Ultimate Guide to Proving a Genuine Relationship for UK Spouse and Partner Visas

Proving a Genuine Relationship for UK Spouse and Partner Visas

Proving a genuine relationship for UK spouse and partner visa is more than just proving that your relationship is legal. You are proving your life together with your partner. The Home Office must be satisfied that your relationship is not just on paper, but genuine, ongoing, and that you and your partner intend to live together permanently in the UK.

In this guide we address every possible scenario – whether you are married or unmarried, living together or long-distance, or had a religious or cultural marriage ceremony. Whether you’re submitting your first application or strengthening your case after a refusal, you will find information you provide the evidence UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) expects — and avoid the mistakes they penalise.

Understanding the Genuine and Subsisting Relationship Requirement

Under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules, all spouse and partner visa applicants must demonstrate:

• You are in a genuine and subsisting relationship
• You are legally married or have cohabited for two years if unmarried
• You intend to live together permanently in the UK
• Your relationship is not a sham or entered into solely for immigration purposes

You will need clear, documented evidence — covering legal validity, emotional connection, and daily reality.

How to Prove Your Marriage is Valid for UK Immigration Purposes

Many applicants assume that once they’re married, the Home Office will automatically accept their marriage. This is not always the case.

To be considered a valid marriage under UK immigration law, it must:

• Be legally recognised in the country where it took place
• Not be polygamous, if one of the parties intends to live in the UK
• Be between two people with capacity to marry
• Be registered, not just a religious ceremony

If you married abroad, provide:

• An official marriage certificate
• A certified English translation if not in English
• Contextual documents like photos, wedding invitations, or guest lists (optional but helpful)

Read our article on 🔗 How to Prove Your Marriage is Valid for UK Immigration Purposes

Religious and Cultural Marriages: Recognition for UK Immigration Purposes

While religious and cultural ceremonies are deeply meaningful — the UK Home Office focuses on legal validity, not tradition. When assessing a marriage, the Home Office will prioritise legality of the marriage.

For example:

• An Islamic Nikah is valid if registered with a civil authority in countries like Pakistan or Nigeria, but not valid if only performed in a UK mosque.
• Hindu, Sikh, or traditional African weddings are only accepted if legally recognised under local civil laws.

What to do if your marriage is not legally recognised:

• Register your marriage civilly in the country of origin or the UK
• Apply under the unmarried partner route, if you have lived together for at least 2 years
• Provide alternative evidence, such as joint financial commitments, shared children, and personal statements

Read our article on 🔗 Religious and Cultural Marriages: Recognition for UK Immigration Purposes

Cohabitation Evidence for UK Partner Visa Applications

Unmarried couples applying for a UK partner visa must prove they’ve lived together for at least 24 months in a relationship “akin to marriage.”

Acceptable documents include:

• Joint tenancy agreements
• Utility bills in both names
• Council tax letters
• Official correspondence (NHS, HMRC, DVLA)
• Bank statements sent to the same address
• Letters addressed individually to both partners at the same residence

The Home Office expects:

• Six or more sources
• Covering the full 2-year period
• From official or reputable third parties

If you lived apart temporarily (due to work, studies, family emergencies, or travel), provide:

• Travel documentation
• Call logs, messages, and video chats
• Explanation letters from both partners

Read the full article on 🔗 Cohabitation Evidence for UK Partner Visa Applications

Long-Distance Relationships and UK Spouse Visas

If you and your partner are in a long-distance relationship, your relationship with face additional scrutiny by the Home Office. Even where you you may have a legal marriage certificate, but haven’t been living together, the Home Office will want to see strong proof that the relationship is genuine, ongoing, and that you plan to live together permanently in the UK.

Provide:

• Logs of regular communication (calls, chats, video)
• Travel history — boarding passes, entry stamps
• Photographs from visits
• Joint financial commitments (remittances, subscriptions)
• Personal statements explaining the reason for separation and future plans

If separation was due to COVID-19 travel restrictions or visa delays, you myst explain this clearly and provide relevant proof (e.g., airline cancellations, embassy correspondence).

Read the full article on 🔗 Long- Distance Relationships and UK Spouse Visas: Special Considerations

Practical Checklist: Evidence of a Genuine Relationship

Use this checklist to start preparing your evidence:

Legal Documents

• Marriage or civil partnership certificate
• Certified English translations

Proof of Living Together (if applicable)

• Joint lease or mortgage agreements
• Council tax or utility bills
• NHS or HMRC letters
• Individual letters at the same address from banks, employers, etc.

Communication Records

• Call logs
• WhatsApp or chat screenshots
• Emails or letters

Shared Commitments

• Joint accounts
• Remittances
• Children’s birth certificates if you have any children
• Life insurance policies with each other named as beneficiaries

Photographs and Travel History

• Images from time spent together
• Passport stamps and travel bookings
• Receipts or invoices from shared trips

Letters of Support

• Statements from friends or family
• Affidavits from religious or community leaders (especially in religious marriages)

Personal Statements

• Written explanation of how you met, your life together, future plans

Mistakes That Lead to Refusals — and How to Avoid Them

Mistake	Risk	Solution
Submitting minimal documentation	Refusal under relationship grounds	Provide multi-source, well-dated evidence
Inconsistent addresses or timelines	Credibility questioned	Double-check all documentation for accuracy
No explanation for gaps in contact or cohabitation	Risk of appearing insincere	Submit joint statements and supporting evidence
Religious marriage without legal registration	Treated as invalid	Register civilly or apply under unmarried route
Overloading irrelevant documents	Delays or confusion	Keep evidence focused, relevant, and clearly labelled

Should You Include a Cover Letter?

Absolutely. A well-written cover letter helps the caseworker understand:

• How your documents meet the requirements
• Any gaps or special circumstances
• A clear timeline of your relationship
• Your intent to live together in the UK

In conclusion

Proving a genuine and subsisting relationship is pivotal to making a successful UK Spouse or Partner visa application. You know your relationship is real. But the Home Office doesn’t — and caseworkers are trained to question it. That’s why your application must be evidence-rich, well-organised, and transparent.

Whether you’re married, unmarried, or living apart — if your relationship is genuine and your evidence is clear, you can build a winning application.