Proving a Genuine and Subsisting Relationship for a UK Spouse Visa: Evidence Checklist for Swiss Residents

A UK Spouse visa application under Appendix FM often succeeds or fails on evidence. Many couples in Switzerland can plainly demonstrate that their relationship is real, committed and ongoing, but still receive a refusal because the Home Office considers the documentation incomplete, inconsistent or too thin to meet the “genuine and subsisting relationship” requirement. This is particularly common where a couple have lived apart between Switzerland and another country, have recently married, have limited joint financial paperwork, or have complex immigration histories.

This article explains what the Home Office is trying to verify when assessing whether a relationship is genuine and subsisting, the types of documents that usually carry the most weight, and the evidence gaps that repeatedly trigger refusals. Although it is framed as an “evidence checklist”, it is not a tick-box exercise: decision-makers look for a coherent narrative supported by documents that fit the couple’s circumstances. This article concerns UK immigration law only, and is written for Switzerland-based clients seeking UK immigration advice.

What the Home Office means by a “genuine and subsisting relationship”

Under Appendix FM, an applicant for entry clearance or permission to stay as a partner must show that the relationship with the UK-based partner is genuine and subsisting. For spouses and civil partners, there is also a separate question of the validity of the marriage/civil partnership to consider, but a marriage certificate is not, by itself, proof that the relationship is genuine, ongoing and intended to continue in the UK.

In practice, the Home Office is trying to answer a small number of questions:

• Is this a real relationship, rather than one entered into solely to obtain an immigration advantage?

• Is it ongoing at the date of decision (subsisting), rather than a relationship that has effectively ended?

• Do the parties intend to live together permanently in the UK (where the application is as a partner planning to live together), and is there evidence that they have structured their lives around the relationship to the extent reasonably expected for them?

The assessment is holistic. Decision-makers are instructed to look at the overall picture, including the timeline of the relationship, cohabitation, shared responsibilities, financial interdependence, contact and communication, social recognition of the relationship, and credibility when comparing documents, forms and any interview answers. A weak area can be offset by strength elsewhere, but a pattern of gaps or inconsistencies can lead to refusal even where some evidence exists.

How caseworkers assess credibility: consistency, chronology and “fit”

Spouse visa refusals frequently arise not because there is “no evidence”, but because the evidence does not match the story told in the application forms and statements. The Home Office will compare dates across documents: when you say you met, when you became exclusive, when you began living together, when you married, periods of separation, and when decisions were made to relocate to the UK from Switzerland (or elsewhere).

They also look for “fit” between the documents and the couple’s circumstances. If you say you have lived together for two years but provide only one piece of mail addressed jointly, that creates an evidential tension. If you say you have never lived together because of work or study in different countries (for example, one partner resident in Switzerland and the other in the UK), the Home Office expects to see stronger evidence of contact, visits and future planning. If you have been married only a short time, the Home Office will often look more closely at pre-marriage evidence to understand how the relationship developed.

In addition, caseworkers look for signs of contrivance. That does not mean couples must have identical social media footprints or extensive joint finances; it means documents should not look manufactured for the purpose of the application. A bundle containing only staged photographs and a large volume of chat screenshots from the last two weeks, with nothing from earlier months, is a common red flag because it suggests evidence was assembled hurriedly rather than reflecting an ongoing relationship.

The core documents that usually carry the most weight

The Home Office tends to give most weight to evidence that is difficult to fabricate and that shows shared life over time. In many cases, the strongest evidence is a combination of (i) formal civil status documentation, (ii) evidence of living together, and (iii) evidence of continuing contact and mutual support.

Formal relationship evidence

Formal relationship evidence starts with a marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate. Where either party has been previously married or in a civil partnership, evidence of divorce or dissolution can be important to avoid doubts about the validity of the current marriage. If you married outside the UK (including in Switzerland), you should ensure the certificate is properly issued by the relevant authority, and where the document is not in English or Welsh, it should be accompanied by a translation meeting Home Office standards.

Evidence of cohabitation

Evidence of cohabitation is often central, especially for in-country partner applications and extensions, but it is also highly relevant on entry clearance applications where the couple have already lived together abroad (including while lawfully resident in Switzerland). Cohabitation evidence usually takes the form of official correspondence (for example, bank letters, utility bills, tenancy agreements, mortgage statements, government letters) addressed to each partner at the same address over a sustained period. The Home Office is looking for a pattern over time, not a single snapshot.

