Spouse Visa Requirements

The UK Spouse (Partner) Visa lets the husband, wife, civil partner, or long-term partner of a British citizen or settled person live and work in the UK. Grants 33 months when applying from outside the UK and 30 months from inside the UK, with a further 30-month extension available. After 5 years on this route, applicants can seek Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and later British citizenship. Work is permitted, but access to most public funds is restricted.

You must be 18+ and in a qualifying relationship with an eligible sponsor. Sponsors include British or Irish citizens, people with ILR/settled status/permanent residence, qualifying pre-settled EEA/Swiss residents (living in the UK before Jan 2021), refugees or those with humanitarian protection, and recognised stateless persons. Unmarried partners can apply with evidence of at least 2 years’ cohabitation or via the Fiancé(e) route.

Applicants must meet the financial requirement, show a legally recognised marriage/civil partnership or 2+ years’ cohabitation, and prove a genuine, subsisting relationship. English language, adequate accommodation, biometrics, and IHS are mandatory. TB testing may be needed depending on country of residence.

Apply well before travel or visa expiry and await a decision before booking flights. Applications from overseas typically take about 12 weeks; in-country switches around 8 weeks, provided your current visa permits switching (visitors generally cannot; Fiancé(e) is the exception). Complex cases or unmet requirements can take longer.

The Home Office assesses age, personal meeting, and legal validity of the marriage or partnership. Forced, underage, polygamous, or prohibited-degree relationships are not recognised. Caseworkers consider ongoing commitment, shared responsibilities, cohabitation or intention to live together, and family plans.

Provide a coherent set of documents showing you live together or maintain a durable partnership. Evidence may include joint tenancy/mortgage, council tax/utilities, joint bank statements, birth certificates for children, travel records, photos, communications, and third-party letters.

Not all applicants are interviewed, but UKVI may invite you if clarification is needed. Questions focus on your relationship history, cohabitation, finances, and future plans. Consistent information and well-organised documents reduce risk and delay.

Most first-time applicants must meet a £29,000 pre-tax income threshold. Those who entered the route before 11 April 2024 may rely on transitional £18,600 rules (child add-ons under the old regime may apply, or you can opt to meet the new £29,000 where more favourable). HM Armed Forces thresholds differ.

You may combine permitted income sources (employment, self-employment, pensions, rental/investments) and cash savings. In compelling cases where refusal would cause unjustifiably harsh consequences, human-rights arguments under Article 8 may be available, often placing you on a longer route to settlement.

Savings below £16,000 do not count. Above £16,000, savings reduce the income required. Relying solely on savings typically needs £88,500 (i.e., £29,000 × 2.5 + £16,000). Certain benefit cases switch to an “adequate maintenance” test rather than the fixed threshold.

Prove speaking and listening via an approved SELT (Trinity College London or IELTS for UKVI) unless exempt. Exemptions include nationality of a majority English-speaking country, age under 18 or over 65, certain medical conditions, or degrees taught in English and verified by ECCTIS.

Show you have suitable, non-overcrowded accommodation for the family unit. Provide a description, occupancy, room counts, and affordability. Overcrowding rules consider ages and the number of occupants; living rooms can sometimes count as sleeping rooms.

Submit originals (or acceptable electronic versions per UKVI rules) and professional translations where not in English/Welsh. Align your bundle with Appendix FM evidence standards: relationship proof, finances, English, accommodation, IDs, and (where applicable) TB testing.

You may still secure leave on human-rights grounds with strong evidence, though typically on a longer route to settlement. A carefully structured submission, clear legal representations, and robust documentation are critical.

Expect Home Office application fees (outside UK vs inside UK), Immigration Health Surcharge per year of leave, optional Priority/Super Priority fees, plus third-party costs for translations and English tests. Fees can change—check current guidance when applying.

You’ll be granted leave and issued an e-visa confirming your status. If an entry vignette is issued, you must enter within the stated window; a replacement can be requested for a fee if you miss it.

Most applicants qualify after 5 continuous years on the spouse route, provided all requirements remain met. If married to a British citizen, you can usually apply for citizenship immediately after ILR; otherwise, typically after 12 months.

Yes—extend for another 2.5 years provided your leave hasn’t expired and you still meet relationship, financial, English, accommodation, and suitability rules. After 5 years total on the 5-year route, you can apply for ILR.

You’ll receive a refusal letter outlining reasons and whether you have appeal rights. Typical issues include financial/language shortfalls, weak relationship evidence, or documentation errors. You may appeal, seek administrative review (where applicable), or reapply with stronger evidence.

Where appeal rights exist, deadlines are strict (see your decision notice). Success hinges on clear grounds, targeted evidence, and well-prepared bundles. Some cases proceed to a hearing before the First-tier Tribunal.

Appeals are often lengthy and can take many months frequently up to a year or more depending on complexity and listing availability. Keep your status lawful while the case progresses.

Lexen Law provides tailored eligibility reviews, evidence checklists, and legal representations under Appendix FM and Article 8. We prepare forms and bundles, liaise with UKVI, support interviews, handle extensions and appeals, and plan your pathway to ILR and citizenship.