Civil partnerships are a legal relationship registered by two people of the same sex and give the couples legal recognition for their relationship. Same-sex couples who wish to register a civil partnership are treated similarly to opposite-sex couples who wish to enter a civil marriage, when to comes to UK immigration matters.
A Civil Partnership can be registered if the foreign national has entered the UK on a Proposed Civil Partner Visa or if they have a Certificate of Approval (COA).
You must obtain Entry Clearance as a Proposed Civil Partner before seeking admission to the United Kingdom.
You will need to show that the sponsor is present and settled in the United Kingdom, or is to be admitted for settlement at the same time as the applicant, and that you have both met.
You will also need to show that you have adequate maintenance and accommodation available to you prior to the civil partnership registration, without the need to turn to public funds.
Finally, you will also need to show that there will be adequate accommodation for both of you, along with any dependants, that you will occupy exclusively after the civil partnership has been registered. After the registration you will also need to maintain yourselves and any dependents adequately without turning to public funds.
Entry clearance is issued for a six month period. You have six months to register the partnership. During this period you can leave and re-enter the UK as you wish. You will not be able to take employement before the proposed civil partnership is registered.
Once the partnership has been registered, you may upgrade your visa from a Proposed Civil Partnership Visa to a Civil Partnership Visa.