Evidence of contact and visits where cohabitation was not possible

Where cohabitation has not been possible, contact and visits become more important. Travel evidence (flight bookings, boarding passes, passport stamps, visas for travel to see each other, hotel bookings where relevant) can show that the relationship is lived rather than merely asserted. Communication evidence can support subsistence, but tends to be more persuasive when it is selective, covers the whole relationship period, and is presented in a way that demonstrates continuity without overwhelming the decision-maker.

Relationship evidence: what to gather, and how to present it

A strong spouse visa relationship bundle is usually built around a clear timeline supported by documents that anchor each phase of the relationship. Rather than submitting everything you have, it is better to submit representative material that covers the relationship from start to finish, with particular attention to key events: meeting, commitment, engagement (if relevant), periods of living together, marriage, pregnancies/children, and plans to establish a home in the UK. For applicants applying from Switzerland, it is often helpful to make the “from Switzerland to the UK” plan concrete and consistent across forms, statements and documents.

The following categories of evidence are commonly used. Not every couple will have every category, and you should not force evidence that does not exist. The aim is to cover the bases with documents that suit your circumstances.

1) Relationship timeline and statements

Well-drafted personal statements from both partners can help the Home Office understand the chronology, why the relationship developed as it did, and how you have maintained it through any periods apart (including long-distance periods involving Switzerland). Statements should align with the application forms and documentary evidence. They should explain practicalities (for example, work commitments, study, caring responsibilities, cultural or family expectations) rather than relying on generic assertions of love and commitment.

2) Marriage and civil status documents

Marriage/civil partnership certificate, evidence of any legal name changes, and divorce/dissolution documents where applicable. Where the marriage was very recent, including evidence of the relationship leading up to the marriage is often important to avoid the impression of a rushed marriage for immigration purposes.

3) Cohabitation and shared address evidence

A tenancy agreement or mortgage, utilities, bank statements, and official letters to both partners at the same address. Even where only one partner is named on a tenancy or bills, correspondence showing both names at the address over time can be helpful. If you are living with family (including family in Switzerland), evidence becomes more nuanced; you may need to rely on letters from the homeowner/tenant, evidence of permission to live there, and independent correspondence addressed to you at that address to show it is genuinely your home.

4) Shared finances and responsibilities

Joint bank accounts, evidence of money transfers between partners, shared savings, loans, insurance policies naming each other as beneficiaries, shared subscriptions, or evidence of jointly purchased significant items. The Home Office is not requiring financial interdependence as a rigid test, but shared financial arrangements can be powerful corroboration that the relationship is genuine and that the couple organise life jointly.

5) Contact and communication

A sample of messages, call logs, and emails can show a continuing relationship, particularly where the couple have lived apart. The key is sampling across the relationship, not volume. For example, a small selection from each month or each significant period can be more persuasive than hundreds of pages of undated screenshots. Materials should show identities where possible (names/phone numbers), dates, and continuity.

6) Visits and time spent together

Travel itineraries, tickets, boarding passes, passport stamps, entry visas, photographs from visits, and receipts where relevant. A pattern of visits over time is often persuasive, particularly where the couple have lived in different countries and maintained their relationship through regular travel (including travel between Switzerland and the UK).

7) Children and family life

If the couple have children together, birth certificates and evidence of parental responsibility can be highly probative of a genuine and subsisting relationship, though not determinative on their own. Where there are step-children or blended families, evidence about living arrangements and involvement in family life can assist.

8) Social recognition and wider context

Photographs spanning the relationship period, evidence of attending events with friends/family, wedding invitations, and limited letters of support from people who know you as a couple can support the application. This category tends to be supporting rather than central. It works best when it corroborates other evidence rather than substituting for it.

Common evidence gaps that trigger spouse visa refusals

Home Office refusals often follow predictable patterns. The issues below frequently appear in refusal notices and can usually be addressed with better preparation.

Thin or uneven evidence across time

Couples sometimes submit excellent evidence for the months immediately before the application but very little for earlier periods, particularly where they have been together for years. The Home Office may take the view that the evidence does not establish a sustained relationship. The solution is to ensure coverage across the full relationship timeline, especially the period since marriage and any long-distance phases.

Inconsistencies between forms, statements and documents

Examples include conflicting dates for when you started living together, discrepancies about addresses, or a travel history that does not match the claimed visits. These inconsistencies do not always indicate dishonesty, but they can undermine credibility. Careful cross-checking before submission is essential, and where there is a genuine discrepancy (for example, a passport stamp is unclear), it should be explained directly.

