Fiance(e) or proposed civil partner of a British citizen or settled person
Can you apply?
These pages explain whether you can apply to enter or remain in the UK as the fiance(e) or proposed civil partner of a British citizen or someone who is settled here.
The information on these pages is based on Part 8 of the Immigration Rules.
You must obtain a visa before travelling here, even if you are a national of a country whose nationals do not normally require a visa to visit the UK. You cannot apply as a fiance(e) or proposed civil partner from inside the UK.
If you apply for a visa but cannot meet all the requirements for this immigration category, you will be refused and your application fee will not be refunded.
Your fiance(e) or proposed civil partner must be:
- currently living and settled in the UK; or
- returning to the UK with you to live here permanently.
You must show that:
- you are both at least 18 years old on the date when you would arrive in the UK or when we would give you permission to remain;
- you both intend to marry or register a civil partnership within a reasonable time (usually 6 months);
- you both intend to live together permanently as husband and wife or civil partners after you are married or have registered your civil partnership;
- you have met each other;
- you meet our English language requirement, unless you can show that you qualify for an exemption - see the English language page;
- until you are married or have registered a civil partnership, there is somewhere for you and any dependants to live without help from public funds;
- there will, when you are married or in your civil partnership, be adequate accommodation where you and any dependants can live exclusively and without help from public funds; and
- you and any dependants can be supported without working or needing public funds, before you apply to extend your stay as the husband, wife or civil partner of a British citizen or settled person - see the Maintenance page.
The Documents required page explains how you can demonstrate that you meet these requirements.
You must also meet all the other requirements of the Immigration Rules.
More information
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Other requirements (general grounds for refusal)
Even if you meet the requirements described above, we may refuse your application for other reasons (such as your previous immigration history) . For more information about these 'general grounds for refusal', see Chapter 9 of our immigration directorate instructions.