Since 31 January 2024, physical cohabitation is no longer a legal requirement for the UK Unmarried Partner Visa. The Immigration Rules were amended to remove the words “living together” from the definition of an unmarried partner. The rules now require that the couple have been in a relationship similar to marriage or a civil partnership for at least two years. This test focuses on the quality and commitment of the relationship rather than a shared address.

However, it would be a mistake to read this change as simply making the application easier. You will need to satisfy the Home Office that the relationship genuinely resembles a marriage. Cohabitation, where it exists, remains the most straightforward way of demonstrating that. Where a couple has never lived together, the evidentiary burden shifts considerably. Applications from non-cohabiting couples will need to provide far more persuasive evidence to demonstrate commitment. This can include consistent and sustained evidence of contact, evidence of visits and shared experiences, amalgamation of financial affairs, and a credible explanation for why the couple have not lived together.

Cultural or legal circumstances — such as cohabitation being restricted or socially prohibited in the applicant’s home country — are taken into account. For Canadian applicants, the most common scenarios involve work or family obligations keeping partners in different cities, which is a recognized and accepted reason.

Get more information and legal help

To assess the strength of your specific application, please get in touch with Sterling Immigration Ltd.

								
You now have 3 options:
								

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