Civil Partnership Visa UK
There is currently no specific Civil Partner visa under UK immigration rules. However, people in a legitimate civil partnership can apply for a Spouse visa, enabling them to join their overseas British or Irish citizen, or settled person, civil partner.
The Civil Partnership visa is a great way to start your family life in the UK with a UK citizen or someone with settled status. It is also a pathway to indefinite leave to remain. However, you must pass a stringent application process. Contact Total Law at +44 (0) 333 305 9375 for help, or visit us online to discover the services we offer.
Civil Partnership Visa UK Overview
The Civil Partnership visa is a type of family visa. There are currently over 84,000 people on a family visa in the UK. With the Civil Partnership visa you can remain in the UK for an initial period of 33 months. After this time, you can extend your family visa for another 30 months. Once you have lived in the UK consistently for at least five years, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain and, eventually, British citizenship.
A Civil Partner visa comes with a fantastic range of rights that will allow you to live a full life in the UK. In particular, you can live, study, and work freely so long as your visa is valid. Read this article to learn more about how you can meet the Civil Partnership visa requirements and successfully apply for this popular type of family visa.
Page Contents
- Civil Partnership Visa UK Overview
- Civil Partnership Visa UK Requirements
- Documents Needed for a Civil Partnership Visa Application
- Applying for a Civil Partner Visa UK
- Processing Times and Fees for Civil Partnership Visa Application
- Applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Civil Partnership Visa UK Requirements
Overview
Before you can apply for the visa for civil partnerships, you need to make sure you match the eligibility criteria. These are the following:
- You are in a genuine and subsisting relationship and civil partnership with a British citizen or person with settled status
- Together, you meet the minimum income requirement of £29,000
- You pass the English language requirement
- You will have proper accommodation in the UK
The sections below break down the requirements in further detail.
Income and Financial Requirements
The standard minimum income requirement for joining your civil partner in the UK as a foreign national is a joint income of at least £29,000.
It is most common to meet the minimum income requirement using income from employment or self-employment. However, income from a pension scheme or from investments (including rental income) will also apply.
Some applicants for a Civil Partnership visa can reach the requirement using savings.
Relationship Requirement
The requirement to have a genuine and subsisting relationship works in a similar way as for married couples applying for the Spouse visa. Most notably, you must show that any of your previous civil partnerships or marriages have ended.
You may also be able to get this type of family visa as a Proposed Civil Partner visa. To get entry clearance, you must prove that you intend to begin your civil partnership within six months of arrival in the UK.
English Language Requirement
The final major requirement is that you have sufficient knowledge of the English language. You must pass level A1 or higher on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This rises to level A2 on the Common European Framework when you extend your Civil Partnership visa to show that you have been making progress.
- You are from a majority English-speaking country
- You are over 65 years old
- You have an academic qualification that was taught in English
Documents Needed for a Civil Partnership Visa Application
When you make your Civil Partnership visa application, you will need to submit a range of documentation requested by the Home Office (UKVI). You will usually require the following:
- A valid passport or photo ID
- A UK-recognised civil partnership certificate
- If you are currently living in the UK, a biometric residence permit and national insurance number
- Your criminal record and details of any convictions
- TB test results if you are coming from a high-risk country
- Proof of income
- A Common European Framework recognised language test certificate or evidence you don’t have to fulfil the language requirements
Please note that the Home Office has the right to request further documentation beyond the standards listed above if they need to clear up discrepancies in your Civil Partnership visa application. You will also need to ensure all your documentation is in English, Welsh, or has been properly translated.
Applying for a Civil Partner Visa UK
Once you have prepared your documentation and ensured you meet the UK Civil Partner visa requirements, you can submit your application by following the steps below:
- Complete the UK Civil Partner visa application form and submit it on the UKVI website
- Pay the application fee and mandatory healthcare surcharge
- Book an appointment with a visa application center in your home country or at a UKVCAS service point if you will apply for a Civil Partnership visa in the UK. Here, you will have a biometric photograph and fingerprints taken
- Attend the visa application centre or UKVCAS service point appointment
- Upload your documents to the Home Office website
Processing Times and Fees for Civil Partnership Visa Application
Your UK Civil Partner visa will only be processed if you have paid the application fee. At the time of writing, the application fee was £1,938 for applications outside the UK and £1,321 for a Civil Partnership visa application inside the UK. The same fees apply to every dependent you want to add to your application.
