UK Family Visa Checklist (Partner) — Documents to Prepare
A UK family visa (partner route) is for joining a partner who is a British or Irish citizen, or someone with settled status / indefinite leave to remain in the UK. The two hinges are proving your relationship and meeting the minimum income requirement of £29,000 (with lower figures for some renewals and children). A partner visa can run up to 2 years 9 months. Verified against GOV.UK, September 2026 — see Family visas: partner and spouse for the authoritative word.
Stage A — Qualifying as a partner
You must be able to show one of these:
- ☐ You are in a marriage or civil partnership recognised in the UK.
- ☐ You have lived together for at least 2 years at the time you apply.
- ☐ You are a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner and will marry or register within 6 months of arriving in the UK.
- ☐ You have been in a relationship for at least 2 years but cannot live together because of work, study or cultural reasons.
Stage B — Relationship evidence
Your evidence must come from government, banks, landlords, utility companies or medical authorities; it must confirm the relationship (that you live together, share costs, or are married/registered); and it must be no more than 4 years old. Typical pieces:
- ☐ Marriage or civil partnership certificate.
- ☐ A tenancy agreement, utility bill or Council Tax bill — at the same address or in both names.
- ☐ Joint bank statements, or statements showing the same address.
- ☐ A doctor's or dentist's letter confirming the same address.
Alternative evidence can include a one-off bill (pet care, home repairs), a voter registration confirmation at the same address, or student loan documents showing the same address.
Stage C — The minimum income requirement
- ☐ Combined income of at least £29,000 a year.
- ☐ If you first applied before 11 April 2024 and are renewing, the threshold can be £18,600.
- ☐ Each child adds £3,800 a year for the first child and £2,400 for each further child — but the total is capped at £29,000.
- ☐ You can use cash savings to make up income instead.
Exemption: if your partner receives one of 14 listed disability or carer's benefits, the minimum income requirement does not apply — but you must still show you can support and accommodate yourselves without relying on public funds.
Stage D — English and how long you can stay
- ☐ English — meeting the knowledge of English requirement is a separate, mandatory item.
- ☐ Stay — up to 2 years 9 months on a partner visa.
- ☐ Fiancé(e) branch — 6 months, during which you cannot work or study; you must extend after the marriage or civil partnership.
- ☐ If your partner was granted asylum after 2 March 2026, your stay ends when theirs does.
Stage E — If you do not meet the income requirement
You may still be able to apply on the basis of a British or Irish child, or a child who has lived in the UK for 7 years, or on human rights grounds. Settling in these routes would usually come no earlier than 10 years in the UK.
⚠ Unverified: the visa fee amount is not stated here — it sits on GOV.UK's "how much it costs" page, which was not captured when this checklist was written. Check it there before you rely on a figure.
Get it right the first time
- Evidence quality, not quantity. Use only government/bank/landlord/utility/medical sources, make sure it confirms the relationship, and keep it under 4 years old.
- The £29,000 figure has caveats — £18,600 applies to some renewals, child amounts are capped, and savings can count.
- Fiancé(e) branch cannot work or study — plan the 6 months and the extension.
- Check the current fee on GOV.UK before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
Who can I join on a UK family visa?
A partner who is a British or Irish citizen, or who has settled status or indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
How do I prove my relationship?
With one of four routes — a UK-recognised marriage or civil partnership, at least 2 years living together, a fiancé(e)/proposed civil partner marrying within 6 months, or a 2-year relationship you cannot cohabit in for work, study or cultural reasons — supported by government, bank, landlord, utility or medical evidence under 4 years old.
What is the minimum income requirement?
At least £29,000 a year in combined income. If you first applied before 11 April 2024 and are renewing, it can be £18,600. Each child adds £3,800 (first) and £2,400 (each further child), capped at £29,000, and savings can count instead.
What if my partner gets a disability benefit?
If your partner receives one of 14 listed disability or carer's benefits, the minimum income requirement does not apply, but you must show you can support and accommodate yourselves without public funds.
How long can I stay?
Up to 2 years 9 months on a partner visa. The fiancé(e) branch is 6 months, during which you cannot work or study, and you must extend after marrying or registering.
What if we do not meet the income requirement?
You may still be able to apply based on a British or Irish child, a child who has lived in the UK for 7 years, or human rights grounds; settling on these routes is usually no earlier than 10 years in the UK.
Related: marrying and then leaving is the Marriage Visitor checklist; and joining for ancestry is the Ancestry checklist. For the photo, use the passport photo checker.