Spouse visa relationship evidence: what counts
The evidence GOV.UK and the Home Office’s own caseworker guidance name for a genuine relationship, for married couples, couples living together for two years, and couples who couldn’t live together.
Quoted from GOV.UK and the guidance, checked 8 November 2026. Information, not immigration advice.
GOV.UK: “you’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK”
Appendix FM, GEN.1.2 and E-ECP.2.5 to 2.7 (E-LTRP.1.6 to 1.8 in the UK)
The evidence has to show
- A valid marriage or civil partnership, shown as Appendix FM-SE paragraphs 22 to 26 specify: the certificate, or for one abroad its reasonable equivalent under that country’s law.
- That you have met in person.
- That the relationship is genuine and subsisting.
- That any earlier marriage or civil partnership of either of you has ended, shown by the decree absolute, final order or the overseas equivalent (FM-SE paragraphs 23, 25 and 26).
Documents the sources name
- The marriage or civil partnership certificate, with a certified translation if it isn’t in English or Welsh
- Proof that any earlier marriage or civil partnership ended
Appendix FM-SE specifies the certificate; the rest of the evidence of a genuine relationship isn’t specified, and GOV.UK’s list and the guidance’s tiers below are what they name.
GOV.UK’s list
GOV.UK’s partner page asks for evidence that:
- comes from the government, a bank, landlord, utility provider, or a medical professional
- confirms your relationship with your partner - for example, that you live together, share expenses or are married or in a civil partnership
- is less than 4 years old
It gives these as things you can use:
- a marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate
- a tenancy agreement, utility bills or Council Tax bills confirming that you live at the same address or pay bills together
- a bank statement from a joint bank account, or confirming that you live at the same address
- a letter from your doctor or dentist confirming that you live at the same address
Without evidence that meets those criteria, it names other evidence instead, including:
- a one-off bill like vet’s fees or home repair costs
- letters confirming you and your partner are on the voting register for the same address
- student finance paperwork confirming that you live at the same address
If you don’t live together
For couples who can’t live together because of work or study, or for cultural reasons, GOV.UK asks for proof of an ongoing commitment to each other: evidence that you
- communicate regularly with each other
- support each other financially
- care for any children you have together
- spend time together as a couple, for example on holiday or at events
The guidance’s three tiers
The Home Office’s caseworker guidance, Family life (as a partner or parent) and exceptional circumstances (version 30.0, published for Home Office staff on 8 October 2026), sorts evidence of a genuine relationship into three tiers in its section 7.7, “tier 1 being the most valued pieces of evidence and tier 3 the least”. Its list is non-exhaustive, and the same guidance says all submitted evidence must be taken into account and evaluated in the round.
Tier 1
- Tenancy agreement
- Council tax bill
- Utility bill
- Marriage certificate
- Joint bank statement
- DWP / HMRC letters to demonstrate family unit as claimed
- Car finance agreement documents which evidences address as claimed
- Insurance documentation which evidences address as claimed
- Medical letters and GP registration documentation
- Evidence of joint finances business ventures or commitments (such as tax returns, business contracts, investments)
Tier 2
- Electoral register confirmation
- Documentation issued by a student finance body that shows a UK address
- Other dated, UK-addressed domestic bills, for example, veterinary bills or home services / repairs
Tier 3
- Greetings cards
- Older documents – anything more than 4 years before the application date
- Message transcripts
- Photographs
- Shopping / meal receipts
- Train tickets
- Flight tickets
- Wedding / engagement invitations
- Letters of support from friends / relatives or religious leaders with British citizenship
- Holiday booking confirmation
The tracker lists the relationship documents for your own route, with the dates they should cover worked out from the day you apply.
Questions
What evidence of relationship do you need for a UK spouse visa?
GOV.UK asks for evidence that comes from the government, a bank, landlord, utility provider or a medical professional, confirms the relationship (for example that you live together, share expenses or are married) and is less than 4 years old: a marriage certificate, a tenancy, utility or Council Tax bills, a joint bank statement, or a doctor’s or dentist’s letter at the same address.
What are the tiers of relationship evidence?
The Home Office’s caseworker guidance (section 7.7, “Supporting document tiers”) groups the evidence in three tiers, tier 1 the most valued and tier 3 the least. Tier 1 includes tenancy agreements, council tax and utility bills, the marriage certificate and joint bank statements; tier 2 electoral register confirmation and student finance documents; tier 3 photographs, message transcripts, travel tickets, cards and anything more than 4 years old. The list is non-exhaustive.
Do photos count as evidence for a spouse visa?
They can be sent: the guidance lists photographs, with message transcripts, greetings cards and travel tickets, in tier 3, the least valued of its three tiers. GOV.UK’s own list starts with documents from the government, a bank, landlord, utility provider or a medical professional.
Do unmarried partners have to have lived together for 2 years?
The rule (Appendix FM, GEN.1.2) is a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years before applying. GOV.UK also accepts couples together for 2 years who couldn’t live together because of work, study or culture, and the guidance says the 2-year period does not require evidence of living together for the whole period.
What if we couldn’t live together?
GOV.UK asks for evidence of an ongoing commitment to each other: that you communicate regularly, support each other financially, care for any children you have together, and spend time together as a couple, for example on holiday or at events.
How old can relationship evidence be?
GOV.UK asks for evidence less than 4 years old, and the guidance puts older documents, anything more than 4 years before the application date, in tier 3.
From GOV.UK’s partner page, the Home Office’s family life guidance (sections 3.8, 6, 7.2 and 7.7), Appendix FM and Appendix FM-SE, checked 8 November 2026. Whether your evidence shows what the rules ask is a judgement only a regulated adviser can make: have your bundle checked.