--- title: "UK Spouse Visa" url: https://immigrationandvisasolicitors.co.uk/uk-marriage-visa-uk-spouse-visa/ date: 2016-02-05 modified: 2026-09-01 lang: en author: "LEXVISA" description: "A UK Spouse Visa allows an eligible husband, wife or civil partner of a British citizen or another qualifying person in the UK to live with their partner in the..." word_count: 4267 --- # UK Spouse Visa A [UK Spouse Visa](https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/partner-spouse) allows an eligible husband, wife or civil partner of a British citizen or another qualifying person in the UK to live with their partner in the UK. The Spouse Visa forms part of the family visa route under [Appendix FM](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-fm-family-members) of the UK Immigration Rules. It can be used by applicants applying from outside the UK for entry clearance and, where the Immigration Rules permit, by applicants who are already in the UK and wish to switch to or extend their permission as a partner. The rules apply regardless of whether the applicant is an EEA or non-EEA national. Following the UK's departure from the European Union, EEA nationality alone does not exempt a person from UK immigration control, although some applicants and family members may have rights under the EU Settlement Scheme. [Our immigration solicitors](https://immigrationandvisasolicitors.co.uk/our-uk-immigration-lawyers-london/) regularly advise on UK Spouse Visa applications from both inside and outside the UK. We can assess your eligibility, advise on the financial and relationship requirements, review the required supporting evidence and prepare the application for submission to UK Visas and Immigration. ## What is a UK Spouse Visa? A UK Spouse Visa is a family visa for a person who is married to, or in a civil partnership with, a qualifying partner in the UK. A qualifying sponsor may include a person who: - is a British or Irish citizen; - is settled in the UK, including a person with indefinite leave to remain or settled status; - has qualifying pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme; - has qualifying protection status in the UK; - has qualifying permission as a stateless person; or - falls within certain other categories specified in Appendix FM. Both the applicant and their partner must normally be aged 18 or over and must intend to live together permanently in the UK. A spouse applying from outside the UK is normally granted permission for up to 2 years and 9 months. A successful application to extend a Spouse Visa from within the UK is normally granted for a further 2 years and 6 months. An applicant on the standard 5-year partner route can normally apply for indefinite leave to remain after completing 5 continuous years in the UK with qualifying permission as a partner. Different rules can apply where permission is granted on the 10-year family route or where the sponsor has protection status. ## UK Spouse Visa Requirements The requirements for a [UK Spouse Visa](https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/partner-spouse) are contained principally in [Appendix FM](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-fm-family-members) and [Appendix FM-SE](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-fm-se-family-members-specified-evidence) of the Immigration Rules. Although every case is different, an applicant will normally need to establish that: - both the applicant and sponsor are aged 18 or over; - the sponsor has a qualifying immigration or nationality status; - the marriage or civil partnership is legally valid and recognised in the UK; - the applicant and sponsor have met in person; - the relationship is genuine and subsisting; - any previous relationship of either party has permanently broken down; - the applicant and sponsor intend to live together permanently in the UK; - the applicable financial requirement is met; - there will be adequate accommodation for the family in the UK; - the applicant meets the English language requirement, unless exempt; - the applicant satisfies the relevant immigration status requirements if applying from inside the UK; and - the application does not fall for refusal under the suitability provisions of the Immigration Rules. Applicants must provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate that these requirements are met. The documents required will depend on the couple's individual circumstances. ## Genuine and Subsisting Relationship Requirement Being legally married is not, by itself, sufficient for a successful UK Spouse Visa application. The Home Office must also be satisfied that the marriage or civil partnership is genuine and subsisting. Evidence may include: - a marriage or civil partnership certificate; - evidence that the couple live together; - tenancy agreements, mortgage documents or Council Tax records; - joint bank statements or evidence of shared financial commitments; - correspondence addressed to both partners or to each partner at the same address; - evidence of regular communication where the couple have lived apart; - evidence of visits and time spent together; - evidence relating to children of the relationship; and - other documents demonstrating an ongoing commitment to one another. There is no single mandatory list of relationship documents that will be appropriate in every case. The quality, consistency and relevance of the evidence are important. If a couple has had periods living apart because of employment, study, family responsibilities, immigration restrictions or another genuine reason, this does not necessarily prevent a successful application. The circumstances and continuing commitment between the partners should be properly evidenced. ## UK Spouse Visa Financial Requirement For most applicants making their first application on the partner route on or after 11 April 2024, the minimum income requirement is currently £29,000 gross per year. The previous government's proposed increases to £34,500 and then £38,700 were not implemented. As at September 2026, the standard minimum income requirement remains £29,000. The financial rules are detailed and the evidence required depends on the source of income relied upon. Potential sources can include: - salaried employment; - non-salaried employment; - self-employment; - certain company director income; - pension income; - certain non-employment income, such as property rental income or dividends; and - qualifying cash savings. The income that can be relied upon, and the calculation period that applies, will depend on factors including where the applicant is applying from, whether the applicant