This is one of the most common points of confusion for Canadian applicants, and the answer is reassuring: cohabitation in Canada counts. The UK Immigration Rules do not require that the two years of relationship history take place in the UK. What matters is the nature and duration of the relationship itself — not where it occurred.

That said, the Home Office will want to see credible, documentary evidence that you genuinely shared a home in Canada. Tenancy agreements showing both names, utility bills, bank correspondence, and similar records from a Canadian address will all serve as evidence. The same standards apply regardless of where the couple was based.

It is also worth noting that since January 2024, physical cohabitation is no longer a strict legal requirement — the rules now focus on whether the relationship has been genuine and marriage-like for at least two years. For couples who have lived together in Canada throughout, however, that cohabitation remains your strongest evidence, and the application should be well-placed.

Get more information and legal help

To discuss your specific circumstances and whether they qualify for a UK Partner Visa category, please get in touch with Sterling Immigration Ltd.

								
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