What is a Spouse Visa?

This visa allows for married partners of a person with settled, pre-settled or British citizenship to enter, and remain, in the UK.

Who is eligible for a Spouse Visa?

You must meet certain eligibility requirements in order to qualify for a Spouse Visa. Firstly, both you and your partner must be aged 18 or over. Your partner must also be either one of the following:

• be a British or Irish citizen
• have settled in the UK – for example, they have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence
• be from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and have pre-settled status – they must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021
• have a Turkish Businessperson visa or Turkish Worker visa
• have refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK

You and your partner must have the intention of living together indefinitely in the UK after your application.

What are the requirements for a UK Spouse Visa 2022?

You will need to prove that you satisfy the following requirements:

• Your partner is British or Irish, is settled in the UK, has been granted pre-settled status, holds a Turkish Businessperson or Turkish Worker visa or has refugee status or humanitarian protection;
• You and your partner are both over the age of 18;
• You and your partner are not within a prohibited degree of relationship;
• You and your partner have met in person;
• You and your partner are legally married in a marriage that is recognised in the UK;
• Your relationship is genuine and subsisting;
• You and your partner intend to live together permanently in the UK;
• Any previous relationship has broken down permanently;
• You satisfy a financial requirement;
• There is adequate accommodation for you and any dependents;
• You speak and understand English to a required level.

The specific requirements depend on your individual case. Contact our specialist UK Spouse Visa Immigration Lawyers at Lexvisa and we can advise you on your circumstances and whether you meet the requirements, including assisting you on the documents you need to provide in order to evidence you meet the requirements.

How much is a Spouse Visa?

This varies according to the length of your stay in the UK.

If you are staying for 2 years and 6 months, it will cost you £1,560.

If you are staying for 2 years and 9 months, it will cost you £1,872.

And if you are staying for 5 years, it will cost you £3,120.

How much savings do I need?

The minimum income requirement you will need is either £18,600 in income or a minimum of £62,500 in savings. In some cases, you may use a combination of both.

What is the 28-day rule for a UK Spouse Visa?

This is where the documents you have provided in support of your application must not be older than 28 days before the day in which your application was submitted.

Contact Lexvisa for more information on the financial requirements.

Can I work with a Spouse Visa?

Of course. There are no restrictions on you working on a Spouse Visa whether it is full-time or part-time, neither are there limitations on the type of work you can carry out.

How long does a UK Spouse Visa take?

You should receive a decision within 24 weeks of attending your appointment at the visa application centre.

How long is a spouse visa valid for?

Once this visa is obtained, you are permitted to stay in the UK for 2 years and 9 months. You may apply to extend your visa after this. Contact Lexvisa for advice on the requirements of extension and we can guide you through an application for this.

What is the difference between a Spouse Visa and a Partner Visa?

Partner visa applications are generally more complex than Spouse Visa applications. This is due to the requirement of proving you and your partner have lived together for at least 2 years, which can be difficult to prove for some.

Also, it is easier to prove the relationship requirement for a Spouse Visa as Applicants will have a marriage certificate as proof of their marital relationship.

Just because the levels of difficulty vary for a Spouse and Partner Visa, this should not deter you from applying. At Lexvisa, not only do we have years of experience in preparing and filing successful Spouse and Partner Visas, we understand that you need friendly, legal advice to help you understand the most suitable visa option for you. Read our Success Story here, where we assisted our client in gaining entry clearance in the UK as a spouse.

Can I settle in the UK with a Spouse visa?

Absolutely. Applying for settlement in the UK is called Indefinite Leave to Remain (“ILR”) which can be obtained once you have lived in the UK for 5 years continuously on a family visa as a partner.

The continuous residence in the UK only includes time spent living here on the Spouse Visa. It does not include time spent in the country as a fiancé, fiancée or as a civil partner.  

Read our Success Story here, where we helped one of many clients in gaining ILR.

Why instruct our specialist immigration team?

Our team of solicitors and barristers are specialist immigration lawyers who act in your best interest. We offer a client-tailored approach from the outset. From the very first meeting, we will be able to advise you in respect of your prospects of submitting a spouse visa application before your application even reaches the Home Office UK Visa & Immigration department. We can assist you with the preparation and submission of a spouse visa application and are able to advise you in respect of your prospects and to ensure that you meet all the requirements of the relevant rules.

Our offices are based in the legal epicentre of London, just across the road from the Royal Courts of Justice in order to ensure we get the best results for our clients.  We are minutes away from the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal, the Royal Courts of Justice and other central London courts.

Preparation is the key to successful immigration applications. Our UK immigration and visa solicitors are here to guide you through the complex immigration rules and requirements. If you wish to meet one of our lawyers, please call our Immigration Team so we can assess your case and arrange your legal consultation to discuss your visa application.

Contact our London immigration solicitors on 02030110276 or complete our contact form.

Authored by Tehreem Fatima, Paralegal