For a partner to be included in a residence application, we must be satisfied that:
- you’ve been living together in a genuine and stable relationship for 12 months or more
- you’re both aged 18 years or over, or if you’re aged between 16 and 18 years and you have the support of your parents or guardians
and
- you met before you made your residence application
and
- you’re not relatives.
For our official policy on when partners included in an application may be issued with a residence visa or granted a residence permit, see our Operational Manual at R2.1.15.
See also our definitions of partner and a genuine and stable relationship.