If you’re a UK citizen currently in a long-term relationship with a Thai national, a UK De Facto Visa will allow you to bring them to the United Kingdom to live permanently even if you are not legally married. Also known as a UK Unmarried Partner Visa, this visa allows your partner to settle in the UK by providing important rights and paving the way for permanent residency.
Continue reading to learn more about the UK De Facto Visa, how you can sponsor your partner for it, and what documents are needed.
What is a UK De Facto Visa?
The UK De Facto Visa is a family settlement visa that enables your partner to join you in the UK and is initially valid for 2 years and 9 months (33 months in total). Unlike the UK Fiancé(e) Visa, your partner can secure their visa if you do not have plans to marry legally. While holding this visa, your partner is permitted to work locally in the country full-time.
Before the expiry date, your partner can extend their visa by applying for Leave to Remain status, allowing them an additional 2 years and 6 months (30 months in total). After remaining in the UK for 5 years and fulfilling certain criteria, your partner can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which allows them to reside in the country permanently with no further visa concerns.
How to Qualify for a UK Unmarried Partner Visa
Both you and your partner must meet certain conditions, as sponsor and applicant, respectively, to obtain a UK De Facto Visa.
To sponsor your partner for the visa, you’ll need to fulfill one of the following citizenship requirements before you can sponsor your partner:
- You’re a British or Irish citizen
- You’re currently settled in the United Kingdom under settled, ILR, or permanent residency status
- You’re under pre-settled status in the UK
- You own a Turkish Businessperson or Worker Visa
- You’re under refugee or humanitarian protection status
Additionally, you also need to satisfy the financial requirements:
- Having sufficient funds and income to sustain your partner during their stay (at least 29,000 GBP per year)
- Having suitable accommodation for your partner and any dependents they bring
You and your partner must also both meet the following conditions:
- Your partner is a non-UK national
- You and your partner must be at least 18 years of age
- You and your partner must have met one another in person
- You and your partner must have been together for at least 2 years
- You and your partner must intend to live together permanently in the UK
- Your relationship must be similar to that of a married couple or a civil partnership
- Any past relationships you had must have been absolved
- Your partner must meet the English language requirements
Required Documents for a UK De Facto Visa
To prove that you both meet the eligibility requirements and satisfy the application process, both the sponsor and the applicant will need to submit certain documentation.
The Thai applicant must provide:
- A valid Thai passport
- Two passport-sized photographs
- Completed Appendix FM application form
- Proof of address in Thailand
- Proof of relationship documents (such as shared bills, travel photos and receipts, pictures together, proof of shared assets, etc.)
- Proof of sufficient finances (such as bank statements and recent payslips)
- Tuberculosis test results (only if requested to undergo a medical exam)
As the sponsor, you must submit:
- Evidence of your UK citizenship
- Proof of a viable accommodation in the UK
- Documents to show you’ve met the financial requirements.
Depending on the circumstances, UK immigration might also request additional documentation to be delivered, typically done if you provide insufficient proof of meeting the eligibility requirements.
How to Apply for a UK Unmarried Partner Visa
Once your partner’s application form and all required documents are ready, they will have to submit them to VFS UK in Thailand. They will process your partner’s application and collect their biometric information. You will need to schedule an appointment with VFS for the applicant to provide fingerprints and photographs.
VFS UK will then forward their application to the UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) for approval. After the application has been processed, they can pick up their visa at the nearest UK visa application center or request a courier service to deliver it to their address in Thailand.
The average timeline for an unmarried partner visa application when applying from Thailand is usually up to 12 weeks, though incorrect documents and high UKVI caseloads could increase the application’s wait time. However, by applying through the priority service and paying an extra fee, your partner could get their visa as quickly as 30 working days.
Professional Assistance in Getting a UK De Facto Visa From Thailand
If you want the easiest and quickest way of acquiring your UK De Facto Visa, contact Siam Legal today for professional assistance. As a full-service law firm and visa consultancy in operation for over 20 years in Thailand, our foreign visa lawyers have the skills and knowledge to help you get your visa quickly and seamlessly. Book a consultation and connect with our visa specialists today to fulfill your dreams of living in the UK by your partner’s side.
UK Unmarried Partner Visa FAQs
What proof of relationship documents are eligible?
Both you and your Thai partner need to provide certain documentation as evidence that your relationship is genuine and you have been together for some time. This can come in the form of the following items showing that you live at the same address:
- Tenancy agreements
- Shared utility bills
- Bank statements
- Shared invoices
- Letters from medical professionals
If you do not reside in the same home as your partner, you can instead provide documents that prove you have spent considerable time together as a couple, financially support each other, communicate with each other regularly, and more.
Does my Thai partner need to meet any English requirements?
Yes, having sufficient English skills is an essential requirement of the De Facto visa. Your partner can demonstrate their English proficiency in one of three ways:
- Take an official English exam and pass it with a score of at least level A1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale
- Complete a degree or acquire a qualification at an educational institution in the UK or through an international program that was taught in English
- Their nationality is from a country where English is a primary language
Your partner can be exempt from this requirement if they are over the age of 65 or have a physical or mental condition that prevents them from acquiring the necessary English language skills.
Can my partner qualify for Permanent Residency?
Yes, the UK Unmarried Partner Visa is one of the ways your Thai partner can secure permanent residency status in the United Kingdom. However, this visa doesn’t turn your partner into a permanent resident right away, and they will need to go through the following process:
- After obtaining the visa, your partner must remain in the UK for 2 years and 9 months, and then apply for Leave to Remain status before the visa expires.
- After the visa has been extended, your partner must stay for 2 years and 6 months and apply for ILR.
- Once your partner has attained ILR status, they will be able to live in the UK permanently.
Can my partner bring any dependents?
Yes, your partner can bring dependents along with them to the UK, provided they apply for them at the same time as their UK Unmarried Partner Visa. Dependents eligible for this must be under the age of 18 and be financially dependent on you and your partner.
Can my partner reapply if their application was refused?
Depending on why your partner’s application has been refused, they will have the opportunity to reapply or submit an appeal. When going through this, it’s best to consult Siam Legal for a higher chance at appealing the UKVI’s decision and for a successful outcome when reapplying.
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