🇬🇧 UK visa types: Spouse, Partner, Fiancee.

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We are often asked about the visa options for partners of UK citizens, as well as for partners of European citizens who have a settled or pre-settled status in the UK. Fundamentally there are 3 options: Spouse, Unmarried Partner and Fiancée. 

 

Spouse visa:

As the name suggests, it is for married couples. It also includes civil partners. A civil partnership is a formal process that results in an official document, similar to a marriage certificate. For the UK visa purpose, it’s treated as a marriage. In the past, a civil partnership was only for same-sex couples but now it is available for heterosexual couples as well. 

 

Fiancée visa:

A visa for 6 months, without the right to work. It gives a foreign partner a chance to come to the UK and marry the Sponsor within 6 months (or register a civil partnership). Then he/she could apply for a Spouse visa after getting married. Then a Spouse visa would be the same as above and would allow to work in the UK. Fiancée visa is an extra step, another fee, another application etc but if the couple want to get married in the UK, or to see first how it goes in the relationship, then this visa would be suitable. 

 

Unmarried Partner visa:

This is for people who have lived together for at least 2 years in a relationship like a married couple but without a marriage certificate. It does NOT cover a situation where the couple has been dating for a while or seeing each other as often as possible, it only applies when you have lived together for at least 2 years. If the couple does not meet this requirement - and does not wish to get married yet - then they may consider other categories, such as a Student visa, Graduate or Youth Mobility, wait until they have the 2 years of living together and then apply as Unmarried Partners. 

 

To talk to us about UK visa options please book a consultation here. Our guidance and experience is going to increase your chances! 


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. 

www.1st4immigration.com

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