What visa can I use to bring my long-distance partner to the UK?

The main options are the fiance visa (if you plan to marry in the UK within 6 months), the spouse visa (if you are already married), and the unmarried partner visa (if you have been living together for 2 years). Visit visas can be used for shorter stays but do not lead to settlement.

How do I prove a genuine relationship if we live in different countries?

Evidence includes call and message history, photographs together, flight tickets and boarding passes showing visits, evidence of meeting each other's families, and any plans for the future together. The Home Office understands that long-distance couples may have less cohabitation evidence.

Do we need to have met in person for a visa?

Yes. The Home Office requires that you have met in person. A relationship conducted entirely online is not sufficient for a spouse or fiance visa. You must have spent time together in person.

How many times do we need to have met?

There is no specific number of meetings required, but the more times you have met in person, the stronger your case. Multiple visits over an extended period demonstrate a genuine and developing relationship.

Long-Distance Relationship Visa Options for the UK

Long-distance couples have several visa options depending on their relationship status. The fiance visa allows entry to marry within 6 months. The spouse visa is for married couples. The unmarried partner visa requires 2 years of cohabitation. Building strong evidence of a genuine relationship is essential, including communication records, visit evidence, and future plans.

Your Visa Options

Depending on your relationship status, you have several options:

Fiance visa: If you plan to marry in the UK. Valid for 6 months. You must marry within this time and then apply to switch to a spouse visa. See our fiance vs spouse visa comparison.
Spouse visa: If you are already legally married. This leads directly to the 5-year ILR route. See our spouse visa guide.
Unmarried partner visa: If you have been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years. Same rights and route as the spouse visa.
Visit visa: For short visits (up to 6 months) to spend time together. Does not lead to settlement and you cannot work. See our visitor visa guide.

Proving a Genuine Long-Distance Relationship

The Home Office needs to be satisfied that your relationship is genuine and subsisting. For long-distance couples, this means providing:

Communication evidence: Screenshots or records of calls, messages, video calls, and emails. See our communication evidence guide.
Visit evidence: Flight tickets, boarding passes, hotel bookings, photographs together, and passport stamps showing visits to each other's countries.
Meeting each other's families: Photographs and statements from family members who have met both of you.
Future plans: Evidence of planning a life together (wedding planning, property searches, discussions about living arrangements).
Financial support: Any evidence of sending money to support each other during the long-distance period.

For more on relationship evidence, see our relationship evidence guide.

The Financial Requirement

To bring your partner to the UK, you must meet the income threshold. This applies to fiance, spouse, and unmarried partner visas. The requirement can be met through:

Employment income of the UK-based partner (Category A)
Cash savings
Combined income from both partners (for spouse visa extensions and ILR)

For official income guidance, see the GOV.UK proof of income page.

Planning the Transition

Moving from a long-distance relationship to living together in the UK involves careful planning:

Choose your visa route: Decide whether to marry first (spouse visa) or come to the UK to marry (fiance visa).
Meet the financial requirement: Ensure the UK-based partner meets the income threshold well before applying.
Gather evidence: Start collecting relationship evidence early. The stronger your evidence, the better your chances.
Apply for the visa: Submit the application with all supporting documents.
Plan the move: Once the visa is granted, plan the relocation including accommodation, employment, and settling in.

Common Challenges

Limited cohabitation: Long-distance couples may have limited evidence of living together. The Home Office understands this but compensate by providing strong evidence of visits and communication.
Challenging circumstances: If there are unusual aspects to your relationship (large age gap, short relationship, no common language), see our challenging circumstances guide.
Previous visa refusals: If either partner has had a visa refused, see our visa refusal guide.

The Path to Settlement

Once your partner is in the UK on a spouse visa, the path to settlement follows the standard 5-year route. After 5 years, they can apply for ILR, and after a further period, for British citizenship.

For the full spouse visa requirements, visit the GOV.UK family visa page.