Long-Distance Relationship Visa Options for the UK

Your Visa Options

Depending on your relationship status, you have several options:

• Fiance, fiancee or proposed civil partner visa: If you will marry or enter a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of arriving. GOV.UK says you can stay for 6 months and cannot work or study during the engagement. After marrying you apply to extend your stay, and a grant of that extension carries the right to work or study. See our fiance vs spouse visa comparison.
• Partner or spouse visa: If you are in a marriage or civil partnership recognised in the UK. This leads to the 5-year settlement route. See our spouse visa guide.
• Unmarried partner visa: If you have been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply. Same route as the spouse visa.
• Two years in a relationship where you cannot live together: GOV.UK lists this as a fourth way to prove the relationship: you have been in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply but cannot live together, "for example because you're working or studying in different places, or it's not accepted in your culture". This is the route written for long-distance couples.
• 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.

All the partner routes share some conditions. GOV.UK says you and your partner both need to be 18 or over, that you must intend to live together permanently in the UK after you apply, and that your partner must be a British or Irish citizen, settled in the UK, or in one of the other categories it lists. Appendix FM adds that the applicant and their partner must have met in person, must not be within the prohibited degree of relationship, and that the relationship must be genuine and subsisting.

Proving a Genuine Long-Distance Relationship

Appendix FM requires the relationship to be genuine and subsisting. GOV.UK sets out two evidence lists, and which one applies depends on whether you live together.

The general list

GOV.UK says to send evidence that:

• comes from the government, a bank, a landlord, a utility provider or a medical professional;
• confirms your relationship with your partner — for example, that you live together, share expenses, or are married or in a civil partnership; and
• is less than 4 years old.

The examples it gives are a marriage or civil partnership certificate; a tenancy agreement, utility bills or council tax bills confirming that you live at the same address or pay bills together; a bank statement from a joint account, or one confirming that you live at the same address; and a letter from your doctor or dentist confirming that you live at the same address. Where none of those are available, it also accepts a one-off bill such as vet's fees or home repair costs, letters confirming you are both on the voting register for the same address, and student finance paperwork confirming that you live at the same address.

If you do not live together

This is the list for long-distance couples. GOV.UK says that if you cannot live together because of work or study, or for cultural reasons, you need to prove that you have an ongoing commitment to each other, by providing evidence that you:

• communicate regularly with each other;
• support each other financially;
• care for any children you have together; and
• spend time together as a couple, for example on holiday or at events.

Records of calls and messages, evidence of money sent between you, and travel documents and photographs from time spent together are the everyday forms those four take. See our communication evidence guide and our relationship evidence guide.

The Financial Requirement

To bring your partner to the UK, you must meet the income threshold. The published minimum income for new applications is £29,000 a year. This applies to the fiance, spouse and unmarried partner routes. 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:

The published timings that shape the sequence are these. GOV.UK says a decision on an application made outside the UK usually comes within 12 weeks. Inside the UK it is usually 8 weeks where the financial and English requirements are met, and about 12 months where they are not.

A first grant as a partner lasts 2 years and 9 months. An extension, or a switch into the route, lasts up to a further 2 years and 6 months, and can be applied for more than once. A fiance, fiancee or proposed civil partner is granted 6 months.

The earliest an application to settle can be made is after 5 years of continuous residence in the UK on a family visa as a partner. GOV.UK says time spent on any other visa, and time spent as a fiance, fiancee or proposed civil partner, cannot be included in those 5 years.

One point GOV.UK makes about switching: if you are in the UK as an unmarried partner and you become engaged, do not apply to extend as a fiance, fiancee or proposed civil partner — apply to extend with the visa status you already have.

Common Challenges

• Limited evidence of living together: The rules have a published answer to this. Where a couple cannot live together because of work, study or culture, GOV.UK asks instead for evidence of an ongoing commitment: regular communication, financial support of each other, care for any shared children, and time spent together as a couple.
• 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 partner visa, the path to settlement follows the 5-year route: a first grant of 2 years and 9 months, an extension of 2 years and 6 months, then an application for indefinite leave to remain (settlement) after 5 years of continuous residence on a family visa as a partner. A partner of a British citizen can apply for British citizenship once they hold settlement, without the 12-month wait that applies on most other routes.

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

Questions and answers