Over-reliance on photographs and chat screenshots

Photographs can demonstrate that you have spent time together, but they rarely show duration or commitment. Communication evidence can be persuasive in long-distance relationships, but if it is not properly dated or is excessively curated around the application date, it may carry less weight. A balanced bundle will usually include more objective evidence such as travel, shared address documents, and formal correspondence.

Lack of explanation for living apart

Many genuine couples live apart because of work, study, caring responsibilities, military postings, or immigration restrictions. The Home Office is not prohibited from granting a spouse visa in these circumstances, but it will expect a credible explanation and evidence of how you have maintained the relationship and why you will be able to live together in the UK following the grant. Where there are ongoing constraints (for example, a fixed-term overseas contract in Switzerland), this should be addressed honestly with a plan that is realistic.

Limited evidence of a shared home

This arises where bills are in one name, where couples live with relatives, or where they move frequently. It is often possible to strengthen these cases by focusing on official correspondence sent to each partner at the same address over time, supported by a clear explanation of the living arrangements.

Weak evidence of intent to live together permanently in the UK

This is not the same as the separate “adequate accommodation” requirement, but intention is part of the genuine partner assessment in practice. Evidence of planning can include discussions and decisions about where you will live, employment planning, schooling for children, and practical arrangements. Decision-makers are cautious where the couple’s plans appear vague, contradictory or implausible, including where a move from Switzerland to the UK is said to be imminent but the supporting evidence is unclear.

Previous immigration issues

Prior refusals, overstaying, or use of different relationship claims in previous applications can trigger closer scrutiny. That does not mean the relationship is not genuine, but it does mean your evidence and explanations must be particularly careful, complete and consistent.

A practical “evidence checklist” approach without turning it into a tick-box exercise

A useful way to prepare a spouse visa relationship bundle is to treat it as a narrative file: you are proving a living relationship over time, not simply proving that you are married. The most effective applications tend to have (i) clear statements explaining the relationship history and any complications, (ii) a chronological set of corroborative documents that cover the whole period, and (iii) evidence that the couple have either lived together, or have maintained a committed relationship despite living apart, and have realistic plans to live together in the UK.

If you want a compact checklist to structure your document gathering, focus on the following groupings: civil status documents; evidence of cohabitation (or, if not cohabiting, evidence of contact and visits); evidence of shared responsibilities or financial support; and a small number of additional documents that show social recognition and family life. Aim for continuity and credibility rather than volume.

How to avoid practical pitfalls: translations, formatting and document selection

Even strong evidence can be undermined by presentation problems. Any document not in English or Welsh should be translated in line with Home Office requirements, and translations should be clear and professional. Screenshots of messages should show dates and participants where possible. If you are providing call logs, they should be legible and ideally show numbers or account identifiers that can be tied to each partner.

Document selection also matters. Submitting hundreds of pages of repetitive chat can obscure the most persuasive evidence and frustrate the decision-maker. A curated selection that demonstrates continuity across months and key events is often more effective. Where an absence of evidence is unavoidable - for example, a lack of joint bills because you lived with parents - address it directly in statements and provide alternative independent documents to show your shared address and living arrangements.

If you have any sensitive issues (for example, periods of separation, cultural sensitivities about publicising relationships, or prior immigration non-compliance), it is usually better to address them carefully and transparently rather than hoping the Home Office will not focus on them. The Home Office will often infer the worst from silence, whereas a credible explanation supported by documents can preserve the application’s overall integrity.

Conclusion: what the Home Office wants to see, in plain terms

To prove a genuine and subsisting relationship for a UK Spouse visa, you are trying to show an authentic partnership that has developed over time, continues at the date of decision, and is intended to be lived in the UK. The Home Office is persuaded by consistency, chronology and objective evidence: documents showing shared life, sustained contact, and realistic planning. Refusals commonly follow thin evidence across time, inconsistencies, over-reliance on photos/chats, and a failure to explain why the couple have lived apart or lack joint paperwork. The strongest applications are those that present a coherent relationship narrative supported by carefully selected, credible documents that match the couple’s real circumstances.

Contact Richmond Chambers Switzerland

Richmond Chambers Switzerland advises Switzerland-based clients on UK immigration law, including UK Spouse visa applications under Appendix FM. If you are applying from Switzerland and are concerned about proving that your relationship is genuine and subsisting, we can advise on the Home Office requirements, review your evidence, and help you present your case clearly and consistently.

To arrange an initial consultation, contact Richmond Chambers Switzerland by telephone on +41 21 588 07 70 or by completing an enquiry form.