The same-sex partner visa is for a same-sex partner of a qualifying UK sponsor who has been living together with the UK same-sex partner for at least 2 years in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership. The same-sex partner visa UK is granted on the basis of the applicant's 2 years of cohabiting relationship with a person who is either a British Citizen, a person with ILR / settled status, an EU national with pre-settled status, a refugee, a Turkish Businessperson visa holder, or a Turkish Worker visa holder.
The same sex partner visa applications are made according to the requirements as set out in Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. The same-sex partner visa is also known as a settlement visa or Appendix FM Partner visa. As a result of an application for entry clearance for a same-sex partner visa, the applicant is granted initial leave for a period of 33 months. In case of an in-country application for switching to a same-sex partner visa, the applicant is granted an initial leave for 2.5 years (30 months), and a further extension is also granted for another 2.5 years (30 months).
A person who completes 5 years under the same-sex partner visa 5 years route can apply for ILR as a same-sex partner 28 days before completing 5 years. A person who holds a same-sex partner visa under the 10-year route will qualify for ILR 28 days before completing 10 years under the same-sex partner visa 10-year route or 28 days before completing 10 years of continuous and lawful residence on various types of UK visas.
Free Immigration Advice For Same-Sex Partner Visa UK
Our specialist team of family visa solicitors can provide one-off free immigration advice online regarding your application for a same-sex partner visa in the UK. Ask a question online to our specialist team of family visa solicitors for free immigration advice online, or book an appointment online for detailed immigration advice and consultation with one of our family visa solicitors concerning your application.
Specialist Immigration Solicitors For Same-Sex Partner Visa UK
Our specialist team of family visa solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representations for all types of same-sex partner visa applications, including entry clearance applications for same-sex partner visas, switching to same-sex partner visas, extensions of same-sex partner visas and ILR as a same-sex partner.
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Applications For Same-Sex Partner Visa UK
As specialist family visa solicitors, we can provide immigration advice and legal services for the following applications under same-sex partner visa applications:
- Entry Clearance For Same-Sex Partner Visa UK
- Switching To A Same-Sex Partner Visa (5 Years Route)
- Switching To a Same-Sex Partner Visa (10 Years Route)
- Extension Of Same-Sex Partner Visa (5 Years Route)
- Extension Of Same-Sex Partner Visa (10 Years Route)
- ILR As A Same-Sex Partner (5 Years Route)
- ILR As A Same-Sex Partner (10 Years Route)
- Immigration Appeals UK
- Naturalisation As A British Citizen After ILR Grant
Transitional Financial Requirement Of £18,600 For Applicants Who Made Their Initial Partner Visa Application Before 11 April 2024
The Home Office UKVI has introduced the transitional financial requirements for an applicant who made their first application as a fiancé(e), proposed civil partner, or as a partner before 11 April 2024 and who was granted permission as a fiancé(e), proposed civil partner or as a partner on the five-year route to settlement as a result of that application. According to paragraph E-LTRP.3.5 of Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules, a person who has permission as a partner on the five-year route to settlement, or as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner, at the date of application, must meet the transitional financial requirement of income which is £18,600 gross per year if they made an application for entry clearance or permission to stay as a fiancé(e), proposed civil partner or partner under Appendix FM before 11 April 2024, which was successful. Under the new rules, where the financial requirement exceeds £29,000 due to the number of children in the family, the applicant will only need to provide evidence of a gross annual income of £29,000.
The transitional financial requirement of £18,600 per year applies to applicants applying for permission to stay with the same partner for whom they were last granted permission. Applicants applying for permission to stay with a new partner must meet the financial requirement of £29,000 gross per annum.
Financial Requirement Of £29,000 Gross Per Year From 11 April 2024
As a result of changes to Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules effective from 11 April 2024, the new financial requirement of £29,000 gross per annum applies to an applicant who is making their first application on the partner route on or after 11 April 2024. You will not have to meet higher income requirements if you have any dependent children applying simultaneously along with the lead applicant, and the threshold will remain at £29,000 gross per annum.
Applicants can combine employment income under Category A with savings if the employment income is less than £29,000 gross per annum. The savings must be £16,000 plus additional savings equivalent to 2.5 times the difference between the applicant's gross annual income and £29,000.
