This page identifies the public process and questions to check. It cannot confirm a deadline, preserve immigration status or determine the correct remedy for an individual case.
Start here
Four immediate checks
- 1
Keep the death certificate and relationship records
- 2
Confirm the deceased partner’s status
- 3
Check the applicant’s current permission
- 4
Seek regulated support for the settlement application
Keep control of the facts
Build a reliable record
Keep the complete decision, application, status record, correspondence and dates together. Use the current official page rather than screenshots or social-media summaries.
Avoid preventable harm
Important risks
- The route is limited to qualifying partner categories
- Do not assume the normal partner timeline still applies
- Suitability issues may still be relevant
Official starting point
Open the current government process
Know when a guide is no longer enough
Eligibility assessments, evidence reviews, application preparation and representation should be handled by a suitably regulated professional.