Unmarried Partners Visa Application

• any previous marriage (or similar relationship) that either of you were in has permanently broken down;

you have both been living together as if you are married for at least two years;

• you both plan to live together permanently; and
• you both have enough money to support and adequately accommodate yourselves and any dependants without help from public funds.
• You are aged 18 or over and your partner is aged 16 or over.
• Your unmarried partner must get entry clearance before they travel to the United Kingdom.

If you have followed the procedures correctly, your unmarried partner will be given permission to stay and work in the United Kingdom for two years. Near the end of this time, if you are both still in the relationship and you both plan to live together permanently, your unmarried partner can apply to stay here permanently.

In some cases, the Home Office can grant settlement entry clearance. This gives your partner permission to settle in the UK permanently as soon as he or she arrives. To get settlement entry clearance, you must:

• have been living together as if you were married for at least four years: and
• have spent that four years outside the United Kingdom: and
• now be returning to the UK to settle here together.

How does my unmarried partner apply to stay here permanently?

He or she will need to complete an application form. Applications (except those for asylum and work permits or under European Community law) will not be valid unless they are made on the appropriate application form. You can get details of which form to complete and copies of the forms from the IND website, or from:

Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND)
Lunar House
40 Wellesley Road, Croydon
Surrey CR9 2BY

Telephone: 0870 606 7766

Your partner should send the completed form, by post, before their permission to stay ends. The application form will give you details of all the documents you will need to send with your application and where to send it.

If your partner's permission to stay in the United Kingdom is running out, and they need to travel urgently, they can apply in person at one of the public enquiry offices.

All documents should be originals, unless there is a good reason why your partner cannot produce them with the application. The Home Office will not normally accept photocopies.

Can my unmarried partner's children join us?

There is a separate leaflet giving details about children coming to the United Kingdom.

What are public funds?

If you come to live or stay in the United Kingdom, you must be able to support and accommodate yourself without claiming certain state benefits. These are:

• Income-based jobseeker's allowance (JSA);
• Income support;
• Child tax credit
• Working tax credit;
• a social fund payment;
• Child benefit;
• Housing benefit;
• Council tax benefit;
• State pension credit;
• Housing and homelessness assistance;
• Attendance allowance;
• Severe disablement allowance;
• Carer's allowance;
• Disability living allowance;

What is entry clearance?

Entry clearance is a visa or entry clearance certificate given to people so they can travel to the United Kingdom. Your partner must apply for entry clearance to the British Embassy, High Commission or other British Diplomatic Mission (known as British Diplomatic Posts) in the country where he or she lives.

You can also get guidance leaflets and information about visas from UK visas. Write to:

Visa Correspondence Section
UK visas
London
SW1A 2AH
United Kingdom.

General enquiries: +44 (0)20 7008 8438
Application forms: +44 (0)20 7008 8308
Fax numbers: +44 (0)20 7008 8359/8361