Follow @glazerdelmar

Civil Partnership

From 5 December 2005 civil partnerships for same sex couples were recognised as equivalent to marriage within UK immigration and nationality law. Civil partnerships entered into in other countries will also generally be recognised in the UK.

The main changes that this brought were that:-

1. A person living in the UK can now sponsor their civil partner or proposed civil partner to join them to live in the UK.
2. Couples wishing to form a civil partnership who live in another country where they are not available will have the possibility of visiting the UK in order to enter a civil partnership here.
3. A foreign national who enters a civil partnership with a British national will be able to apply earlier for naturalisation as a British citizen.

This change in the law does not prohibit same sex couples to sponsor a partner in the UK without entering into a civil partnership, provided they have undergone two years cohabitation.

We can, of course, assist you in this and every step of your journey. Our specialist immigration team have many years experience helping same sex couples with immigration advice. We can provide confidential and expert help in this regard.

If you have limited leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom as a refugee or beneficiary of humanitarian protection you can now sponsor your spouse or civil partner  to come to the UK under the immigration rules.