UK spouse visa refused: genuine and subsisting relationship

What does this refusal reason mean?

To qualify as a partner, the rules in Appendix FM require that the relationship is “genuine and subsisting” and that you and your partner intend to live together permanently in the UK. gov.uk summarises who can apply and what must be proven on the apply as a partner or spouse page.

“Genuine” is about whether the relationship is real. “Subsisting” is about whether it is still continuing now, not only on the wedding day. Officers form a view from everything in the application: how and when you met, time spent together, contact while apart, the wedding itself, and your plans. If the evidence is thin, inconsistent, or concentrated around a single date, the officer may not be satisfied.

Unmarried partners usually also need to show they have been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years (with an alternative for couples who cannot live together). The gov.uk page explains the current conditions.

What wording might you see in the refusal letter?

• “Limited evidence has been submitted to demonstrate ongoing contact…” — the officer felt there was not enough proof of contact over time.
• “I am not satisfied that your relationship is genuine and subsisting…” — the core finding.
• “…or that you intend to live together permanently in the UK” — doubts about future plans, often linked to accommodation or work plans.
• References to inconsistencies — for example, different dates given in the application form and in supporting documents or interviews.

What do people usually check next?

General information only. After this type of refusal, people commonly look at:

• whether the evidence shows the relationship over time, rather than mainly around the wedding;
• whether dates, names and places are consistent across the form, letters and documents;
• whether periods apart were explained (work, studies, family duties, travel restrictions);
• whether there is evidence of shared plans: where you will live, work or study, finances;
• whether the officer mentioned something specific, such as an interview answer, that needs a clear explanation.

Which evidence is often relevant?

• Marriage or civil partnership certificate, with a certified translation if it is not in English or Welsh.
• Records of contact spread across months: message logs, call histories, emails.
• Evidence of visits: boarding passes, passport stamps, hotel bookings.
• Photos together over time, with family and friends, not only at the wedding.
• Evidence of living together, where relevant: joint tenancy, bills, bank statements at the same address.
• Statements from you and your partner explaining your history and plans.

Quality and consistency tend to matter more than volume. Hundreds of screenshots rarely say more than a well-organised selection that covers the whole relationship.

What are the options: reapply, appeal or administrative review?

Because this reason involves a judgement about the facts, people often want an independent decision-maker to look at it. Whether there is a right of appeal depends on the letter. There are general overviews of the appeal route and of reapplying; a regulated adviser can discuss how they apply to a particular case.

Where do you find your deadline?

Your refusal letter is the only reliable source for your own time limit. It says whether you have a right of appeal, whether you can ask for an administrative review, and how long you have. Check the deadline stated in your refusal letter as early as you can — time limits are strict and usually count from the date of the decision or the date you received it. The general process is described on gov.uk: appeal against a visa or immigration decision and ask for a visa administrative review.