Fiance(e) or proposed civil partner of a British citizen or settled person
This section explains whether and how you can come to the UK if you are the fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner of a British citizen or a person settled here.
If you made an application to enter the UK on or before 8 July 2012 please see the Fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner who applied on or before 8 July 2012 pages.
The information in this section is based on Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules.
This immigration category allows you to enter the UK if you are subject to immigration control and you are the fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner of a British citizen or a person who is settled here. You must intend to get married or register your civil partnership within 6 months of your arrival in the UK, and settle here together afterwards.
To find out whether you can make an initial application as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner, read the Can you apply? pages.
If you meet these requirements, you can find out how to apply on the Applying pages. You must be outside the UK when you apply. After you have married or registered your civil partnership, you can apply for permission to remain here as the partner of a settled person.
You should not apply under this category if:
- you and your partner (who is a British citizen or a person settled here) intend to settle here together, but you do not intend to get married or register your civil partnership soon after you arrive here - you should instead apply as a partner;
- you want to come to the UK to get married or register a civil partnership, but you do not intend to stay here for more than 6 months - you should instead apply as a visitor for marriage or civil partnership;
- you are a national of a country in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland - the European nationals section describes your right to live in the UK;
- you are the non-European family member of an EEA or Swiss national - the European nationals section explains whether you need to apply for a family permit;
- you are a British overseas territories citizen, unless you are from one of the sovereign base areas in Cyprus; or
- you have no conditions or time limit attached to your stay.
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Terms explained
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Civil partner
A person in a legal relationship that can be registered by two people of the same sex and that gives the couple legal recognition for their relationship. In a range of legal matters, civil partners are treated the same as opposite-sex partners who are married.