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 fiance(e) or proposed civil partner of a British citizen or a person settled here who had applied on or before 8 July 2012 for a visa to come to the UK.
If you had not applied for a visa under this category by that date, please see the main Fiance(e) section for the different rules that apply to you.
If you applied to come to the UK as a fiance(e) or proposed civil partner on or before 8 July 2012, the conditions of your stay have not changed. If you apply to extend your stay or settle in the UK, we will consider your application under the rules that applied until 8 July 2012.
The information in this section is based on Part 8 of the Immigration Rules.
This immigration category allows you to enter the UK if you are subject to immigration control and you are the fiance(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 fiance(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 husband, wife or civil 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 an unmarried or same-sex 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.
Review of age decision
Following a Supreme Court judgement immigration rules have been laid in parliament to reinstate a minimum age of 18 for a spouse, civil partner, fiancé(e), proposed civil partner, unmarried partner or same-sex partner, and his/her sponsor to qualify for entry clearance, leave to enter, leave to remain or variation of leave on the basis of the applicant's relationship.
If you were refused a visa solely on age grounds alone, between 27 November 2008 and October 2011 and you have not since made a successful application, you could seek a review of that decision. For further information see the Review of age decision page.
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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.
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Civil partnership
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.