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Hello. I would like your advice if possible.I am EEA citizen living and working in the UK. My girlfriend is non EEA citizen and is planning to move in with me. We are more than 2 years together, but we haven't lived together except for the times she is visiting me here. How can we prove durable relationship? And do you think there is a chance she can get EEA permit or residency card in the UK? Thank you very much

georgesotiro wrote:Hello. I would like your advice if possible.I am EEA citizen living and working in the UK. My girlfriend is non EEA citizen and is planning to move in with me. We are more than 2 years together, but we haven't lived together except for the times she is visiting me here. How can we prove durable relationship? And do you think there is a chance she can get EEA permit or residency card in the UK? Thank you very much

No. You don't qualify as unmarried partners as you haven't lived together in a durable relationship akin to marriage for the mandatory 2 years. At present you would be considered as boyfriend/girlfriend, for which there is no EEA permit category.

The Case Worker would want to see evidence of co-habitation over the 2 year period, with joint commitments such as shared finances, joint tenancy, both names on utility bills etc.

Assuming your girlfriend isn't a non-visa national, how will she enter the UK without a valid visa or is she currently living in the UK?

Thank you for your answer. No, she is not living here. But I read somewhere that you can use as proof photos, skype calls or any other similar things to prove that you have been in a relationship even not living together

georgesotiro wrote:Thank you for your answer. No, she is not living here. But I read somewhere that you can use as proof photos, skype calls or any other similar things to prove that you have been in a relationship even not living together

No, I'm afraid you've been misled.

This is what I found in gov. uk website

If you did not live together for any part of the 2-year period, tell us the reasons for this and whether
you stayed in contact with each other during this time, and provide any relevant supporting
evidence.
Please give an explanation on a separate sheet if you cannot provide at least 6 items; if the items
are not addressed to both of you; or if they do not cover the 2-year period.
Suitable evidence includes (but is not limited to):
EEA(EFM): guidance notes – v2.0 - December 2015 Page 5 of 16
 Letters or other documents from government departments or agencies, for example HM
Revenue and Customs, Department for Work and Pensions, DVLA, TV Licensing
 Letters or other documents from your GP, a hospital or other local health service about medical
treatments, appointments, home visits or other medical matters
 Bank statements/letters
 Building society savings books/letters
 Council tax bills or statements
 Electricity and/or gas bills or statements
 Water rates bills or statements
 Mortgage statements/agreement
 Tenancy agreement(s)
 Telephone bills or statements
 Photographs of you and your sponsor together – for example, on holiday or at a family
celebration
 Evidence of how you have kept in contact with each other during periods in which you have not
lived together – for example, letters, printouts of emails or contact via social media, mobile
phone bills showing you have contacted each other, printouts of Skype (or similar) logs, etc
 Any other relevant evidence.

" Evidence required for durable partners
The applicant and the EEA national sponsor must have been living together in a relationship
similar to marriage which has subsisted (continued in existence) for at least two years. The
evidence the applicant can provide may include (but is not limited to):
• Proof that any previous relationship has permanently broken down:
o degree absolute for marriages
o dissolution order for civil partnerships.
• Evidence of cohabitation for at least two years:
o bank statements or utility bills in joint names at the same address
o rent agreements
o mortgage payments
o official correspondence which links them at the same address.
• Evidence of joint finances, joint business ventures and joint commitments:
o tax returns
o business contracts
o investments.
• Evidence of joint responsibility for children such as a birth certificate or custody
agreement demonstrating that the two parties claiming to be in a durable relationship
are cohabiting and sharing responsibility for children.
• Photographs of the couple.
• Other evidence demonstrating their commitment and relationship. "

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... als_v3.pdf

georgesotiro wrote:This is what I found in gov. uk website

If you did not live together for any part of the 2-year period, tell us the reasons for this and whether
you stayed in contact with each other during this time, and provide any relevant supporting
evidence.
Please give an explanation on a separate sheet if you cannot provide at least 6 items; if the items
are not addressed to both of you; or if they do not cover the 2-year period.
Suitable evidence includes (but is not limited to):
EEA(EFM): guidance notes – v2.0 - December 2015 Page 5 of 16
 Letters or other documents from government departments or agencies, for example HM
Revenue and Customs, Department for Work and Pensions, DVLA, TV Licensing
 Letters or other documents from your GP, a hospital or other local health service about medical
treatments, appointments, home visits or other medical matters
 Bank statements/letters
 Building society savings books/letters
 Council tax bills or statements
 Electricity and/or gas bills or statements
 Water rates bills or statements
 Mortgage statements/agreement
 Tenancy agreement(s)
 Telephone bills or statements
 Photographs of you and your sponsor together – for example, on holiday or at a family
celebration
 Evidence of how you have kept in contact with each other during periods in which you have not
lived together – for example, letters, printouts of emails or contact via social media, mobile
phone bills showing you have contacted each other, printouts of Skype (or similar) logs, etc
 Any other relevant evidence.

This applies to couples who have lived together for 2 years but have spent no more than 6 months apart during the 2 year qualifying period. It doesn't include couples who have only spent time together with brief visits and you don't appear to be able to submit any of the items I've highlighted in red.

georgesotiro wrote:Hello. I would like your advice if possible.I am EEA citizen living and working in the UK. My girlfriend is non EEA citizen and is planning to move in with me. We are more than 2 years together, but we haven't lived together except for the times she is visiting me here. How can we prove durable relationship? And do you think there is a chance she can get EEA permit or residency card in the UK? Thank you very much

This is not a durable relationship akin to marriage.
Suggest organise your life so that it becomes a durable relationship akin to marriage - and generate the papertrail to prove it.
Otherwise marry.

No chance of FP at present.
Gf does not qualify for EFM RC at present.

Thank you all for your answers. I see you are right. Is it better to get married at the EEA country or get a visa to get married in the UK?

Probably easier and less expensive to marry outside of the UK and apply for an EEA Family Permit for your wife to enter the UK.

https://www.gov.uk/family-permit/overview