How to Improve Your UK Unmarried Partner Visa Success Rate

Last updated: 11 April 2024

Unfortunately, there is no official data regarding the unmarried partner visa success rate. The likelihood of receiving a positive decision for any unmarried partner visa is very much based on the individual circumstances of the applicant and their partner. With careful planning and an understanding of UKVI’s decision-making process, it is possible to swing the odds of success strongly in your favour. You will improve your success rate for an unmarried partner visa by robustly proving that you meet all of the unmarried partner visa requirements and providing all of the documents requested by UKVI to support your case.

Engaging an immigration lawyer will give you peace of mind that your unmarried partner visa application has every chance of success. Before proceeding, we will carefully review your case and recommend the best course of action. For assistance with your unmarried partner visa application, please speak to our empathetic immigration lawyers in complete confidence on 020 3744 2797 or complete our enquiry form.

How to make a successful unmarried partner visa application

As an unmarried partner visa applicant, you will need to prove to UKVI that you meet the:

• Relationship requirements
• Financial requirements
• Accommodation requirements
• English language requirements

Relationship requirements

Your UK-based partner must be a British or Irish citizen or a person who has settled permanently in the UK (i.e. they must have EU-settled status, indefinite leave to remain or refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK). In addition, because you are not married to your UK-based partner, you will need to prove to the Home Office that you have been in a relationship together for at least two years before the date that you apply. To prove that you have both been in a genuine and subsisting relationship for two or more years, it is essential that you provide strong evidence of this fact. This may include:

• your partner’s details – name, date of birth, nationality, passport, and details of their right to be in the UK and any people your partner was previously married to, in a civil partnership with or had children with
• evidence of marriages ending, for example, a divorce certificate
• details of your relationship with your partner, including how you met and how often you see each other
• evidence showing you have lived together for at least 2 years – e.g. shared bills and costs, rental agreements, bank accounts, council tax bills, and utility bills, and
• confirmation of whether you are your partner’s carer

Financial requirements

As an unmarried partner visa applicant, you will need to prove to UKVI that you and your partner have a joint income of at least £29,000. This can be made up of income from employment, self-employment, savings, pensions, investments, and non-work income (e.g. rental property income). To boost your chances of success, it is important to provide evidence to prove that you meet this requirement; this may include:

• bank statements showing you and/or your partner’s income
• 6 months of payslips for you and/or your partner
• a letter from an employer which is dated and on headed paper
• bank statement showing savings of over £16,000
• Official documentation from the Department for Work and Pensions, an overseas pension authority, or a pension company confirming pension entitlement and amount
• Documents confirming ownership of investments, stocks, shares, bonds or trust funds. These should show the cash value of the funds at or before the beginning of the period of 6 months before the date of application

To maximise your chances of making a successful unmarried partner visa application, it is important to understand all of the acceptable specific evidence in Appendix FM SE. Immigration lawyers are well acquainted with Appendix FM SE and will ensure all of the necessary documents are provided to support your application.

Accommodation requirements

UKVI will want to be assured that as an unmarried partner visa applicant, you have adequate accommodation in the UK. This means that it must:

• Be owned or legally occupied by your family for your exclusive use
• Not be provided at cost to the British public (i.e., it must be without recourse to public funds)
• Not be overcrowded
• Meet the UK public health regulations

It is important to demonstrate that the accommodation is for your exclusive use. To prove this, you may need to provide a copy of your property deeds, mortgage documents, tenancy agreement or a letter from your landlord or local authority confirming your exclusive use of the property. You will also need to provide evidence of sufficient living space.

English language requirements

And finally, you will need to prove to the Home Office that you meet the English language requirements. You can do this by providing a pass certificate from an approved English language test provider – you must have passed your English language test to CEFR level A1 or above. You may also meet this requirement if you have a degree or higher level qualification that was taught in English or if you are from an eligible English-speaking country.

What next after an unsuccessful unmarried partner visa application?

In the event that your spouse visa or unmarried partner visa is unsuccessful, it is important to bear in mind that all is not lost, and you may still have a strong chance of having the decision reversed in your favour or making a successful application. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to:

• Submit a fresh application – in many cases this is the fastest and easiest way to ensure a successful outcome of an unmarried partner visa assuming you meet all of the eligibility criteria. An immigration lawyer can prepare a brand new application for you and do all they can to improve your success rate for an unmarried partner visa.
• Request an administrative review if you believe the Home Office made a mistake in your application.
• Appeal if you submitted based on a human rights application.
• Request a judicial review to challenge the legality of the decision – this is an option of last resort due to the length of time this process can take.