Step By Step Guide to Apply for a UK Civil Partnership Visa

The Spouse Visa route, which allows foreign spouses of British nationals or settled individuals (same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples) to visit the UK and live here, covers a UK civil partnership visa instead of a separate visa under the UK immigration system. Holders of a spouse or civil partnership visa are permitted to live in the UK for a maximum of 30 months after an initial 33-month stay. Upon completing five years of continuous residence under a Civil Partnership visa, permanent settlement (also known as ILR) may be obtained. After an additional 12 months with ILR, you are eligible for British citizenship and won’t need to apply for any more visa extensions. 

UK civil partnership visa requirements

Applicants for a civil partnership visa must fulfil the following criteria:

• Have an actual and suitable civil relationship.
• Fulfil the £29,000 minimum income criteria.
• Fulfil the language requirement in English.

Genuine and eligible civil partnership:

The Home Office will confirm that you and a British or Irish citizen or someone who has settled in the UK are in a legitimate civil partnership that is recognised in the country (i.e., they must have ILR or EU settled status). If your partner is in the UK and holds a Turkish Worker or Businessperson visa, or if they are protected by humanitarian law or have refugee status, you can also apply. Consult with our immigration solicitor if you need help proving your civil relationship.

You can apply as a proposed civil partner or fiance if you plan to get married to a British or Irish citizen or someone who has made the UK their home after arriving in the country. To be able to do this, you will have to provide proof that any prior civil partnerships have terminated and that you plan to form a new one within six months of coming to the UK.

Minimum income requirement

You must have a combined income of at least £29,000 with your UK-based partner in order to be eligible for a Civil Partnership UK visa. In addition, you will require an additional £3,800 per year for your first kid and £2,400 annually for each subsequent child if you are a parent.

There are several ways to satisfy the minimum income criterion for the Civil Partnership visa, such as:

• Employment
• Independent contractor
• Income from investments, such as dividends and rental income
• Retirement Plans and Savings Exceeding £16,000

You will need to fulfil a lower yearly income criterion if your savings exceed £16,000. You might be able to eliminate the minimum annual income restrictions if you have sufficient savings. Just divide the amount over £16,000 by 2.5 to determine how your savings will affect your ability to fulfil the minimum income criteria. You can deduct the remaining amount from the £29,000 annual income requirement. For instance, the amount of income you must demonstrate drops to £16,600 from £21,000.

English language requirement for UK civil partnership visa

If you are applying for a UK Civil Partnership visa and are between the ages of 18 and 65, you will have to provide proof that you speak English well enough. To fulfil this criteria, you can choose to:

• Holding a degree or other academic credential obtained through English-language instruction or study.
• Achieving level A1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale by completing an authorised English language exam. 
• You will have to provide proof that you meet level A2 when you apply to extend your visa.

Required documents for UK civil partnership visa

You must submit all of the paperwork asked by the Home Office (UKVI) if you want to ensure that your visa for a civil partnership in the UK is issued as soon as possible. You might be required to supply the following:

• Your valid ID, such as your passport
• A recognised certificate of civil partnership in the United Kingdom.
• If you currently live in the UK, your national insurance number and biometric residence permit (BRP)
• Specifics of any convictions for crimes
• TB test results
• Evidence of income, such as six months’ worth of pay stubs, bank statements, a letter from the employer attesting to the employee’s employment and pay, or data from dividends or other investments, is required.

The process to apply for a UK civil partnership visa

There are several stages you must take in order to apply for a UK Civil Partnership Visa. These are as follows:

• Fill out the UKVI website’s online application for a UK Civil Partnership Visa. Depending on whether you are inside or outside of the UK, there are several forms that you must fill out.
• Make the application fee payment. The Civil Partnership visa application fee is £1,538 (if you are outside the UK) or £1,048 (if you are inside the UK) as of February 2023.
• Pay the required £1035 annual healthcare premium to gain access to the National Health Service.
• Make an appointment to have your fingerprints scanned and a photo taken (your biometrics) at a UKVCAS service station or a visa application facility (VAC) in your home country.
• Keep your appointment for biometrics.
• Upload any papers (as mentioned above) that the Home Office requests.

Conclusion:

If you apply for a UK Civil Partnership Visa from outside the country, it could take up to 24 weeks to process, or it could take 8 weeks if you apply from within. To make your process smooth, contact My Legal Services, an immigration solicitor in London. We have years of experience and expertise to assist. Contact us today and make your process smooth.