail of your application to maximise the chances of approval. By addressing weaknesses, strengthening supporting evidence, and ensuring full compliance with Home Office rules, we optimise your case for success. This thorough approach significantly improves approval rates and gives you confidence throughout the process.
Risk Mitigation Strategies
We identify potential risks in your application early and put safeguards in place to address them. By preparing strong evidence, clarifying complex points, and anticipating Home Office concerns, we minimise the chance of delays or refusals.
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Evidence-based case preparation
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Home Office compliance checks
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Success rate optimisation
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Risk mitigation strategies
From Consultation to Visa Approval
Our immigration specialists streamline your application process by clearly identifying which evidence and strategies will strengthen your case.
By aligning your unique circumstances with Home Office requirements, we help you focus on high-impact preparations while addressing any potential weaknesses in your application.
Maximising Your Approval Chances
Our goal is to maximise the chances of your visa being approved the first time. By carefully reviewing your circumstances, identifying potential weaknesses, and preparing strong supporting evidence, we significantly reduce the risk of refusals. Every application is checked by senior immigration solicitors who apply their expertise to make your case as clear, accurate, and persuasive as possible. This attention to detail is what improves success rates and helps our clients move forward with confidence.
Success Rate Optimisation
We carefully analyse every detail of your application to maximise the chances of approval. By addressing weaknesses, strengthening supporting evidence, and ensuring full compliance with Home Office rules, we optimise your case for success. This thorough approach significantly improves approval rates and gives you confidence throughout the process.
Risk Mitigation Strategies
We identify potential risks in your application early and put safeguards in place to address them. By preparing strong evidence, clarifying complex points, and anticipating Home Office concerns, we minimise the chance of delays or refusals.
Work With Trusted, SRA-Regulated UK Immigration Experts
Your immigration journey is too important to risk on unqualified or unregulated help. Every case we handle is prepared by SRA-regulated solicitors who apply structured legal reasoning, precise documentation checks and full compliance with Home Office and UKVI rules.
Our accreditations are your assurance that you are working with a reputable, experienced and highly trained legal team. We combine decades of immigration expertise with strict professional standards to give you clarity, confidence and complete peace of mind — no matter which visa or application route you are pursuing.
UK Civil Partnership Visa Requirements
If you want to apply for a civil partner visa, you need to make sure you meet all of the requirements. So, your civil partner should:
- Be a British citizen or an Irish citizen
- Be settled in the UK with indefinite leave to remain, EU Settlement Scheme status, or permanent residency
- Be eligible for pre-settlement status under the EU Settlement Scheme(if they began residing in the UK before 1 January 2021).
- Have a Turkish businessperson visa or a Turkish worker visa.
- Possess refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK.
Furthermore, you must meet the following requirements:
- You are in a legally recognised civil partnership in the UK.
- Both you and your civil partner are over the age of 18.
- Your relationship must be real and long-lasting.
- All prior partnerships must have ended permanently.
- You must have enough accommodation in the UK and want to live with your civil partner permanently.
- You must fulfil the minimum financial requirements.
- Also, you must meet the minimum English language requirement.
- Pass the Life in the UK test.
Relationship Requirement
The most critical aspect of fulfilling the relationship criteria for this visa is providing evidence that you are in a legitimate, legally binding civil partnership.
To do this, you can show proof of a civil partnership certificate that is valid in the UK.
On the other hand, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) must verify the authenticity and continuation of your relationship. This indicates that your relationship with your civil partner must be honest and long-lasting, rather than for deceptive reasons.
This prevents people from using civil partnerships to bypass UK immigration laws.
You can show that your civil partnership is real and active in several ways, the majority of which require you to present various pieces of evidence derived from your relationship history.
How to Show Your Relationship Is Real?
The Home Office UK and UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) require proof of a valid and ongoing civil partnership before granting a civil partnership visa.
