🇬🇧 Spouse, Fiancée or Unmarried Partner visa?

 

How are they different? What are advantages of each of them? Our helpful table below gives you the visa options for partners of UK citizens.

	Spouse visa (including civil partners)	Fiancée visa	Unmarried Partner visa
Marital status	Have to be married (or get married) and apply for a UK visa as a Spouse.	Can come to the UK, get married within 6 months and then apply for a Spouse visa.	Instead of being married, have to have lived together for 2  years. Have to be able to prove it with the required documents, such as bills etc.

Where to apply?	Can apply outside the UK, in a country where a foreign spouse lives or works (but not visiting). Can switch inside the UK from most categories.	Only outside the UK This includes a situation where the current UK visa allows switching to a Spouse visa but the couple has to take the Fiancée route (such as if they need time to meet the Financial Requirement).	Same rules as for a Spouse visa.
Duration of the visa	2.5 years, then extension for another 2.5 years, then permanent residency after 5 years.	6 months, then Spouse visa for 2.5 years, then extension for another 2.5 years, then permanent residency after 5 years on Spouse visas only (not counting time as Fiancée).	Same rules as for a Spouse visa.
Advantages	Fewer steps due to fewer applications because each application attracts a government fee, health surcharge, having to meet the requirements and supply a specified pack of documents. Some considered it safer than a Fiancée application due to a lower rate of refusals. Shorter time (by 6 months) to qualify for permanent residence. This visa allows to work from day one.	Gives 6 months to come to the UK, to plan a wedding here and settle in the new life here first. UK-issued marriage certificate in English language. The future in the UK may be easier because everyone here knows what it looks like (doctors, schools etc). Especially for nationals who require a Schengen visa.	Good option for couples who aren’t ready to get married. This visa allows to work from day one.
Disadvantages	The points covered in Advantages of a Fiancé/Fiancée visa.	A more expensive route altogether because of an extra application (another Government fee etc). It depends, however, on how expensive it is to go to another country to get married. Doesn’t allow work until a Spouse visa has been secured.	Has the highest rate of refusals of these 3 types due to the difficulty of proving the ‘living together’ rule. Many couples did live together but can’t prove it in the prescribed ways, especially if they were travelling, lived in each other’s countries temporarily or lived with parents.

To discuss your options, please book a consultation with a lawyer here. Let’s start working on your UK Spouse/Fiancee/Partner visa application!

1st 4Immigration is one of the most experienced UK immigration law companies, OISC - accredited at the highest Level 3. We have been in business for over 10 years, our OISC reference is 200800152, in which 2008 stands for the year accreditation. Office: Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1HN.