The civil partner visa allows the civil partner of a British or Irish citizen, a person settled in the UK, or a person with another qualifying immigration status to live in the UK. Civil partners are generally treated the same way as spouses under the family Immigration Rules.
The civil partner route carries the same relationship, financial, accommodation, English-language and suitability requirements as the spouse route. A person granted permission on the standard civil partner route can work and study and may qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain after completing the relevant qualifying period.
Particular care may be needed where the civil partnership was registered outside the UK. An overseas registered relationship must be recognised as a civil partnership under UK law. Recognition depends on the country and legal framework under which the relationship was registered; the name given to the relationship overseas is not necessarily decisive.
If an overseas relationship is not recognised as a civil partnership, the applicant may still be able to qualify as an unmarried partner, provided the relevant requirements are met.
You may be eligible if:
Recognition depends on where and under what legal framework the relationship was registered. An overseas relationship may be treated as a civil partnership if it falls within the relationships specified under UK legislation or satisfies the relevant general recognition conditions.
The overseas registration certificate or an equivalent official document will normally be required. Documents not written in English or Welsh will usually need to be accompanied by a compliant translation.
Recognition should be assessed at the beginning of the case. If the relationship is not recognised as a civil partnership, the unmarried partner route may still be available. Civil Partnership Act 2004
In most respects, no. The eligibility requirements, conditions of permission and standard settlement route are generally the same. The principal difference is the legal form of the relationship and the documents used to establish it.
Yes. A person outside the UK who intends to form a civil partnership with an eligible UK-based partner may apply as a proposed civil partner.
The visa is normally granted for six months, during which the civil partnership must be formed in the UK. The applicant cannot work or study during this period. Once the civil partnership has been formed, the applicant may apply from within the UK for permission to stay as a civil partner.
The five-year qualifying period toward settlement begins only after permission as a civil partner is granted. Time spent as a proposed civil partner does not count.
To apply specifically as a civil partner, the relationship must be legally registered and recognised under UK law.
If the relationship is not formally registered, the unmarried partner route may be appropriate. That route requires the couple to have been in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least two years. It does not require two years of cohabitation.
Yes. Permission granted as a civil partner on the standard five-year partner route counts toward the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain.
However, time spent as a proposed civil partner does not count. Settlement remains subject to the applicant meeting the residence, relationship, financial, English-language, Life in the UK and suitability requirements in force at the date of application.
