UK Spouse Visa

01— Overview

About the UK Spouse Visa

The UK Spouse visa sits under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. A successful initial application from outside the UK will normally give you permission to remain for up to 2 years and 9 months; further permission is usually required before you can qualify for settlement. Applicants following the five-year partner route may become eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain after completing the required period, provided the settlement requirements are met.

02— Eligibility

Eligibility

To qualify for a UK Spouse visa, you and your partner must normally both be aged 18 or over. Your sponsoring partner must also have an eligible status in the UK. This can include a person who:

• is a British or Irish citizen;
• is settled in the UK, including a person with Indefinite Leave to Remain;
• has qualifying settled or pre-settled status;
• has qualifying protection status; or
• falls within another eligible category under the Immigration Rules.

You must also be able to demonstrate that your marriage or civil partnership is legally recognised or that your relationship is genuine and subsisting.

Meeting the relationship requirement alone does not guarantee that a Spouse Visa will be granted. Applicants must satisfy the other relevant immigration requirements and provide appropriate supporting evidence.

03— Relationship Requirement

Genuine and Subsisting Relationship Requirement

This is one of the most scrutinised parts of any UK immigration spouse visa application. The Home Office considers evidence relating to your marriage or civil partnership, living arrangements, shared responsibilities, finances and the history of your relationship. Relevant evidence might include marriage or civil partnership certificates, evidence of living together, joint financial commitments, correspondence addressed to you at the same address, and evidence of visits and time spent together where you have lived apart.

04— Financial Requirement

Financial Requirement

The financial requirement is often the most document-heavy part of a UK immigration spouse visa case. For most new partner applications, the current minimum income requirement is £29,000 per year. Qualifying income can include employment income, self-employment income, certain non-employment income, pension income, cash savings, or an eligible combination of sources. Different rules can apply depending on when you first entered the partner route, or where the sponsoring partner receives certain qualifying benefits.

05— English Language

English Language Requirement

This is one of the UK spouse visa requirements that catches people out most often. Unless an exemption applies, you will normally need to satisfy the English language requirement through an approved test, an eligible academic qualification taught in English, or another method permitted under the Immigration Rules.

06— Accommodation

Accommodation Requirement

You should demonstrate adequate accommodation in the UK that would not result in statutory overcrowding.

07— Documentation & Fees

Documents Typically Required

• Valid passport or travel document
• Marriage or civil partnership certificate, or proof of 2+ years cohabiting as partners or evidence of being in a relationship for a minimum of 2 years
• Evidence your relationship is genuine and subsisting
• Financial evidence meeting the income requirement
• English language test certificate or a qualifying degree
• Accommodation evidence

The documents you need depend on which UK spouse visa requirements apply to your specific circumstances.

UK Spouse Visa Fees and Processing Time

UK Spouse visa fees currently stand at £1,407 per applicant for in-country applications, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge at £1,035/year. A fee waiver is available for those who cannot afford it, see our Fee Waiver page. Standard processing is usually around 12 weeks for applications outside the UK, and around 8 weeks for qualifying applications made inside the UK. These UK spouse visa fees change periodically, so confirm the current figure before submitting.

08— Application Process

How to Apply for a UK Spouse Visa

Here's how to apply for a UK spouse visa, step by step:

1. Check your eligibility and which financial rules apply to you
2. Gather relationship, financial, accommodation and English language evidence
3. Complete the online application
4. Pay the UK spouse visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge
5. Provide documents and biometric information
6. Await the Home Office decision

09— Switching & ILR

Switching, Extension and ILR

If you are applying for a UK spouse visa from inside the country, switching rules apply differently than an entry-clearance application. Some applicants can switch to a UK Spouse Visa from inside the UK, depending on their existing status; in other cases, an entry-clearance application from overseas is required. Before your existing permission expires, you may need to extend if you have not yet qualified for settlement. On the five-year route, you may become eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain after five continuous years, provided the settlement requirements are met.

10— Refusals & Support

If Your Application Is Refused

A UK immigration spouse visa refusal can arise from several different issues. A refusal can arise from concerns about eligibility, insufficient evidence, the financial requirement, relationship evidence, or immigration history. Depending on the reasons given, your options may include challenging the decision through an appeal or making a new application. We review the refusal decision carefully before advising on how to proceed.

How We Can Help

• Assessing whether you meet the UK spouse visa requirements and identifying the appropriate route
• Advising on the financial element of the UK spouse visa requirements and reviewing your documents
• Explaining the current UK spouse visa fee and what it covers before you commit an application
• Reviewing relationship and accommodation evidence
• Preparing and submitting your UK spouse visa application
• Advising on extensions and settlement
• Advice following a refusal of your UK immigration spouse visa application

11— Restrictions

UK Spouse Visa Restrictions

There are some UK spouse visa restrictions worth knowing about before you apply. You will not normally have recourse to public funds, meaning access to most benefits is restricted while on this route. You can work in the UK without restriction on hours or employer. If you are on the 10-year route rather than the 5-year route, UK spouse visa restrictions also affect how soon you can apply for settlement, since you will need to renew every 2.5 years instead of qualifying after 5. We can talk you through exactly which UK spouse visa restrictions apply to your specific route.

FAQs