1. Identity & Legal Status
Before looking at your relationship, the Home Office needs absolute clarity on who is applying and who is sponsoring.
Applicant’s Valid Passport: Must have at least one blank page. It is highly recommended to upload scans of every page of previous passports to demonstrate a clean, compliant international travel history.
Sponsor’s Proof of Status: A high-resolution scan of their British Passport, Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) - Settled Status or Irish passport.
2. Proof of a Genuine & Subsisting Relationship
A legally valid marriage certificate satisfies the legal criteria, but it does not satisfy the relationship criteria. You must prove an active, ongoing life together.
Core Legal Paperwork
Official Marriage or Civil Partnership Certificate: Must be legally recognized in the country the marriage took place.
Proof of Freedom to Marry: If either the applicant or sponsor was previously married, you must provide absolute legal proof that the relationship has ended permanently (Decree Absolute, final divorce certificates, or death certificates).
Evidence of Shared Life & Cohabitation
Joint Commitments: Shared bank accounts, joint tenancy agreements, utility bills addressed to both of you, or joint mortgage statements.
If Living Apart (Long Distance):
Communication Logs: Streamlined chat logs (WhatsApp, Viber, etc.) showing a consistent timeline of interaction. Avoid sending thousands of pages; export 1–2 pages per week over the course of your time apart.
Proof of Travel: Flight itineraries, boarding passes, and passport entry/exit stamps proving physical visits to see each other.
Photos Together: A curated timeline of 10–15 photos spanning the entire length of the relationship, ideally with family and friends at different milestones.
3. The Financial Requirement (The £29,000 Bar)
The minimum income threshold stands firmly at £29,000 gross per year.
⚠️ The 28-Day Rule: This is the most common reason for refusal. Your absolute latest financial document (e.g., your most recent bank statement or payslip) must be dated within 28 days of the exact date you click submit and pay for the online application.
The paperwork required depends entirely on your financial category:
Category | How It Works | Crucial Evidence Checklist |
Category A (Salaried) | Sponsor has been with their UK employer for 6 months or more. | • 6 months of consecutive, chronological payslips. • 6 months of matching personal bank statements. • An official Employer Letter on company letterhead. |
Category B (Variable) | Sponsor has changed jobs recently or been with their employer for less than 6 months. | • 12 months of payslips and bank statements to prove total historical earnings over the past year met the £29,000 threshold. |
Category D (Savings) | Relying purely on cash savings instead of active employment income. | • Bank statements proving a minimum of £88,500 has been held entirely untouched in a regulated account for 6 consecutive months. |
Category F / G (Self-Employed) | Sponsor is a Sole Trader, Partner, or Director of a specified UK Limited Company. | • Most recent SA302 Tax Calculations and Tax Year Overviews from HMRC. • Company audited accounts. • Business bank statements covering the full relevant tax year. |
The Mandatory Employer Letter
If relying on employment income, the letter from the sponsor's employer must explicitly confirm:
The sponsor's exact job title and employment start date.
The type of contract (Permanent, Fixed-Term, Full-Time).
Their current gross salary.
Confirmation that the provided payslips are authentic.
4. Adequate Accommodation
You must prove the applicant will be moving into a home that is safe, legally occupied, and not overcrowded according to UK Housing Act standards.
If the Property is Rented: The formal tenancy agreement, recent utility bills, and an explicit, signed Landlord Letter confirming they approve of the applicant moving into the property permanently.
If the Property is Owned: Land Registry title deeds, the most recent mortgage statement, or property deeds showing ownership.
If Sharing with Family/Friends: A letter from the homeowner giving permission, proof of their ownership, and a Property Inspection Report from a chartered surveyor to legally certify the home will not become overcrowded.
5. English Language & Medical Clearance
English Language Proficiency: A valid test certificate from an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) provider showing you have passed at least level A1 (for initial entry) or A2 (for extensions) in speaking and listening. Alternatively, a degree taught in English that has been officially certified by UK ENIC (formerly Ecctis).
Tuberculosis (TB) Certificate: If the applicant has been residing in a country listed on the Home Office's specified TB testing register for 6 months or more, a clear chest X-ray certificate from a clinic officially approved by the UK government is mandatory.
The Golden Rules of Document Uploading
Certified Translations: If any document (marriage certificate, bank statement, or asset deed) is not in English or Welsh, it must be accompanied by a fully certified, professional translation detailing the translator's credentials, signature, and contact information.
Scan Quality: Ensure every scan is completely legible, with no cut-off margins or blurry text. If a case worker cannot clearly read a date or numerical figure, they can reject the document entirely.
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