When Love Goes Global and a UK Civil Partnership Visa Makes It Possible

Make your relationship global with a Civil Partnership visa UK. This visa type allows you to move to Britain to join your UK-based civil partner. This route is ideal for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples.

You will need to successfully apply for the visa to come to the UK. Find out more and get help with your application by working with our expert team at Immigration Advice Service.

Understanding the Civil Partnership Visa

If you are in a civil partnership with one of the following types of people based in the UK, you could be eligible for a Civil Partnership visa, allowing you to come to the UK and make your relationship global:

• A British or Irish citizen.
• Someone with indefinite leave to remain, proof of permanent residence, or settled or pre-settled (if they were living in the UK before January 2021) status through the EU Settlement Scheme.
• A holder of humanitarian protection or refugee status in the UK.
• A holder of a Turkish Worker visa or a Turkish Businessperson visa.

By holding the visa, you can stay in the UK for two years and nine months. Then, renew it as many times as you like, so long as you still meet the visa requirements, with a further two years and six months validity each time.

Eligibility Requirements for the Civil Partnership Visa

Getting a Civil Partnership visa requires you, your partner, and your relationship to meet certain requirements. You will both need to be over 18 years old and in a civil partnership that is legally recognised in the UK. That means you can’t be in a civil partnership with more than one person, and any previous relationships must have broken down. Show this with divorce and death certificates. The relationship also needs to be genuine and sustaining, rather than formed for the purpose of coming to the UK.

You will also need to show that you can be supported in the UK without requiring assistance from the government. As a result, you and your partner will need to meet financial and accommodation requirements, while you will need to meet language requirements so you can deal with everyday life in Britain.

Making Your Civil Partnership Visa Application

To successfully obtain a Civil Partnership visa, you will need to closely follow the application procedure. Follow the steps detailed below, which will usually be carried out outside of the UK, although you may apply to switch from certain visa types. You can begin the process up to three months before your planned travel to the UK:

1. Make sure that you and your partner fulfill all of the eligibility requirements. If this is not the case, you should explore the other visas that could allow you to move to the UK.
2. Visit the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) website to download and complete the application form. Look for Form VAF4A.
3. Upload your supporting documentation and other information that proves you are eligible.
4. Pay the application fee and immigration health surcharge (allowing you to access NHS healthcare once you are in the UK), and submit your application.
5. Book and attend your biometrics appointment with your nearest visa application centre. Officials will take your photograph and fingerprints.

With the application procedure complete, you will need to wait for your visas to be processed. This will take around 12 weeks, although you may be able to pay extra for priority (30 working days) or super priority (1 working day) processing.

Once your visa application has been processed, you will be issued with your Civil Partnership visa, allowing you to come to the UK. However, you will receive a refusal letter if your application has failed. The letter will explain why your application was rejected and whether you are allowed to launch an administrative or judicial review.

Make Your Global Love Permanent with Indefinite Leave to Remain and Citizenship

The perfect next step after getting a Civil Partnership visa is indefinite leave to remain. This status protects your right to be in the UK without needing to maintain your visa’s validity.

Make your indefinite leave to remain application after you have been in the UK for at least five years. You will also need to show that you are of good character, have a high level of English language capabilities, and pass a Life in the UK test.

Once you have indefinite leave to remain, you can apply for citizenship by naturalisation. Citizenship will give you full rights in the UK, including the ability to vote. Citizenship applications usually take around six months to process, with more complex cases taking longer. You will also need to attend a citizenship ceremony, requiring you to make an oath of allegiance to Britain.

How Can Immigration Advice Service Help?

The Civil Partnership visa stands alongside the Spouse visa as one of the best ways to make your love international. You can use it to reunite with your UK-based partner. Access to indefinite leave to remain and citizenship, once you have spent long enough in the UK, will help you to make the move permanent.

Yet, the Civil Partnership visa has a particularly challenging application process. You will not only need to show that you meet eligibility requirements, but also the same for your partner and relationship. Submit a host of documentation to prove beyond doubt that this is the case.

Boost your chances of a successful application by seeking help from a leading UK immigration lawyer, such as Immigration Advice Service. When you give us a call, we start by helping you to understand if you are eligible. We will then guide you through the entire application process and ensure that your documentation is valid and comprehensive. Our support continues once you have moved to the UK, as our services extend to Civil Partnership visa renewals, indefinite leave to remain applications, and citizenship by naturalisation.