Unmarried partners settle on the same terms as spouses after five years on the partner route. The difference is evidence: you must show you have lived together throughout, not just at the start.

What you must show

Five years' continuous leave as the unmarried partner of the same person.
Cohabitation across the five years: official documents addressed to each of you, or jointly, at the same address, spread across the period. Six items over each two-and-a-half-year period is a sensible target.
The financial requirement of £29,000 income or savings (or the transitional figure where it applies).
English at B1 and the Life in the UK test, unless exempt.

If you married during the route

You can still apply as a partner; the marriage does not restart the clock. Tell us so the application is framed correctly.

After settlement

Unmarried partners of British citizens must usually hold settlement for twelve months before applying for citizenship, because the three-year spouse route only applies to people who are married or in a civil partnership. If you marry after settlement, the spouse route opens.

The requirements and process are otherwise as described on ILR as a spouse or partner.

Rules that are changing

A higher English level, B2, has been announced for settlement applications made on or after 26 March 2027 on most routes, and the government has proposed an "earned settlement" system with a ten-year baseline. As at 13 October 2026 that is a proposal, not a rule. If you are close to qualifying, apply as soon as you are eligible; we check the position on the day.

Fees and timing

Home Office fee £3,226 per person, correct on 13 October 2026. A super priority decision costs £1,000 more. Standard decisions usually arrive within six months. Our fixed fee is quoted before you instruct us; see our fees.