If your partner has died while you were in the UK on a family visa as their partner, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain straight away. Often called the bereaved partner visa, this is a settlement application: it does not depend on how long you have been in the UK, and there is no English language or Life in the UK test.
Applies to the partner of a British citizen, a settled person, or an EEA national with pre-settled status. Fiancé(e)s and proposed civil partners are not eligible on this route.
Reviewed by the Morgan Smith Immigration team — IAA-regulated UK immigration specialists. Last reviewed 2026-09-16.
TL;DR
The Bereaved Partner route lets someone in the UK on a family visa as a partner apply for indefinite leave to remain if that partner dies. The fee is £3,226 per person, with a fee waiver if you cannot afford it. You can apply at any time after the death without waiting for your visa to expire, you must be in the UK, and a decision usually takes up to 6 months. No English test or Life in the UK test is required.
£3,226
Application fee (per person)
Any time
Apply straight away — no waiting period
6 months
Usual decision time
What is the Bereaved Partner Route?
The Bereaved Partner route is a form of indefinite leave to remain for a person whose permission to be in the UK was based on their relationship with a partner who has since died. It recognises that the applicant came to the UK in good faith to build a life with their partner, and that the loss of that partner should not also mean the loss of their home.
To qualify, your permission must have been granted on a family visa as the partner — spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner — of a British citizen, a person with indefinite leave to remain, or an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen with pre-settled status. Permission as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner does not count.
Unlike the ordinary five-year partner route, there is no minimum period of residence. You can apply at any time after your partner’s death and you do not have to wait for your current permission to run out. You also do not need to prove your English or pass the Life in the UK test.
Indefinite leave to remain gives you the right to live, work and study in the UK without time limit, to claim benefits if you are eligible, and, usually after a further 12 months, to apply for British citizenship. Children who were in the UK as your dependants can apply with you.
Eligibility Requirements
You must meet all three conditions to settle in the UK after your partner’s death.
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Permission as a Partner
Before your partner died, you must have held a family visa as their partner. This covers spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners. It does not cover permission as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner, and it does not cover partners of people on work or study visas, who are dependants rather than family-visa partners.
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Your Partner’s Status
Your late partner must have been a British citizen, a person with indefinite leave to remain, or an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen holding pre-settled status. Your partner must not have been living permanently in another country at the time of their death.
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A Genuine, Continuing Relationship
When your partner died you must have been living together in the UK and intending to live together permanently. The Home Office is checking that the relationship was real and ongoing at the time of death, not that it lasted a set number of years.
What You Can and Cannot Do
What indefinite leave to remain gives you, and what you must avoid while your application is being decided.
✓ You Can
- Apply at any time after your partner’s death, without waiting for your visa to expire
- Live, work and study in the UK with no time limit once settlement is granted
- Claim benefits and a pension if you meet the eligibility conditions
- Include dependent children in the same application
- Apply for British citizenship, usually 12 months after settlement is granted
✗ You Cannot
- Travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man while the application is pending — it will be withdrawn if you do
- Apply if your permission was as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner
- Apply from outside the UK — you must be in the UK when you apply
- Apply if your partner was living permanently in another country when they died
- Rely on time spent in the UK on other visas — permission must have been as this partner
Costs & Fees
Current fees as of 2026. Set by the Home Office — subject to change.
Fees set by the Home Office and subject to change. Last reviewed: September 2026.
| Item | Cost (2026) |
|---|---|
| Application fee | £3,226 per person |
| Dependent child included on the form | £3,226 per child |
| Biometrics (fingerprints and photo) | No charge |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | Not payable — settlement applications are exempt |
| English test / Life in the UK test | Not required on this route |
| Fee waiver | Available if you cannot afford the fee — check current fees |
How to Apply as a Bereaved Partner
Five steps from bereavement to a settlement decision.
Confirm You Qualify
Check that your permission was as the partner of a British citizen, settled person or EEA pre-settled national, and that you were living together in the UK when your partner died.
Gather Your Evidence
Your partner’s death certificate, proof of your relationship and cohabitation, your passport or immigration status, and evidence for a fee waiver if you need one.
Apply Online Using Form SET(O)
Submit the settlement application on gov.uk from inside the UK. You can apply at any time after the death. Pay £3,226 per person or apply for a fee waiver.
Provide Biometrics and Upload Documents
Book an appointment to give fingerprints and a photo. Any child aged 6 or over included on your form must also attend.
Receive Your Decision
Usually within 6 months. Do not leave the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man while you wait, or the application is treated as withdrawn.
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Sources
Legal information on this page is based on guidance from GOV.UK, the UK Home Office / UK Visas and Immigration, legislation.gov.uk, and Free Movement. Rules change frequently — speak to our team to confirm current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about settling in the UK after the death of a partner.
What is the Bereaved Partner visa UK?
It is an application for indefinite leave to remain made by someone who was in the UK on a family visa as the partner of a British citizen, settled person or EEA pre-settled national, and whose partner has died. It is not a separate visa; it is a settlement route that removes the usual five-year waiting period.
How much does the Bereaved Partner application cost?
£3,226 per person, including each dependent child included on the form. Biometrics are free. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for a fee waiver by showing that you are homeless, cannot meet essential living costs, or have a very low income where paying would harm a child’s wellbeing.
Do I need to take the Life in the UK test or an English test?
No. GOV.UK confirms that you do not need to take the Life in the UK test or prove your English language skills on this route.
How soon after my partner’s death can I apply?
At any time. There is no minimum residence period and you do not have to wait for your current visa to expire. In practice it is sensible to apply before your existing permission ends so that your status is never in doubt.
Do I need to be in the UK to apply?
Yes. You must be in the UK when you apply, and you must not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you receive a decision. If you do, the application is withdrawn.
How long does a Bereaved Partner decision take?
You will usually get a decision within 6 months of providing your biometrics.
My partner and I were engaged — can I use this route?
No. Permission as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner does not qualify. The route is for those who held a family visa as a spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner.
My partner was in the UK on a work visa — does this route apply to me?
No. Your partner must have been a British citizen, a person with indefinite leave to remain, or an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen with pre-settled status. Partners of work-visa holders are dependants on that route and should seek advice on their position.
Can my children apply with me?
Yes. Children who were in the UK as your dependants can be included on the same form. Each pays the £3,226 fee, and any child aged 6 or over must provide biometrics.
Can I apply for British citizenship after settling as a bereaved partner?
Yes. Indefinite leave to remain can be used to apply for British citizenship, usually after a minimum of 12 months, provided you meet the other naturalisation requirements.
Speak to Our Bereaved Partner Advisers
Our immigration specialists handle everything from sponsor licence checks to visa approval — for employers and applicants alike.