UK Spouse & Unmarried Partner Visa Relationship Evidence Guide 2026
2026 guide to relationship evidence for UK Spouse and Unmarried Partner visas under Appendix FM: the 2-year relationship requirement for unmarried partners, useful cohabitation evidence, joint and individual documents, tenancy records, bills and Home Office assessment.
1. Executive Summary & The 2-Year Relationship Rule
Under Appendix FM, an unmarried partner must have been in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years before the application. The two-year relationship period does not require the couple to have lived together continuously throughout that period. Married and civil-partner applicants have different relationship requirements.
2. Evidentiary Document Hierarchy Matrix
The table below gives examples of useful relationship and cohabitation evidence. These are examples rather than an official Home Office evidence ranking or mandatory hierarchy:
| Evidence Tier | Document Category | Examples of Acceptable Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Government, Bank, Landlord & Utility Evidence | Official and Financial Documents | Council Tax documents, bank statements, tenancy agreements, mortgage statements, utility bills |
| Medical or Education Evidence | Address and Personal Records | Medical registration letters, university or college records and similar documents showing the same address or shared circumstances |
| Other Supporting Evidence | Relationship and Shared-Life Evidence | Evidence of shared finances, visits, communication, photographs, correspondence or other credible evidence relevant to the relationship |
3. Solving Gaps in Cohabitation Evidence
If you have periods without joint bills or tenancy documents, explain the circumstances and provide whatever credible evidence is available. For example, where you lived with family, evidence from the homeowner or landlord together with official correspondence addressed to one or both partners can help establish where you lived and how you conducted your shared life. There is no universal requirement to provide a sworn affidavit.
4. Unmarried Partners Living Apart
For an unmarried partner, the required 2-year period concerns the relationship being similar to marriage or civil partnership; it does not require continuous cohabitation throughout the period. GOV.UK gives working or studying in different places as examples of circumstances in which a couple may be unable to live together. The relationship must still be genuine and subsisting and the other family-visa requirements must be met.
5. Married, Civil-Partner and Unmarried-Partner Requirements
The relationship route matters. A spouse or civil partner must have a marriage or civil partnership that is recognised as valid in the UK and must satisfy the genuine-and-subsisting relationship requirements. An unmarried partner must have been in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years before applying. A fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner is a separate category with its own requirement to marry or enter a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of arrival.
6. How Relationship Evidence Is Assessed
There is no prescribed 6-document, 12-document or 3-source quota. Useful evidence can include documents from government bodies, banks, landlords, utility providers and medical professionals that show the same address, shared expenses or other aspects of the relationship. The strongest application is one where the evidence is consistent, credible and fits the couple's actual circumstances.
Essential Summary & 2026 Checklist
- Unmarried partners must show they have been in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years before applying; this does not require 2 years of continuous cohabitation.
- There is no fixed Appendix FM quota of 6 joint or 12 single documents; provide credible relationship and, where relevant, cohabitation evidence appropriate to your circumstances.
- Useful evidence can come from sources such as government bodies, banks, landlords, utility providers and medical professionals, but there is no rule requiring at least 3 different official sources.
- There is no fixed 6-month cohabitation-mail gap rule. Periods of living apart can be compatible with the unmarried-partner relationship requirement where the relationship remains genuine and the circumstances are explained and supported by credible evidence.
- Current rules allow an unmarried partner relationship to qualify even where the couple cannot live together, for example because they work or study in different places, provided the relationship and the other requirements are satisfied.
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