UK Partner Visa Document Pack: A Practical Step-by-Step Evidence Guide for a Successful Application

A UK partner visa stands or falls on the evidence you submit. Your document pack must prove 3 things clearly: that your relationship is genuine and subsisting, that you meet the financial requirement, and that you have suitable accommodation in the UK. Missing, undated or inconsistent paperwork causes avoidable refusals, which is exactly the sort of thing our partner visa solicitors see week after week.

One couple came to us after a refusal. Their relationship was real, and they had been together for years, but they had sent undated photos and a few random bank statements. We rebuilt the pack around a clear timeline. The second application was granted in weeks.

Identity and relationship

Start with the basics. Each of you needs a current passport, and the applicant should include previous passports, visas, entry stamps, eVisa details or biometric documents where relevant. If you are married or in a civil partnership, a certified copy of the certificate is usually your strongest single relationship document.

If you are unmarried, the rule is not simply “2 years living together”.

Current Home Office guidance says unmarried partners must show a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years. Cohabitation is strong evidence, but it is not an absolute requirement where there is a good reason you have lived apart and the relationship is still durable. The complete eligibility checklist is worth reading first, and it helps to be sure whether a partner visa or a fiancé(e) visa suits your plans.

Prove your relationship properly

For unmarried partners, cohabitation evidence still carries real weight. Use dated documents across the 2-year period from a mix of sources: tenancy agreements, council tax, utility bills, joint bank statements, official letters, travel records and evidence of shared responsibilities. Do not rely on one document type alone. Our guide to proving cohabitation explains which formats help.

If you cannot show full cohabitation, explain why and add alternative proof, such as regular messages, call logs, travel evidence, family event records and evidence that you intend to live together in the UK.

The financial evidence

This is where many applications come unstuck. New partner applications usually need to meet the £29,000 minimum income requirement. For employment income, that normally means 6 months of payslips, matching bank statements and a dated employer letter. If the sponsor is self-employed or has variable income, the evidence is heavier, often involving accounts, tax returns, HMRC records and bank statements.

You can also meet the requirement through savings. If there is no qualifying income, the savings figure is usually £88,500, held for at least 6 months. Couples who first applied as partners before 11 April 2024 and are extending with the same partner may still use the older £18,600 threshold.

Accommodation, English and health

You must show suitable accommodation that is not overcrowded and does not breach public health rules. If the property is owned, title documents help; our conveyancing team can supply paperwork from the purchase where needed. If it is rented, include the tenancy agreement and, where appropriate, landlord consent.

Most first-time applicants also need English at CEFR level A1, unless exempt, plus a tuberculosis certificate if applying from a listed country. If children are included, add birth certificates and evidence of parental responsibility. Should family circumstances change later, our child arrangements support is there too.

Organise the pack

How you present the pack matters almost as much as what is in it. Label and date every document, then index it against a short cover letter. If you want the bigger picture first, our step-by-step guide to the whole process sets out each stage.

Category	What to include	Notes
Identity	Passports, previous visas, BRP or eVisa details	Applicant and sponsor
Relationship	Marriage or civil partnership certificate, or durable relationship evidence	Certified translations where needed
Cohabitation	Tenancy, council tax, bills, joint statements	Strong evidence, but not always mandatory
Financial	Payslips, bank statements, accounts, HMRC records or savings	Must satisfy the £29,000 rule unless transitional rules apply
Accommodation	Tenancy agreement, title deeds or owner letter	Must not be overcrowded
Other	English certificate, TB test, cover letter	Depends on country and circumstances

Beyond the application fee of £2,064 from outside the UK, budget for the immigration health surcharge. For an adult partner visa from outside the UK, GOV.UK lists £3,105 for a 2-year and 9-month stay. Reading up on common refusal reasons before you submit can save you both.

Frequently asked questions

How much does my partner need to earn?

For most new applications, the financial requirement is £29,000. Savings of £88,500 may meet the rule where there is no qualifying income.

Do I have to prove 2 years living together?

Not always. Unmarried partners must prove a durable relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years. Cohabitation helps, but it is not the only route.

Can I speed up the decision?

Sometimes. Priority and super priority processing may be available, depending on where and how you apply.

Get your document pack right the first time

A refusal costs time, money and the fee itself, so it pays to submit once and submit well. Our immigration team can review your evidence against the current rules, and the wider team at Athi Law can help with related matters, from family law to a lasting power of attorney once you are settled here. Talk to us before you apply.