Firstly, here is an overview of the options to join your Partner in the UK, or switch to the partner route from another visa category if you are already in the UK.

Let’s now take a closer look at each of these UK Partner Visa options. 

Options for Partners of EU Nationals

EEA Family Permit

If you are a Non-EU national and married to, or in a long-term relationship* with an EU citizen, you can apply for an EEA Family Permit to come to join or accompany your partner to the UK.

The EEA Family permit is granted for 6 months, and you then have the option of applying to the EU Settlement Scheme (see below)

* Long-term relationship requires applicants to evidence that they have been cohabiting with their partner for at least 2 years and are in a relationship akin to a marriage (Refer to information regarding Unmarried Partner further below).

Pre-Settled Status under The EU Settlement Scheme

Once the partner of the EU national is inside the UK with their EEA Family Permit, they can then apply for 'Pre-Settled Status' under the EU Settlement Scheme .  Obtaining this will give you limited leave to remain in the UK for a maximum period of 5 years. After 5 years of continuous residence, you can then apply for 'Settled Status' under the EU Settlement Scheme which grants you Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK.

It is important to note that currently all EEA Applications will continue to be available until July 2021, after which the type of applications EU Nationals and their Non-EU Family members can make to enter or remain in the UK will be very different, and it is likely that more requirements and restrictions will be imposed on EU citizens.  Also note that currently all EEA applications are completely free, but again after July 2021 this will likely change.

For more information about Applications for EU Nationals and Non-EU Family members, go here .

Fiance(e) and Proposed Civil Partner Visas

If you would like to come to the UK to marry or enter a civil partnership with your British/settled partner, you can apply for a Fiance or Proposed Civil Partner visa which will grant you entry clearance to the UK for 6 months.  During this period of leave, you are expected to get married and you can then apply for leave to remain as a spouse of British/settled person (FLR M).  The Fiance visa can only be made for those outside the UK i.e. you cannot switch to it while you are in the UK on another visa.  The cost for the Fiance visa is the same as all UK Leave to Enter/Entry Clearance visas as a Family Member, which is currently £1523,

To find out more about the UK Fiance Visa including the costs and requirements, visit this page .

Marriage Visitor Visa

On the face of it, the Marriage Visitor visa appears to be very similar to the Fiance visa, however the major difference between the 2 visas, is the ability to remain in the UK and switch to the Married Partner category after getting married .  Essentially with the Marriage Visitor visa, to make a Spouse visa application once you are married to your British/Settled partner, you will need to return to your country of residence and make the application from there.  There is also a vast difference in the price of each Visa (£95 for the Marriage Visitor Visa as opposed to £1523 for the Fiance Visa).

Spouse and Civil Partner Visa

The Spouse visa is the most common UK Partner visa application.  If you are married to a British/Settled Partner and providing your marriage is legally recognised in the UK and satisfying the relevant requirements, you can apply for a Spouse/Civil Partner Visa for leave to enter the UK, which if granted will give you 2.5 years of leave and can be extended for a further 2.5 years (via FLR M).  After the total 5 years, you will then be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, and subsequently British Citizenship .  

The Spouse visa is for individuals applying outside the UK and costs £1523, for those already in the UK on another visa category and wanting to switch to the Partner route after getting married, you will need to apply for FLR M .

Unmarried Partner Visa

The unmarried partner visa is available to applicants who are not officially married to their UK Partner, but are able to evidence that they are in a long term relationship that is akin to a marriage.  Essentially this requires proving that you have been living with your partner and have been in a subsisting relationship for a minimum period of 2 years.   As with the married partner, applications can be made while inside or outside the UK subject to meeting all the requirements and the cost is exactly the same (£1523 for leave to enter, and £1033 for leave to remain).  

It is also important to note that any previous relationships you or your partner were in must have officially broken down e.g. if previously married you must evidence you are now officially divorced.

FLR (M): Switching to the Partner Route or Extending a UK Partner Visa

You would typically apply for FLR (M) to extend your current UK Partner visa (including those who are on a Fiance/Proposed Civil Partner visa) to obtain further leave to remain in the UK on the partner route for another 2.5 years.  You can also apply for FLR M if you are currently in the UK under another visa category and want to switch to the Partner route after getting married to (or have been in a long term relationship with - see unmarried partner above) a British/settled person.

The current cost for FLR M is £1033 and is only available to applicants already in the UK on a valid visa (not a visitor/tourist visa).

The UK Partner Visa Requirements

Though there are some variances in the specific requirements for each of the UK Partner visa options covered in this article, in all instances the following requirements will hold true:

• You are both over the age of 18;
• You have met each other in person;
• You are not directly related to each other;
• Your relationship is genuine and you intend to live together permanently;
• Any previous relationships have broken down permanently;
• There is adequate accommodation for you and any dependents

For the Complete Guide on UK Partner Visas , which covers everything you need to know about the application process and getting the visa granted doing it all by yourself, head over here .