is already lawfully working in the UK and how long the relevant person has been employed or self-employed. ## Can I Use Cash Savings for a UK Spouse Visa? Yes. Cash savings can be used either on their own or, in many circumstances, together with qualifying income. For an applicant subject to the £29,000 minimum income requirement, £88,500 in qualifying cash savings can ordinarily meet the financial requirement without relying on income. This is because only savings above £16,000 are taken into account and, for entry clearance and limited leave applications, the relevant amount is calculated using the formula: (Total qualifying cash savings - £16,000) / 2.5 Cash savings must normally have been held under the control of the applicant, sponsor or both for at least 6 months before the application, subject to specific rules applying to certain investments, property sale proceeds and other circumstances. The rules on combining savings with other categories of income are technical. Cash savings cannot be combined with every category of income in the same way. ## What If I First Applied for a Spouse Visa Before 11 April 2024? Transitional financial rules continue to apply to some applicants who were already on the partner route before the minimum income requirement increased on 11 April 2024. If you made your first successful application as a partner before 11 April 2024 and are extending your stay with the same partner, the applicable minimum income requirement will normally remain £18,600. Additional amounts may be required for certain dependent children: - £3,800 for the first relevant child; and - £2,400 for each additional relevant child. The total requirement is capped at £29,000. Whether the transitional provisions apply depends on the applicant's immigration history and the application being made. ## What If My Sponsor Receives Disability or Carer's Benefits? The £29,000 minimum income requirement does not apply in the usual way where the sponsor receives certain specified disability or carer's benefits. These can include benefits such as Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance and Carer's Allowance, together with other benefits specified in [Appendix FM](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-fm-family-members). Instead, the applicant normally needs to satisfy the adequate maintenance requirement. This involves assessing the family's available income after relevant housing costs and comparing it with the level of Income Support that an equivalent British family would receive. Receiving a specified benefit does not therefore remove the financial requirement completely. It changes the test that must be satisfied. ## What If We Cannot Meet the Spouse Visa Financial Requirement? Failure to meet the normal minimum income requirement does not automatically mean that every application must be refused. [Appendix FM](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-fm-family-members) contains provisions dealing with exceptional circumstances and Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Where the required threshold is not met from the normal specified sources and there are exceptional circumstances in which refusal could result in unjustifiably harsh consequences for the applicant, their partner or a relevant child, the Home Office may be required to consider other credible and reliable financial resources. These can potentially include: - a credible guarantee of sustainable financial support from a third party; - credible prospective earnings from sustainable employment or self-employment; or - another credible and reliable source of income or funds. These provisions are not a general alternative to complying with the normal financial rules. The exceptional circumstances threshold is significant and applications relying on Article 8 or alternative sources of support require careful preparation. A person granted permission on this basis may be placed on the 10-year family route to settlement rather than the standard 5-year route. ## Accommodation Requirement for a UK Spouse Visa Applicants must normally show that there will be adequate accommodation for the family in the UK without recourse to public funds. The accommodation must not: - be overcrowded under the applicable housing legislation; or - contravene public health regulations. The applicant does not necessarily need to own or rent a property personally. Accommodation provided by family members or another person may be acceptable if the applicant and sponsor have a genuine right to occupy it and the accommodation satisfies the Immigration Rules. Depending on the circumstances, evidence may include a tenancy agreement, property ownership documents, a letter from the property owner or landlord, and information about the size and occupants of the property. ## English Language Requirement for a UK Spouse Visa Applicants normally need to demonstrate knowledge of English unless an exemption applies. For an initial UK Spouse Visa application, the required level is normally at least [CEFR level A1](https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/knowledge-of-english) in speaking and listening. An applicant who relied on an A1 English language qualification for their initial application will normally need to demonstrate at least [CEFR level A2](https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/knowledge-of-english) in speaking and listening when applying to extend their stay after 2.5 years. For indefinite leave to remain on the 5-year partner route, applicants aged between 18 and 64 will normally need to demonstrate English at a minimum of [CEFR level B1](https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/knowledge-of-english) in speaking and listening and pass the [Life in the UK Test](https://www.gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test), unless exempt. The English language requirement can potentially be satisfied through: - an approved Secure English Language Test; - an eligible UK degree; - an overseas degree taught or researched in English which meets the relevant Ecctis requirements; or - nationality of a country recognised under the Immigration Rules for the English language exemption. Age, disability and exceptional circumstances exemptions can also apply in appropriate cases. ## UK Spouse Visa Fees in 2026 As at September 2026, the Home Office application fee for a family visa where an applicant is joining a partner is: - £2,064 when applying from outside the UK; or - £1,407 when applying from inside the UK. The same application fee generally applies to each dependant included in the application. Applicants will normally