Spouse Visa options for couple not living together / never lived together and not married

[Robstin2014]

Hi,

My brother (British Citizen) has been in a relationship with a French Citizen for more than two years and they are exploring ways to settle together within the same country.

I see that on the Gov website this additional option has been added (since my wife applied for the Spouse Visa in 2019):

'you’ve been in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply but you cannot live together, for example because you’re working or studying in different places, or it’s not accepted in your culture'

Would this apply to my Brother and his girlfriend as they have not been able to live together due to immigration restrictions, not having visas in each others countries etc. They have visited each other 15+ times.

How would they prove their relationship? Photos? Plane tickets?

Any help would be much appreciated.

[Robstin2014]

Hi, could anyone please help?

[Ticktack]

Are they intending to get married? Having a girlfriend in a foreign country doesn't count for much.

[Robstin2014]

Not any time soon from what I understand...

They visit each other pretty much every 2-3 weeks but are looking to settle down together.

Would the wording which I included in my original post not apply to them?

[Frontier Mole]

No.
There are no restrictions to either of them in the stated countries that would qualify.
If one of them wants to move to the other country for work or study to start living together that would be a solution.