Canadians who wish to live in the UK with a British or settled partner generally apply under the UK family visa route. The main options are:

• Spouse Visa for legally married couples.
• Civil Partner Visa for couples who have entered a valid civil partnership.
• Unmarried Partner Visa for durable partners who have been in a committed relationship for at least two years.
• Fiancé(e) or Proposed Civil Partner Visa (to marry or form a civil partnership in the UK within six months).

To qualify, both partners must be over 18, in a genuine and subsisting relationship, and intend to live together permanently in the UK. The UK-based partner must be a British citizen, an Irish citizen, or hold settled status.

Financial requirement

The Sponsor must meet a minimum income requirement of £29,000 per year (gross). This can be met in several ways, including:

• Salaried or non-salaried employment,
• Self-employment or company director income,
• Pension income,
• Rental income, or
• Certain other specified sources permitted under Appendix FM.

If income alone does not meet the £29,000 gross income threshold, it may be possible to rely on cash savings of at least £88,500 held for at least 6 months before the application. Savings can be held by either partner or jointly.

*All GBP (Great British Pound) amounts can be converted to Canadian dollars using the official OANDA exchange rates.

Applicants must also meet an English language requirement and various suitability criteria, including having no criminal record.

Visa duration

Your initial Spouse, Civil Partner, or Unmarried Partner visa will be valid for 33 months. You can extend this initial visa for a further 30 months. Assuming your relationship is still subsisting, you can apply for permanent residence after living in the UK for five years.

Get more information and legal help

The legal and evidential criteria for entering the UK as a spouse or partner have become increasingly stringent. With UK Spouse Visa appeal waiting times now exceeding a year, it is crucial to have a well-prepared application from the start to secure a successful outcome. Additionally, the financial threshold is subject to change without notice.

To learn more, contact Sterling Immigration Ltd.

								
You now have 3 options:
								

									
More answers about UK Travel and Immigration
									
Master List: 2,500 Legal Answers
																													
																		
Government Links