UKVI Fees For Same-Sex Partner Visa Applications
The Home Office UKVI fees for various stages of same-sex partner visa applications are as given in the table below:
| Application | Application Fee | Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | Priority / Super Priority Service Fee (Optional) |
| Entry Clearance for same-sex partner visa from outside the UK | £1846 per applicant | £3105 for partner [£2328 for each child applicant] | £500 per applicant for Priority Service |
| Switching to a same-sex partner visa from inside the UK | £1258 per applicant | £2587.50 for partner [£1940 for each child applicant] | £1,000 per applicant for Super Priority Service |
| Extension of same-sex partner visa from inside the UK | £1258 per applicant | £2587.50 for partner [£1940 for each child applicant] | £1,000 per applicant for Super Priority Service |
| ILR as a same-sex partner | £2885 per applicant | IHS is not payable for ILR applications | £1,000 per applicant for Super Priority Service |
FAQs - Same Sex Partner Visa UK
Following are the various frequently asked questions (FAQs) about same-sex partner visa UK:
A same-sex partner visa UK is granted based on 2 years cohabiting relationship of the applicant with a person who is either a British Citizen, a person with ILR / settled status, an EU national with pre-settled status, a refugee, a Turkish Businessperson visa holder or Turkish Worker visa holder. The same sex partner visa applications are made according to requirements as set out in Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. The same-sex partner visa is also known as a settlement visa or Appendix FM Partner visa.
Yes, you will have permission to work in the UK under a same-sex partner visa UK.
Yes, you can apply for ILR under a same-sex partner visa either after spending 5 years continuously under the 5-year partner route or after spending 10 years in the UK under the 10-year partner route.
You can apply for a same-sex partner visa UK online through the Home Office UKVI website.
If you are applying for a same-sex partner visa in the UK under the 5-year route, you must meet the English language requirement. The English proficiency level required under the 5-year route is level A1 at the time of initial application, level A2 at the time of extension application, and level B1 at the time of ILR application.
You do not need to meet the English language requirement for the initial application, extension application or ILR application as a same-sex partner under the 10-year route.
You can apply for your same-sex partner visa UK under the fast-track visa service. The same-sex partner visa applications from outside the UK can be submitted through priority service for a faster decision on same-sex partner visa applications within 30 working days. The same-sex partner visa applications from inside the UK can be submitted through Super Priority Service to get a decision on same-sex partner visa applications within 24 hours.
There are two routes to settlement under same-sex partner visa UK which are as follows:
Same-Sex Partner Visa (5 Years Route)
Under the same-sex partner visa route, you will become eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) as a same-sex partner 28 days before completing 5 years in the UK under the same-sex partner visa 5 years route. Any time spent in the UK under a same-sex partner visa 10 years route cannot be counted towards 5 years for the purposes of applying for ILR as a same-sex partner.
Same-Sex Partner Visa (10 Years Route)
Under the same-sex partner visa (10 years route), you will become eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) as a same-sex partner 28 days before either completing 10 years under the same-sex partner visa (10 years route) or 10 years of continuous and lawful stay on all types of UK visa [ILR-10 Years Long Residence), whichever is earlier. In most cases, the applicants will complete 10 years under 10 years long residence earlier than 10 years under same sex partner visa (10 years route).
It is possible to switch from a same-sex partner visa (10 years route) to a same-sex partner visa (5 years route) to qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) sooner under the 5 years route.
Yes, you can switch from a same-sex partner visa 10 years route to a same-sex partner visa 5 years route at any time during the validity of your leave to remain. It is better to switch to the 5-year route as soon as possible because your time for ILR under the same-sex partner visa 5-year route will start from the date you are granted initial leave to remain under the 5-year route.
You can apply for a same-sex partner visa in the UK as soon as you have completed two years of living with your qualifying UK partner. You should also meet all other requirements of the Immigration Rules, including financial requirements, accommodation requirements, and English language requirements.
An applicant applying for same-sex partner visa entry clearance, switching to same-sex partner visa, extension of same-sex partner visa and ILR as a same-sex partner under 5 years route must meet either
- the financial requirement of earning not less than £18,600 (if applying with no non-British children); or
- adequate maintenance requirement if the applicant’s partner is in receipt of the listed benefits and thus exempt from meeting the income requirement of £18,600 gross per year.
Where the refusal of the application can result in serious breaches of human rights laws, including Article 8 of the ECHR and Section 55 of BCIA 2009, the applicant may be able to rely on third-party support to meet the financial requirement.
If your application for a same-sex partner visa UK is refused by the Home Office, UKVI and you believe that the decision to refuse your application is unlawful, you can challenge the refusal decision by way of immigration appeal to the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) where an immigration judge will determine your appeal and decide whether the decision to refuse your application is in accordance with relevant immigration laws and human rights laws.
You can submit a fresh same-sex partner visa application if your application for a same-sex partner visa has been refused and you do not believe that there are good chances of success in your appeal.
