Husband, wife or civil partner to come & live in the United Kingdom

This page explains how your husband, wife or civil partner can join you in the United Kingdom if you are permanent resident in this country. In order for them to join you in the United Kingdom, you must be aged 21 years or over and are currently settled & living in the United Kingdom. This also applies if you are returning to the United Kingdom to live with your partner permanently.

The following definition of the Immigration Rules is explained:

• you are legally married to each other or have registered a civil partnership;
• you are going to live together permanently as man and wife, or as civil partners;
• you have met each other;
• you can support yourselves and any dependants without help from public funds;
• you have adequate accommodation where you and your dependants can live without help from public funds; and
• he/she is aged 21or over.

If you have more than one husband or wife, only one of them will be allowed to join you here as your husband or wife.

Applications to enter in the United Kingdom for a view to settle with your husband, wife or civil partner, an application for an entry clearance must be obtained before travelling here. The application for an entry clearance must be made in the diplomatic post, British embassy or consulate. If the entry clearance is given, your husband, wife or civil partner will be given permission to live and work here for two years. Near the end of the two years, if you are still married or in a civil partnership and plan to live together, your husband, wife or civil partner may apply to live here permanently

In some cases, we can give your husband, wife or civil partner permission to live permanently in the United Kingdom as soon as he/she arrives. To qualify for this, you must:

• have married or formed a civil partnership four years or more ago;
• have spent those four years living together outside the United Kingdom;
• now be returning to the United Kingdom to settle here together; and
• your spouse/partner must (unless aged 65 or over) have sufficient knowledge of the English language and about life in the United Kingdom.

Can my fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner live in the United Kingdom?

This page explains how your fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner can join you in the United Kingdom if you are permanent resident in this country.

Your fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner may come with you to the United Kingdom, or join you here, if both you and he/she are aged 21 or over and you currently live in the United Kingdom and are settled here; or are returning to the United Kingdom with him/her to live here permanently.

He/she must show that:

• you plan to marry or register a civil partnership within a reasonable time (usually six months);
• you plan to live together permanently after you are married or have registered a civil partnership;
• you have met each other;
• until you are married or have registered a civil partnership, there is somewhere for him/her and any dependants to live without help from public funds; and
• he/she and any dependants can be supported without working or having to get help from public funds.

Application for entry must be made outside the United Kingdom, and must make an application in their nearest diplomatic post or British embassy. Application for an entry clearance must be made even for those who are non visa national and is required to obtain permission before travelling to the United Kingdom.

When your fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner arrives in the United Kingdom, he or she will normally be granted permission to stay here for six months, but he/she must not work.

After you have married or registered your civil partnership, you husband, wife or civil partner may apply for further leave to remain under the appropriate category. If the Home Office approves the application, Home Office will give your husband, wife or civil partner permission to live and work here for two years. Near the end of the two years, if you are still married or in a civil partnership and plan to live together, your husband, wife or civil partner may apply to live here permanently.  

Can my unmarried or same sex partner come to live in the United Kingdom?

This page explains how your unmarried or same-sex partner can join you in the United Kingdom if you are permanent resident in this country.

Your unmarried or same-sex partner may come with you to the United Kingdom, or join you here, if you currently live in the United Kingdom and are settled here; or are returning to the United Kingdom with him/her to live here permanently.

The relationship may be a heterosexual or same-sex relationship, but you must not be related by blood.

You must both be able to show that:

• any previous marriage or civil partnership that either of you was in has permanently broken down;
• you have both been living together as if you were married (or in a civil partnership) for at least two years;
• you both plan to live together permanently;
• you both have enough money to support and adequately accommodate yourselves and any dependants without help from public funds; and
• you and your partner are aged 21 or over.

An entry clearance as an unmarried or same-sex partner must be obtained before travelling here. The entry clearance is given in a form of a visa. Should apply to the British diplomatic post in the country where he/she lives. If the application is successful, your partner will be given to live and work in the United Kingdom for 2 years.

Near the end of the two years, if you are still in the relationship and both plan to live together permanently, your unmarried or same-sex partner may apply to live here permanently.

In some cases, we can give your unmarried or same-sex partner permission to live permanently in the United Kingdom as soon as he/she arrives. To qualify for this, you must:

• have been living together for at least four years as if you were married or in a civil partnership;
• have spent those four years outside the United Kingdom;
• now be returning to the United Kingdom to settle here together; and
• your partner (unless aged 65 or over) must have sufficient knowledge of the English language and about life in the United Kingdom.