How to Prove a Genuine Relationship for a UK Spouse Visa

Last reviewed: 18 October 2026

UK spouse visa relationship evidence should explain your life as a couple and show that your relationship is genuine and continuing. The documents you provide will depend on whether you are married, living together, living apart or applying to extend your stay.

What Does a Genuine and Subsisting Relationship Mean?

Your relationship must be real and ongoing. Under Appendix FM, couples must have met in person and intend to live together permanently in the UK. Any previous relationship must have permanently broken down, and a marriage or civil partnership must meet the relevant validity requirements.

Relationship evidence is one part of the application. You must also meet the other requirements that apply to your route.

Which Relationship Documents Should You Provide?

Start with documents that directly establish your relationship and shared circumstances. Depending on your situation, these may include:

• Your marriage or civil partnership certificate.
• A tenancy agreement or mortgage documents.
• Council tax or utility bills showing a shared address.
• Bank statements showing the same address or shared financial arrangements.
• Official correspondence addressed to each partner at the same home.

Documents do not always need to be in joint names. Individually addressed records can help connect both partners to the same address over time.

Supporting Evidence When You Live Apart

If you live in different countries, explain why and show how you maintain your commitment. Evidence may include visits, regular communication, financial support where relevant and shared responsibility for children.

We recommend organising this material so the caseworker can follow the relationship without searching through hundreds of unrelated screenshots.

How to Present Messages, Photographs and Visits

Our practical recommendation is to choose a representative selection:

• Messages: show the participants and dates, with examples from different stages of the relationship.
• Photographs: add short, accurate captions explaining who appears, where and when.
• Visits: group relevant travel records with the dates in your relationship timeline.
• Financial support: explain the purpose of transfers rather than submitting unexplained transactions.

Supporting material should help explain your circumstances. Avoid duplicate pages and do not alter evidence to create a misleading impression.

Is a Marriage Certificate Enough?

A valid marriage certificate establishes the marriage, but the application also needs to demonstrate that the relationship continues. Home Office guidance considers the evidence and circumstances together.

For example, a couple living together may have household records, while a couple temporarily separated by work may have evidence of visits and continuing contact.

Do You Need Two Years of Living Together?

Married couples do not have to show two years of cohabitation before applying as spouses.

For unmarried partners, Appendix FM requires a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership lasting at least two years before the application. This does not always require two years under the same roof. Where you have lived apart, explain the reasons and provide evidence of your continuing commitment.

If you intend to marry in the UK before settling together, read our UK fiancée and Marriage Visitor Visa guide to understand the different routes.

Relationship Evidence for a Spouse Visa Extension

For an extension, prepare evidence showing your continuing shared life since your previous application. Keep correspondence organised by date and address, including records covering any house moves.

Follow the document instructions generated by your application. Explain missing periods or time spent apart rather than leaving unexplained gaps.

Our UK spouse and partner visa extension guide explains our FLR(M) service and preparing cohabitation documents.

Write a Clear Relationship Timeline

We recommend a concise timeline covering:

1. How you first met and when you met in person.
2. How your relationship developed.
3. Significant visits and periods living together.
4. Your engagement, marriage or civil partnership, where relevant.
5. Periods apart and the reasons for them.
6. Your arrangements for living together in the UK.

Check names and dates against your application and supporting records. If an earlier application contains a different answer, explain the discrepancy accurately.

Previous Marriages and Translations

Disclose previous marriages and civil partnerships, and provide the relevant evidence that they ended, such as divorce or death certificates.

Documents that are not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a full translation that can be independently verified. The translation should include confirmation of accuracy, the date, the translator’s full name and signature, and their contact details.

Final Checks Before Uploading

• Make sure every document is readable and complete.
• Use descriptive filenames and arrange records logically.
• Check that your timeline matches the application.
• Explain unusual circumstances in plain language.
• Check the application checklist and any additional document requests.

Official Guidance

• GOV.UK: Apply as a partner or spouse
• GOV.UK: Information and evidence you must provide
• Immigration Rules: Appendix FM

This guide provides general information. The evidence needed depends on your circumstances, application route and the rules in force when you apply.