Cohabitation Evidence for UK Partner Visa Applications (2025 Guide)

Cohabitation Evidence for UK Partner Visa Applications

The Home Office considers living together with your partner as a key indicator of a genuine relationship. Providing cohabitation evidence for UK partner visa application is mandatory and will greatly improve your chances for positive decision. Cohabitation evidence is especially important if you’re applying as an unmarried partner under Appendix FM of the UK Immigration Rules.

The UK Home Office requires robust cohabitation evidence to confirm that your relationship is genuine and subsisting, and that you’ve lived together in a relationship akin to marriage for at least two years.

In this article, we explain what qualifies as acceptable cohabitation evidence for UK partner visa applications, how to structure your documents, and how to avoid the common mistakes that lead to refusals.

🔗 Check out our guide to UK Partner Visas

Why Is Cohabitation Evidence Required?

For unmarried or same-sex partners who are not married or in a civil partnership, the Home Office expects applicants to prove they have lived together continuously for at least two years before the application date.

This requirement is laid out under Appendix FM of the UK Immigration Rules, which governs family-based visas.

If you fail to provide adequate evidence of cohabitation, your application may be refused under E-LTRP.1.10. or E-ECP.2.8., even if your relationship is genuine. The burden is you and your partner to show evidence of cohabitation.

Who Needs to Provide Cohabitation Evidence?

You need to provide cohabitation evidence if you’re applying as:

• An unmarried partner
• A same-sex partner not in a civil partnership
• A partner in a long-distance relationship, but previously lived together
• A partner reapplying after an earlier visa grant

Even married couples sometimes include cohabitation evidence to support the “genuine and subsisting” requirement.

What Counts as Cohabitation Evidence?

To prove cohabitation, you need to provide official mdocuments showing that both partners have been living at the same address over a two-year period.

Acceptable Cohabitation Documents Include:

• Joint tenancy agreements or mortgage documents
• Utility bills (gas, electricity, water) addressed to both or separately
• Council tax bills
• Joint bank account statements
• TV licence
• HMRC letters or tax returns
• NHS letters or GP registration confirmation
• Employment letters or payslips with address
• Driving licences showing the same address
• University or college letters (if studying)
• Home insurance documents

These documents should:

• Cover the full 2-yar period
• Be from at least 3 different sources
• Be evenly spaced throughout the timeline

Ideal Document Structure

The Home Office suggests submitting 6 official items of correspondence addressed to both parties or to each of you individually at the same address, covering at least 2 years.

What If You Don’t Have Joint Documents?

Don’t worry if you don’t have joint bills or accounts. You can still prove cohabitation by showing:

• Letters to each person at the same address
• Affidavits from friends or family confirming you live together
• Signed landlord letters (if not on official tenancy)
• Photos of you together at home, with date stamps
• Shared travel records, purchases, or deliveries to your address

The goal is to show continuity, not perfection. Even a mix of documents is acceptable as long as they tell a consistent and credible story.

Cohabitation Evidence for Couples Living in Shared Housing

If you live in shared accommodation or with family and only one partner is named on bills or tenancy:

• Submit a letter from the landlord or family member confirming both of you live at the address.
• Add supporting documents addressed to each of you separately at the same address.
• Include photos, social media logs, or shared expenses if necessary.

What About Long-Distance Relationships?

If you’ve lived apart for part of the last two years but have previously cohabited:

• Show previous cohabitation evidence (e.g., tenancy and utility bills).
• Explain the reason for separation (e.g., work, study, visa expiry) in a cover letter.
• Prove ongoing communication (calls, messages, flight tickets, visits).
• Demonstrate future intention to live together permanently.

Read more: How to Prove a Long-Distance Relationship for a UK Visa

How to Organise and Present Your Evidence

It is a useful idea to make your application and supporting documents easy for the Home Office caseworker to assess. We recommend organising your documents so that you create a timeline of cohabitation. You should highlight key dates in your documents.

Additionally, you should label your documents clearly and include a cover letter summarising your evidence and relationship history.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting only personal letters (e.g., birthday cards, social media screenshots). Personal letters do not hold as much weight as official letters addressed to you and your partner at your shared address.
• Failing to cover the entire two-year period of your relationship.
• Using informal evidence with no official source
• Leaving gaps in documentation with no explanation
• Submitting low-quality scans or unclear PDFs

What Happens If Your Evidence Is Insufficient?

If the Home Office is not satisfied, they may:

• Refuse your visa under relationship eligibility rules
• Request further information or an interview
• Ask for more supporting documents

A refusal can delay your plans and lead to appeal costs. Avoid this by preparing a complete and consistent application.

In conclusion

Providing strong cohabitation evidence for a UK partner visa is essential if you’re applying as an unmarried or same-sex partner. The Home Office requires credible, consistent, and dated documentation covering a two-year period. With the right preparation you can present a clear picture of your relationship and avoid unnecessary delays or refusals.