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Welcome to Cohabitation guidance

This page will explain in greater detail the cohabitation based on differtent immigration routes of a genuine relationship.

Key routes are Appendix FM and the Points-Based System,  demonstrating you in a genuine relationship.
Welcome to English Guidance

This page will explain in greater detail the English requirement levels, types of visas that need English and English routes to becoming British.

English evidence must come from certain approved sources.
Welcome to English Guidance

This page will explain in greater detail the English requirement levels, types of visas that need English and English routes to becoming British. English evidence must come from certain approved sources.

English Guidance

English Guidance

Cohabitation Guidance


Cohabitation can cover various visa routes and UK settlement.


What does cohabitation mean?

Two people living together regardless if one or both parties require a visa. If you are classed as a married/civil partnership or unmarried partner, cohabitation is required unless exceptional circumstances applies. How people live their lives can be complex and can be not straightforward.


Below visa routes will help you to understand part of the visa route but check the document check list for a list of documents you must provide us.

  • Leave to Enter - Spouse/Partner under Appendix FM

    Applying to enter the UK under Appendix FM immigration rules, you will need to demonstrate you are in a genuine relationship with your UK partner. You have two scenarios:

    1. UK partner living outside the UK.
    2. UK partner living in the UK.

    Living outside the UK

    If your partner is British and they return to the UK, different rules apply. If you both lived together two years overseas you can provide evidence covering that period. See cohabitation tab below for guidance.



  • Leave to Remain - Spouse/Partner under Appendix FM

    If you are applying to remain in the UK we have these scenarios:

  • Settlement - Spouse/Partner under Appendix FM

    If you are applying to settle in the UK we have these scenarios:

  • Leave to Enter - Points-Based System

    If you are applying to enter the UK we have two scenarios:

  • Leave to Remain - Points-Based System

    If you are applying to remain in the UK we have these scenarios:

  • Settlement - Points-Based System

    If you are applying to settle in the UK we have these scenarios:

  • Cohabitation evidence

    Providing cohabitation evidence must be provided in a certain format to demonstrate a 'genuine relationship'.

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Passing English is mandatory for most visa applications unless you are deemed as exempt.


The majority of visa applications will require evidence of English which can be an Academic qualification or English test certificate unless you are a holder of a passport approved as an English-speaking country. If you are a national of one of these countries, you meet the English requirements:


Antigua, Australia, Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and the USA.


If your passport is not on the above list, you must provide either:


Either a UK qualification at Academic level. Click here to learn more about the English rules.


If you have an overseas degree taught 100% in English, you will need a ECCTIS report and a letter from the training institute confirming that your degree was 100% taught in English. If you need to pass an English test, these are your only options:



Note: English test results are based on A1, A2, B1 and B2.


Below table explains what level of English you will need to enter or remain in the UK:

Visa Types Leave to Enter Leave to Remain Settlement Naturalisation
Charity Worker N/A N/A X X
Creative Worker N/A N/A X X
Graduate Trainee N/A X X X
Health & Care Worker B1 B1 B1 B1
Innovator Founder B2 B2 B1 B1
International Sportsperson A1 A1 B1 B1
Minister of Religion B2 B2 B1 B1
Religious Worker N/A N/A X X
Representative of an Overseas Business A1 A1 B1 B1
Scale-up Worker B1 B1 B1 B1
Secondment Worker N/A N/A X X
Senior or Specialist Worker B1 B1 B1 B1
Skilled Worker B1 B1 B1 B1
UK Expansion Worker N/A N/A B1 B1
UK Ancestry N/A N/A X X
Visit visa (Standard) N/A N/A X X
Visit visa (Medical) N/A N/A X X
Youth Mobility Scheme N/A N/A X X

Above list of visa types are the most common ones but if your visa is not on the list, feel free to contact us for guidance.



N/A = English not required.

X = Not permitted to apply.

Passing English is mandatory for most visa applications unless you are deemed as exempt.


The majority of visa applications will require evidence of English which can be an Academic qualification or English test certificate unless you are a holder of a passport approved as an English-speaking country. If you are a national of one of these countries, you meet the English requirements:


Antigua, Australia, Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and the USA.


If your passport is not on the above list, you must provide either:


Either a UK qualification at Academic level. Click here to learn more about the English rules.


If you have an overseas degree taught 100% in English, you will need a ECCTIS report and a letter from the training institute confirming that your degree was 100% taught in English. If you need to pass an English test, these are your only options:



Note: English test results are based on A1, A2, B1 and B2.


Below table explains what level of English you will need to enter or remain in the UK:

Visa Types Leave to Enter Leave to Remain Settlement Naturalisation
Charity Worker N/A N/A X X
Creative Worker N/A N/A X X
Graduate Trainee N/A X X X
Health & Care Worker B1 B1 B1 B1
Innovator Founder B2 B2 B1 B1
International Sportsperson A1 A1 B1 B1
Minister of Religion B2 B2 B1 B1
Religious Worker N/A N/A X X
Representative of an Overseas Business A1 A1 B1 B1
Scale-up Worker B1 B1 B1 B1
Secondment Worker N/A N/A X X
Senior or Specialist Worker B1 B1 B1 B1
Skilled Worker B1 B1 B1 B1
UK Expansion Worker N/A N/A B1 B1
UK Ancestry N/A N/A X X
Visit visa (Standard) N/A N/A X X
Visit visa (Medical) N/A N/A X X
Youth Mobility Scheme N/A N/A X X

Above list of visa types are the most common ones but if your visa is not on the list, feel free to contact us for guidance.


N/A = English not required.

X = Not permitted to apply.