FLR (M) from Northern Ireland

So I've been in Northern Ireland for about 9 months now on a spousal visa. I've just been thinking about the requirements for FLR (M). I know I need 6 pieces of joint mail or 12 pieces of separate mail from official sources. But I'm not sure what the definition of official sources is?

In Northern Ireland, there is no counsel tax or water bills. We have something similar called rates, but as we will be renting, the landlord pays the rates, not the occupant. Also, on our rental agreement, I am solely responsible for paying the rent, but they acknowledge that my husband is living there. I don't know if that is enough to be a valid document?

Most utilities in Northern Ireland are top up only, meaning there are no bills, you just pay as you go. Can receipts from these types of utilities be used as official proof of living somewhere?

Also, I was wondering what required documents the sponsor needs to provide? I know usually they need a British passport, but I was wondering if there are alternatives to prove sponsor citizenship? My husbands passport expires 3 or 4 months before my visa expires. He is a dual Irish /British citizen, and because of the new fees being introduced for EU travel, he was just going to let his British passport expire and just use his Irish to travel.

So I've been in Northern Ireland for about 9 months now on a spousal visa. I've just been thinking about the requirements for FLR (M). I know I need 6 pieces of joint mail or 12 pieces of separate mail from official sources. But I'm not sure what the definition of official sources is?

In Northern Ireland, there is no counsel tax or water bills. We have something similar called rates, but as we will be renting, the landlord pays the rates, not the occupant. Also, on our rental agreement, I am solely responsible for paying the rent, but they acknowledge that my husband is living there. I don't know if that is enough to be a valid document?

Basically, it's any official mail you receive in the post. Usually from government departments and utility companies.

From the old paper FLR(M) form, examples of acceptable sources are the following:

Examples of acceptable items of correspondence
• Letters or other documents from government departments or agencies, for example HM
Revenue and Customs, Department for Work and Pensions, DVLA, TV Licensing.
• Letters or other documents from your GP, a hospital or other local health service about
medical treatments, appointments, home visits or other medical matters
• Bank statements/letters
• Building society savings books/letters
• Council tax bills or statements
• Electricity and/or gas bills or statements
• Water rates bills or statements
• Mortgage statements/agreement
• Tenancy agreement(s)
• Telephone bills or statements

Also, I was wondering what required documents the sponsor needs to provide? I know usually they need a British passport, but I was wondering if there are alternatives to prove sponsor citizenship? My husbands passport expires 3 or 4 months before my visa expires. He is a dual Irish /British citizen, and because of the new fees being introduced for EU travel, he was just going to let his British passport expire and just use his Irish to travel.

He needs to provide a valid passport (or full photocopy of every page), or if he does not own a passport, his original birth certificate would be acceptable, but it's very rare for this to be provided instead of a passport as almost all sponsors will have a valid UK passport.

Personally, given that your immigration status is dependent on his UK citizenship, not his Irish citizenship, I would suggest that it wouldn't be a wise idea for him not to renew his UK passport, just in case.