You can accomplish this by including various documents with your visa application; they may include:
- Documents showing cohabitation (e.g., joint tenancy or shared utility bills)
- Proof of shared finances (like joint accounts or bills in both names)
- Evidence of joint parenting, if applicable
- Records of visits to each other’s countries
- Photographs, messages, letters, and travel history as informal proof of your relationship
Past relationships, including marriages and civil unions, must also have ended completely. You can do this by giving evidence of a divorce or dissolution of a civil relationship.
Do you know?
The UK Home Office closely investigates suspected “sham marriages” and civil partnerships, those entered into only for immigration benefits. They work with registrars or entry clearance officers to carefully review any applications that seem suspicious.
Factors Considered by the Home Office When Deciding Whether a Relationship Is Genuine and Subsisting
There are a number of factors that the Home Office uses to determine if a connection is genuine and subsisting.
Relationship duration: A long-standing and stable partnership often reflects the authenticity of the relationship.
Living together: Proof of cohabitation, either now or in the past, plays a key role in showing commitment.
Joint finances: Having shared financial responsibilities, like joint accounts, utility bills, or property, can strongly support your case.
Children involved: If you have children together, demonstrating shared parenting duties can be a major factor.
Family visits: Visiting each other’s families or home countries shows deeper involvement in each other’s lives.
Plans: Clear intentions to live together in the UK, backed by evidence, highlight your long-term commitment.
Financial Requirements for Civil Partnership Visa
You must meet a minimum income threshold to prove you can support your partner without relying on public funds.
- Minimum income required: £29,000/year (no extra for dependent children).
- If applied before 11 April 2024, the threshold is £18,600/year.
- Add £3,800/year for the first dependent child.
- Add £2,400/year for each additional child.
- Maximum income cap: £29,000/year, even with multiple children.
- No added income needed if the child is:
- A British/Irish citizen
- Holds ILR, settled, or pre-settled status
Acceptable Income Sources
- UK employment income (before tax and NI)
- UK self-employment or director’s income
- Savings over £16,000 (held for 6+ months)
- Pension income
- Rental income, dividends, or other non-work income
You may be exempt if your partner receives certain state benefits.
How Can You Prove that You Meet the Financial Requirements?
You might have to submit a variety of evidence to establish that you fulfil the minimal financial requirements.
These can include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Bank statements reflecting the income of either you or your civil partner
- Payslips covering the most recent six months
- An official employer letter (on company letterhead and dated) confirming:
- Employment status of you or your civil partner
- Job title or role held
- Length of time employed with the company
- Type of employment contract (e.g., permanent, temporary, fixed-term)
- Gross annual salary (before tax and National Insurance)
- Duration at the current pay rate
- Verification that the payslips provided are accurate and authentic
To be eligible for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after 5 years, you need to show that you meet the financial conditions.
However, if you are unable to meet the financial requirements when you first apply for your Civil Partnership visa, you may still be eligible if you are placed on a 10-year path to ILR rather than the standard five-year path.
Do you know?
Screenshots of regular video calls, chat logs, and emails can paint a powerful picture of an ongoing, committed relationship, especially if you’ve been in a long-distance civil partnership.
Accommodation Requirements
When you apply for a Civil Partnership visa, you have to show the Home Office UK that you will have a place to stay in the UK that meets the requirements.
This is to make sure that you won’t need to apply for any kind of government assistance while you’re in the UK.
For your Civil Partnership visa to be accepted, the UK accommodation you intend to stay at must:
- Exclusively owned or occupied by you and your family
- Have been obtained without public funds
- Avoid exceeding the overcrowding guidelines.
- Avoid public health violations
To meet this criterion, you need to submit:
- Property ownership proof, such as a title deed or mortgage agreement, between you and your civil partner.
- Evidence proving you and your civil partner have legal residence in a property, such as through a tenancy agreement.
- A letter from a relative or friend stating that they will be hosting you and providing you with sufficient housing during your whole stay in the UK.
English Language Requirements
You must prove basic English skills (A1 level CEFR) for your initial visa.
