• you’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK
• you’ve been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply
• you are a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner and will marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of arriving

You also need to prove you:

• have a good knowledge of English
• can financially support yourself and your dependants

If you do not meet these requirements you may still be able to apply for a visa or extend your permission to stay if:

you have a child in the UK who is a British 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 if you lived together as a couple outside the UK that could not be overcome it would breach your human rights to stop you coming to the UK or make you leave.

If you’re applying as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner

You must prove that:

• any previous marriages or civil partnerships have ended
• you plan to marry or become civil partners within 6 months of arriving in the UK

You will not be able to work during your engagement.

You can add children to your application as dependants if they are under 18, or were under 18 when you first applied and do not live an independent life. 

The earliest you can apply to settle in the UK (called ‘indefinite leave to remain’) is after you’ve lived in the country for 5 years continuously with permission to stay (‘leave to remain’) as a partner. You cannot count any permission to stay in the UK as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner.

The rules are different if you applied before 9 July 2012.

If you applied before 9 July 2012

You can only extend your family visa if all the following are true:

you were given permission to stay in the UK as a partner before 9 July 2012

you are not eligible to settle you have not been granted or refused another visa

You must also prove that:

you and your partner have enough money to adequately support and accommodate yourselves and any dependants without relying on public funds you have good knowledge of English.

you’re applying as a partner

you want to settle in the UK (get ‘indefinite leave to remain’) within 5 years
You must prove you have extra money if you have children who are not:

• British citizens
• EEA nationals permanently settled

You’ll need to earn an extra:

• £3,800 for your first child
• £2,400 for each child you have after your first child This is the called the ‘minimum income requirement’.

How you prove you have the money depends on how you got the income.

What counts as income

You and your partner can use:

• income from employment before tax and National Insurance (check your P60 or payslips) – you can only use your own income if you earn it in the UK
• income you earn from self-employment or as a director of a limited company in the UK – check your Self Assessment tax return
• cash savings above £16,000 money from a pension
• non-work income, for example from property rentals or dividends

If you’re using income from self-employment or employment, you’ll need to prove you or your partner received that income for 6 months or more.

Example You’ve worked with the same employer earning £18,600 or more for 6 months or longer.

What proof you need to give

You’ll need to send proof of your income with your application. If you or your partner are employed, you could include:

• bank statements showing you or your partner’s income 6 months of payslips
• a letter from an employer, dated and on headed paper The employer’s letter should confirm:
• you or your partner are employed there
• the job title or position you or your partner hold how long you or your partner have worked there
• the type of contract (for example, permanent, fixed term)
• what you or your partner earn before tax and National Insurance how long you or your partner have been paid your current salary the payslips are genuine

You’ll be told exactly what documents you need to support your application by your dedicated caseworker..

• you or your partner’s income is more complicated
• you or your partner have taken maternity or paternity leave in the last 6 months you want to combine different income sources

The detailed guidance also explains the evidence you need to provide for each of the types of income you’re relying on.

If you cannot meet the minimum income requirement

You need to show you and your partner meet the minimum income requirement if you want to settle in 5 years as a partner.

If you do not meet the requirement, you may be able to settle in 10 years.

When you do not need to meet the income requirement

You may be able to settle in 5 years without meeting the minimum income requirement if either:

• you’re applying as a parent
• you get certain benefits, for example Disability Living Allowance or Carer’s Allowance.

You need to show you and your family have enough money to adequately support and accommodate yourselves without relying on public funds.

You’ll need to:

• give all your names give your date of birth
• send your current passport or other valid travel ID send your previous passports
• send your biometric residence permit, if you have one
• send 2 passport-sized colour photos
• give details of any previous immigration applications you’ve made give details of any criminal convictions
• give your national insurance number, if you have one
• give your parents’ date of birth and nationality if you’re applying from outside the UK
• your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test
• provide a translation of any document that is not in English or Welsh

You’ll need to have a blank page in your passport on which to put the visa if you’re applying outside the UK.

You’ll also need to give proof of:

• your finances
• how well you speak and understand English

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances – for example a sponsorship form from your family member in the UK.

Your partner’s details

If you have a partner, you’ll be asked about their:

• name
• date of birth nationality passport
• right to be in the UK, for example they’re a British citizen You’ll also need to give details of:
• any people your partner was previously married to, in a civil partnership with or had children with
• evidence of marriages ending, for example a divorce certificate anyone your partner supports with money, for example their parents

Proof of relationship

If you’re applying as a spouse or partner, you’ll be asked about:

• your relationship with your partner, for example how you met and how often you see each other how long you’ve lived together – you’ll need to send proof like council tax bills
• things you pay for together whether you’re your partner’s carer

If you’re applying to join your partner in the UK, you’ll need to send other proof, for example WhatsApp messages, Skype history or photos of you together.

Your previous partners

You’ll need to include details of anyone you previously married or had children with. Include evidence of marriages ending, for example a divorce certificate.

Children

You’ll need to give details of your children (and your partner’s children if you have one). You’ll be asked about all children, even if they’re not applying.

You’ll need to give details of:

• their name their nationality
• their date of birth their passport details
• who the child normally lives with
• any other people with parental responsibility for your child, for example your step children’s other parents how you’re involved in their day to day life
• arrangements you have to see the child – for example the courts have granted you access the child’s extended family
• any countries your child has visited or lived in

Your life outside the UK

You’ll need to give details of:

• countries outside the UK you’ve lived in and visited

Your family member has a work visa or student visa

You cannot apply for a family visa if your family member is in the UK temporarily on a work/study visa

You can apply to stay with them as a dependant instead.

You have a visitor visa or a visa for 6 months or less

You’ll usually need to leave the UK to apply for a family visa if either:

you have permission to be in the UK as a visitor your visa is for 6 months or less

However, you might be able to switch to a family visa in the UK if you have either:

a 6-month family visa as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner