What “genuine and subsisting” means
To obtain a UK spouse or partner visa you must show that your relationship is genuine and subsisting, and that you intend to live together permanently in the UK. A genuine relationship is one that is real, not entered into for immigration advantage. A subsisting one is one that is continuing: it has not ended and is not merely a past relationship. The Home Office decides this on the evidence, and an application that meets every financial rule can still be refused because the decision-maker is not satisfied on this one. This guide sets out what persuades. See also our full spouse visa guide.
What the decision-maker looks for
Officers look for a coherent story that is supported by independent records. They ask:
- How and when did you meet, and how did the relationship develop?
- How much time have you spent together, in person, and when?
- Do you each know about the other’s life, family, work and plans?
- Do your accounts, your documents and your partner’s accounts agree?
- Is there a plan for where you will live, and is it realistic?
Evidence that carries weight
| Type | Examples | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Official records showing the same address | Tenancy, council tax, utility bills, bank and GP letters, post from government bodies | Strong |
| Joint commitments | Joint account, joint tenancy or mortgage, insurance, a child together | Strong |
| Travel | Tickets, boarding passes, hotel bookings, passport stamps, visa records | Strong |
| Contact over time | Call logs, message histories, video call records, spread across the period | Useful |
| Photographs | Dated and spread across the relationship, with the people and places identified | Supporting |
| Statements | A statement from each of you, and from family or friends who know you as a couple | Supporting |
A small amount of strong, consistent, official evidence usually outweighs hundreds of screenshots. Choose documents that cover the whole relationship and that a stranger could verify.
Particular situations
Arranged marriages
An arranged marriage can be perfectly genuine, and the Home Office accepts it. What helps is evidence of how the match was made, the families’ involvement, the engagement and wedding arrangements, and contact between you since. The test is whether you each consented to the marriage and intend to live together.
Couples who met online
Meeting online is common. The rules require that you have also met in person, so travel records and photographs of your meetings matter, as does evidence of the communication that came before.
Couples who live apart
Long-distance relationships, and couples separated by work or study, can qualify, but the evidence must show why you live apart, how often you meet and how you keep in contact. An explanation, and the supporting travel and communication records, can answer the usual concern.
A short relationship or a large age difference
Neither is a bar. Officers may look more closely, so give more detail on how the relationship developed and on your shared plans.
The relationship statement
A statement from each of you, in your own words, is useful. It should be dated and signed, and set out in order: how you met; how the relationship developed; when you met in person and for how long; your marriage or plans to marry; how you keep in touch; where you will live and work; and your plans. Keep it factual, and consistent with your documents. Do not exaggerate. If anything is awkward, such as a gap, a previous refusal or a previous relationship, say so plainly.
If you are interviewed
Some applicants are asked to attend a short interview with an entry clearance officer, or to answer questions by telephone. The questions test whether your accounts match: how you met, your routines, your families, your wedding. The answers do not need to be perfect, but they must be truthful and consistent with one another and with your documents. Prepare by re-reading your application and statements. If you do not understand a question, say so. We help clients prepare.
What not to do
- Do not submit false or altered documents. A finding of deception leads to refusal and can mean a ban from the UK of up to ten years, and it will count against every later application.
- Do not invent evidence of contact or create documents after the event.
- Do not rely on a quantity of photographs in place of official records.
- Do not leave a discrepancy unexplained. A different address or date is worth a line in the covering letter.
If the Home Office doubts the relationship
A refusal on this ground carries a right of appeal on human rights grounds, and in an appeal the Tribunal can hear fresh evidence and your witnesses. See appealing a refused partner visa. A fresh application with stronger evidence may sometimes be quicker.
How we help
We build the relationship evidence with you, prepare your statements, and prepare you for an interview. A consultation costs from £99.