Exemptions apply if you:
- Are over 65
- Are from a majority English-speaking country
- Hold a UK degree or a recognised English-taught qualification (with ECCITS confirmation)
- Have a medical condition preventing compliance
To extend your visa after 2.5 years, you must pass an A2-level test. If you pass A2 or higher in your first test, you can reuse it at extension (if still valid).
Pro Tip:
If you’re not exempt, take an IELTS Life Skills A1 or other Home Office-approved test. Choosing the wrong test will void your application.
Supporting Documents Checklists
When applying for a Civil Partnership visa, you must include the following documents:
- Your valid passport or travel ID
- Copies of photo pages and visa stamps from previous passports
- Details of past immigration applications and any criminal convictions
- Your parents’ birthdates and nationalities
- TB test results (if required based on your country)
- Evidence that your relationship is genuine and ongoing
- Proof you meet financial and language requirements (or exemption)
- Certified translations for any non-English or non-Welsh documents
Civil Partnership Visa Fees
Fee Type | Cost |
Civil Partnership Visa (Inside UK) | £1,321 |
Civil Partnership Visa (Outside UK) | £1,938 |
Immigration Health Surcharge (Adults) | £1,035 per year |
Immigration Health Surcharge (Under 18) | £776 per year |
Civil Partnership Visa Processing Time
Processing Type | Estimated Time | Notes |
Standard Processing | Up to 24 weeks | It may take longer in complex cases or if additional information is needed. |
Super Priority Processing | Within one to two working days | Available at extra cost; ideal for urgent applications. |
Civil Partnership Visa vs Spouse Visa vs Fiancé Visa
Feature | Civil Partner Visa | Spouse Visa | Fiancé(e) Visa | Unmarried Partner Visa |
Relationship Type | Registered civil partnership | Legally married partner | Engaged to marry within 6 months | Long-term relationship (2+ years, unmarried) |
Application Location | Inside or outside the UK | Inside or outside the UK | Outside the UK only | Inside or outside the UK |
Stay Duration | 30 months (inside UK); 33 months (outside); then renewable for 30 months up to ILR | 30 months (inside); 33 months (outside); extendable by 30-month blocks to reach 5 years, then eligible for ILR | 6 months (non-extendable) | 30 months (inside) or 33 months (outside), renewable until 5 years for ILR |
Can Work in the UK? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Path to ILR (Settlement) | After five years (on a civil partner or spouse visa route) | After five years continuous leave as a partner/spouse | Must switch to spouse/civil partner visa after marriage for ILR eligibility | After five years continuous leave as a partner |
Language Requirement | CEFR A1 level minimum | CEFR A1 for entry; CEFR B1 required for ILR | CEFR A1 level | CEFR A1 for entry; B1 for ILR |
Switching Inside the UK? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Impact of 2025 Immigration Changes
The UK’s 2025 immigration reforms are set to bring key changes to civil partnership visas. Applicants may face higher English language requirements, a longer wait for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), and tighter settlement rules.
These updates follow the government’s “Restoring Control Over the Immigration System” white paper, which focuses on reducing net migration and prioritising high-skilled individuals in future visa pathways.
UK Civil Partnership Visa FAQs
Yes. It is possible to study or work in the UK with a Civil Partnership Visa once your visa is approved.
Couples are required to begin the registration process all over again if a civil partnership is not registered within the allotted six months following notice.
Yes, you can apply for a Civil Partnership Visa from inside the UK by paying £132.
In the UK, a civil partnership divorce typically takes six to seven months, including the settlement process. This timeframe covers the required 20-week reflection period following the first application, as well as an additional six weeks and 1 day before the final decree (dissolution) is obtained.
If a previous marriage has not been formally ended, engaging in a new marriage constitutes bigamy, which is a crime in many jurisdictions with substantial legal and personal ramifications.
Yes, this visa allows you to bring dependents with you. Your partner and any qualifying children may apply to become your “dependants” in the UK.
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