Question 1

How many cohabitation documents are required for a UK Spouse Visa extension or ILR?

Accepted Answer

The Home Office standard requirement is **at least 6 joint items of correspondence** addressed to both partners at the same address, OR **12 individual items** (6 addressed to each partner individually at the same address), OR an even combination.

Question 2

Over what time period must cohabitation evidence be spread?

Accepted Answer

Evidence MUST cover the full **24-month (2-year)** period immediately preceding the application date. Documents must be from at least **3 different official sources** and spaced evenly (every 4 to 5 months).

Question 3

What are Tier 1 (joint official) cohabitation documents?

Accepted Answer

Tier 1 joint documents include: 1) Tenancy agreements or mortgage statements, 2) Council tax bills, 3) Joint bank statements, and 4) Utility bills (gas, electric, water, broadband) in both names.

Question 4

What if we don't have enough joint documents in both our names?

Accepted Answer

You can provide individual official documents addressed to each partner at the same address. For example: 3 joint bills + 3 individual items for Partner A + 3 individual items for Partner B (from NHS, HMRC, DWP, or banks).

Question 5

What if there is a gap in our cohabitation due to work travel or visa delays?

Accepted Answer

If you had temporary separations due to work assignments, study, or family emergencies, include a detailed cover letter explaining the gap, accompanied by supporting travel tickets, hotel receipts, and daily communication logs.

Question 6

Can credit card bills or mobile phone bills be used as cohabitation evidence?

Accepted Answer

Mobile phone bills are considered weak evidence by UKVI. Prioritize utility bills, bank statements, council tax, HMRC tax letters, or NHS GP registration letters.

UK Spouse Visa 2-Year Cohabitation Evidence Builder

Cohabitation Timeline Spacing Evaluator

Evidence Hierarchy & Timeline Spacing Strategy

Tier 1: High-Weight Joint Documents

Tier 2: Individual Official Documents

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Tier 1 Joint Evidence Checklist