I am interested in advice regarding moving to the UK.

• I am British by birth, British passport.
• I have lived in Thailand on retirement visa's for more than 5 years.
• I have NEVER worked in the UK.
• My partenr and I are not legally married, only a Thai ceremonial wedding, 7 years ago.
• We have a 7 year old child WITH a British passport.

• My partner has a Masters degree from Thammasat Univ in Bangkok in International Relations, (English thesis option), and is fluent in English.

This web site has a lot of good information, which I'm in the process of digesting, bear with me, I have not lived in UK for >40 years.

Reading this web site suggests that my partner should apply as a spouse or Civil partner,
so our family can settle in the UK. Is this the easiest most direct way to achieve our goal?

Many thanks! ;-)

If you can demonstrate that you have been living in a relationship akin to marriage for at least 2 years then the application can be as a partner of a British citizen or person settled in the UK.

Pretty simple to prove the relationship if both names are on the child's birth certificate plus evidence that you are still together!

A civil partner is a same sex partnership, so as bobrussell has pointed out, she should apply for a visa as your partner/spouse.

Post with opinion that is totally irrelevant, to the question asked, has been removed.

To apply as your spouse you need to be legally married; which you are not.

So, you can either legalise your marriage by registering it at an ampur (a legal marriage in Thailand is recognised as such in the UK) or, as said above, she can apply as your unmarried partner.

Are you able to meet the financial requirement?

You may find UK settlement visa basics helpful.