You will also need to pay the mandatory healthcare surcharge for your Civil Partnership visa application to be accepted. For adult foreign nationals, the charge is £1035 per year, or £5,175 for stays of five years. A lower healthcare surcharge fee of £776 applies for children of foreign nationals.
Once you have submitted your Civil Partnership visa application, you must wait for up to 24 weeks to process it if you have made the application outside the UK. A Civil Partnership visa application made inside the UK is faster at eight weeks. You can also pay for the super-priority service if your Civil Partnership visa application is urgent. However, you must pay £1000 and your application will be processed by the end of the next working day.
Applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain
Once you have a Civil Partnership visa, you have entry clearance under limited leave to remain. You will also get a letter from the Home Office clarifying which route to indefinite leave to remain you are on. Indefinite leave to remain is the ability to live in the UK without needing to renew your visa.
The three routes to indefinite leave to remain are 2 years, 5 years, and 10 years. You must have lived in the UK under limited leave to remain for that amount of time before you can apply for indefinite leave to remain. This does not include the time you spent in the UK under the Proposed Civil Partner visa. For the two and five-year routes, you must always have been in the UK on a Civil Partner visa. However, the ten-year route includes time spent on other eligible visas.
A successful application for indefinite leave to remain also has a minimum income requirement that will vary depending on your circumstances. No minimum income requirement applies if you are on the ten-year route. Finally, you must pass a Life in the UK test and achieve a B1 or higher level for English speaking and listening on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
How Can Total Law Help?
The Civil Partnership visa is an important route to starting life in the UK with a British or Irish citizen, settled status, refugee status, or Turkish worker or businessperson. You need to submit proper documentation for your application to prove you are in a legally binding civil partnership and match the requirements.
It is common for Civil Partnership visa applicants to enlist the help of immigration lawyers and advisors during the application process. When you work with Total Law, we will assign you one of our expert immigration lawyers or caseworkers who can guide you through the entire application process.
Should your application be rejected, they can work with you to advise on the next steps and guide you through the appeals process.
If you want help from our immigration lawyers during the Civil Partner visa application process, please contact us at +44 (0) 333 305 9375 or visit us online to learn more about our services.
Advice Package
Comprehensive immigration advice tailored to your circumstances and goals.
Application Package
Designed to make your visa application as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Fast Track Package
Premium application service that ensures your visa application is submitted to meet your deadline.
Appeal Package
Ensure you have the greatest chance of a successful appeal. We will represent you in any case.
The Advice Package
During this untimed Advice Session with our professional immigration lawyers in London, you will receive our comprehensive advice, completely tailored to your needs and your situation.
The Application Package
With our Application Package, your dedicated immigration lawyer will advise you on your application process and eligibility. Your caseworker will then complete and submit your forms to the Home Office on your behalf.
The Fast Track Package
Our Fast-Track Application Package is a premium service for those who need to submit their application in time with their deadlines. Your case will become a top priority for our lawyers and you will benefit from our highest-quality services.
The Appeal Package
By choosing our Appeal Package, you can rely on our lawyers’ legal knowledge and experience to ensure you have the highest chance of a successful appeal. We will also fully represent you in any hearings/tribunals.
Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
While in the country on a UK Civil Partner visa, you are in the country on the grounds of your relationship. Therefore, it is important that you inform the Home Office immediately, either online or by sending a letter to UK Visas and Immigration’s Marriage Breakdown team.
You will usually no longer have limited leave to remain and will need to make an application to stay in the UK. Should you remain in the country, there is a chance that you will get back together with your former civil partner. In this case, you will need to apply for a Civil Partnership visa again.
The Civil Partner visa applies to any type of relationship, including same-sex and opposite-sex couples. The only type of relationship not recognised by the Civil Partnership visa is a polyamorous relationship. Under UK law, you can only be in a civil partnership with one person.
It is most common to use the Civil Partner visa to join a British citizen or someone with indefinite leave to remain in the UK. However, you can also apply for a Civil Partnership visa on a Turkish Businessperson visa or Turkish Worker visa. You can also use the Civil Partner visa to join your partner with refugee status or in the UK under humanitarian protection.
To get a Civil Partnership visa, you will need to produce evidence that your relationship is registered within UK standards. Usually, this requires the couple to sign a civil partnership document in front of two witnesses and the official legally registering the civil partnership.
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, the law may change, and the information may not reflect the most current legal developments. No warranty is given regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information, and we do not accept liability in such cases. We recommend consulting with a qualified lawyer at Total Law before making any decisions based on the content provided.