SET(M) checklist doesn't mention proof of address? Here's why you still need it
Short answer: yes, you should still provide proof of address and cohabitation evidence even though your auto-generated SET(M) checklist doesn't explicitly ask for it. The checklist you saw after submitting is a minimum prompt, not the complete list of what the partner ILR rules actually require. The rules require you to prove you have been living together in a genuine relationship throughout the qualifying period, and in practice that means address and cohabitation evidence, the same documents that double as proof of address.
- SET(M) is the application to settle as the partner of someone settled in the UK.
- The online checklist is auto-generated and often omits 'proof of address' by name.
- Partner ILR rules require evidence you have lived in the UK with your partner since your last visa.
- Cohabitation documents (council tax, bank statements, bills) also serve as proof of address.
- Including extra genuine, relevant documents does not harm your application.
Why the checklist may not mention proof of address
The SET(M) document list you see at the end of the online form is generated from your answers. It surfaces the items the system flags as obviously needed, things like passports, financial documents and your partner's declaration, but it does not always spell out every requirement in the Immigration Rules. The absence of the words 'proof of address' on that list does not mean the relationship and cohabitation requirement has gone away.
GOV.UK is explicit that, on the 5-year partner route, you must "prove you've lived in the UK with your partner since you got your last visa" and "prove that your relationship with your partner is genuine." That is a substantive requirement a caseworker assesses, separate from the prompts on the auto-generated checklist.
Don't treat the auto-generated checklist as the full set of requirements. Even if it doesn't say 'proof of address', provide cohabitation evidence showing you and your partner have lived together throughout the qualifying period. Sending too little is far more likely to cause problems than sending a few extra genuine documents.
What 'living together' evidence actually looks like
The documents you already listed, council tax, bank statements and an employment letter, overlap heavily with the cohabitation evidence GOV.UK accepts. For proving you live at the same address, GOV.UK lists:
- a tenancy agreement
- utility bills or council tax bills confirming you live at the same address or pay bills together
- a bank statement from a joint account, or statements confirming you live at the same address
- a letter from your doctor or dentist confirming you live at the same address
The strongest pattern is correspondence addressed to each partner at the same address, spread across the relevant period. Joint letters are good; so are separate letters to each of you at the same address. NHS or GP letters, bank statements, council tax bills and utility bills all qualify and, crucially, each one is also proof of address. So when you provide cohabitation evidence, you are providing proof of address at the same time.
How much to include, and over what period
Think continuity, not a single snapshot. One council tax letter shows where you live today; a spread of documents across the qualifying years shows you have genuinely been living together throughout. A practical approach is a few items per period (for example, one or two pieces of correspondence to each partner per year, or per six months), enough to evidence the timeline without burying the caseworker.
There is no penalty for including extra relevant, genuine documents. The risk in partner applications runs the other way: thin cohabitation evidence can leave a caseworker unsure whether the relationship requirement is met. If your auto-checklist looks light, fill the gap rather than assuming the system already has what it needs.
A quick recap before you submit
- Keep everything the checklist asked for (passports, payslips, P60, bank statements, council tax, employment letter, partner's declaration).
- Add cohabitation evidence showing you and your partner at the same address across the qualifying period, this is your proof of address.
- Favour official correspondence: council tax, bank statements, utility bills, NHS or GP letters, ideally to both of you.
- Spread documents over time to show continuity, not just a single recent date.
While you finish gathering documents, it is also worth making sure your Life in the UK test is ticked off, since it is a separate ILR requirement from the relationship evidence. You can sharpen up with free practice tests at britpass.app.
This article is general information about the SET(M) partner ILR process and not legal advice. For advice on your specific circumstances, consider a regulated immigration adviser, and always check the current requirements on GOV.UK before you submit.
Related reading: When should you apply for ILR on a spouse visa? and The partner financial requirement: savings and bank statements.