What is a relationship confirmation letter?
Partner and spouse visa applications, residence applications and some tenancy or benefit applications ask couples to show that their relationship is genuine and continuing. Alongside joint bills and photos, letters from people who know the couple well are a common part of that evidence. Immigration officers and other decision-makers look for detail they can believe: who the writer is, how they know the couple and what they have actually seen.
This template gives the writer a clear structure. It opens with their name, address and contact details, and any details the authority asks for such as date of birth or nationality. It then says what the letter supports, names the couple and their relationship (married, civil partners, engaged or long-term partners), and explains how the writer knows them and since when. It records openly whether the writer is related to either partner, and sets out what they have seen of the relationship and occasions they have shared. It closes with a statement that it is true to the writer's knowledge and an offer to be contacted.
- Best for
- Partner and spouse visas, residence, tenancy and similar applications
- Signed by
- The friend, relative or colleague writing the letter
- Key content
- How they know the couple, since when, and what they've seen
- Length
- 1 page
When to use a relationship confirmation letter
- A best friend supporting a spouse visa application
- A sibling confirming an unmarried couple's long-term relationship for a residence permit
- A landlord-required statement that two applicants are a couple living together
- A colleague who has known the couple for years adding to their evidence
- Several friends each writing a separate letter for the same application
What you fill in
16 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: letter writer.
1 About you
- Date of the letter*
- Your full name*
- Your address*
- Your phone and email*
- Your date of birth, nationality or occupation
2 The application
- Addressed to
- What the letter supports*
3 The couple
- First partner's full name*
- Second partner's full name*
- They are* a married couple · civil partners · engaged to be married · partners in a long-term relationship
4 How you know them
- How you know them*
- Known them as a couple since*
- Are you related to either of them?* No · Yes
- If related, how
5 What you have seen
- What you have seen of their relationship*
- Occasions you shared with them
6 Who signs
- Letter writer signature and date · The friend, relative or colleague who knows the couple. Many authorities prefer someone who is not one of the couple.
What the relationship confirmation letter covers
- How I know them
- What I have seen
Using the relationship confirmation letter, step by step
1 Add the writer's details
The writer's name and the date are filled in. Add their address and contact details, plus their date of birth, nationality or occupation if the authority asks for them.
2 Name the couple and the application
Enter both partners' full names as they appear on their passports, choose how they are a couple, and say what the letter supports, such as "Elena's application for a partner visa".
3 Say how you know them
Explain the connection and when you first knew them as a couple, and say whether you are related to either of them. Being open about family ties lets the reader weigh the letter fairly.
4 Describe what you've seen and sign
Write about real things you've seen: visits to their home, family events, trips, how they support each other. List occasions you shared. Sign the letter, then download the PDF or send it to the couple to add to their application.
Tips before you send it
- Specific beats general. "They hosted us for Christmas in 2024 and 2025" is worth more than "they are very happy together".
- Only write what you have seen or know yourself.
- Use the couple's names exactly as they appear on their passports.
- Include a copy of your passport or ID page if the authority asks for one.
- Check the authority's guidance. Some want a statutory declaration, an affidavit or their own form instead of a letter.
Sign it online in minutes
- Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
- Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. FileIt builds the PDF with every signature, date box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
- Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in your vault and emailed to everyone.
Relationship confirmation letter: frequently asked questions
Who should write a relationship confirmation letter?
Someone who knows the couple well and has seen their relationship over time, such as a close friend, relative, colleague or neighbour. Some authorities give more weight to people who are not related to either partner.
Is this the same as a sworn statement?
No. It is a signed letter. If the authority asks for a statutory declaration or affidavit, that usually has to be witnessed by an authorised person. Use their required format.
Will an e-signed letter be accepted?
Many authorities accept signed letters uploaded as PDFs, and FileIt adds a Certificate of Completion showing who signed and when. Some ask for wet-ink signatures or originals. Check the application guidance before you send.
How many letters does a couple need?
It depends on the authority and the case. Several short, specific letters from different people usually help more than one long one.
Is this template free?
Yes. It is free with the eSignature app in FileIt.