also have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. There is no separate £19.20 biometric enrolment fee for a standard application. Applicants will normally be required to provide fingerprints and a photograph as part of the application process, but biometric enrolment itself does not carry the old separate Home Office fee. Optional priority or super priority processing may be available for an additional charge, depending on the type of application and availability of the service. A fee waiver may be available in limited circumstances where an applicant cannot afford the application fee because, for example, they cannot meet essential living or housing costs or payment would harm a child's wellbeing. ## Immigration Health Surcharge for a UK Spouse Visa Most adult UK Spouse Visa applicants must pay the [Immigration Health Surcharge](https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application) as part of their immigration application. As at September 2026, the standard adult Immigration Health Surcharge is £1,035 per year. Because the surcharge is calculated according to the length of immigration permission granted, the amount payable will normally be: - £3,105 for an adult applying from outside the UK for permission of up to 2 years and 9 months; or - £2,587.50 for an adult applying from inside the UK for permission of 2 years and 6 months. Different rates apply to applicants who are under 18. Payment of the Immigration Health Surcharge gives the visa holder access to the NHS on broadly the same basis as a person ordinarily resident in the UK, although certain services can still attract separate charges. ## How Long Is a UK Spouse Visa Valid? If you apply as a spouse from outside the UK, permission is normally granted for up to 33 months, which is 2 years and 9 months. If you extend your permission or switch to the family partner route from inside the UK, permission is normally granted for up to 30 months, which is 2 years and 6 months. Special rules apply in some cases involving sponsors with protection status. Where the sponsor has protection status following an asylum claim made after 2 March 2026, the applicant's permission may expire at the same time as the sponsor's permission if the sponsor has less than the standard period of permission remaining. ## Can You Work in the UK on a Spouse Visa? Yes. A person granted a UK Spouse Visa as a spouse or civil partner is normally permitted to work in the UK. There is no requirement to obtain employer sponsorship and the visa holder can generally: - work for an employer; - change employers; - undertake more than one job; - become self-employed; or - establish and operate a business. A person who is in the UK on a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner visa is not permitted to work until they have married or entered into a civil partnership and subsequently obtained permission as a partner. ## Can You Study in the UK on a Spouse Visa? Yes. A person granted permission as a spouse or civil partner can normally study in the UK. Different restrictions apply to a person who only has permission as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner. ## Can You Switch to a UK Spouse Visa From Inside the UK? Many applicants who are already in the UK with valid immigration permission can switch to the Spouse Visa route without leaving the country. For example, it may be possible to switch from certain work, business, graduate or student immigration routes, provided all relevant Appendix FM requirements are satisfied. However, an applicant normally cannot switch to the 5-year partner route from inside the UK if they are: - in the UK as a visitor; or - in the UK with permission granted for 6 months or less. Exceptions include a person who has a 6-month family visa as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner and certain people who have permission connected with family court or divorce proceedings. Exceptional circumstances and human rights provisions can also be relevant in some cases. It is important to check the applicant's current immigration status before submitting an in-country Spouse Visa application. ## When Should I Apply for a Spouse Visa Extension? You must submit your extension application before your current immigration permission expires. Applicants do not have to wait until exactly 28 days before expiry to submit an extension application. However, when extending with the same family member, only up to 28 days remaining on the current permission will normally be added to the new grant. Timing is important because applying significantly too early can potentially affect when you complete the 5-year qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain and may result in an additional extension application being required. It is advisable to begin preparing well in advance, particularly where extensive financial, employment, self-employment or relationship documents are required. ## How Long Does a UK Spouse Visa Application Take? Current Home Office service standards indicate that an application made from outside the UK as a spouse or partner will usually receive a decision within approximately 12 weeks. An application made from inside the UK will normally receive a decision within approximately 8 weeks where the applicant meets the financial and English language requirements. Applications relying on exceptional circumstances, human rights grounds or exemptions can take considerably longer. The Home Office currently indicates that some in-country family applications where the financial and English language requirements are not met can take around 12 months. Processing times are not guaranteed and can vary according to the complexity of the case, the need for further enquiries and Home Office workload. Priority or super priority services may be available in some cases for an additional fee. ## UK Spouse Visa to Indefinite Leave to Remain A person granted a UK Spouse Visa on the standard 5-year partner route can normally apply for indefinite leave to remain after completing 5 continuous years with qualifying permission as a partner. Time spent in the UK on another immigration route does not normally count towards the 5-year partner route. Time spent as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner also does not count towards the 5-year qualifying period. For settlement as a partner, applicants will normally need to continue to satisfy the applicable: - relationship requirement; - financial requirement; - accommodation requirement; - suitability requirements; - English language requirement; and - Life in the UK requirement. An applicant who has been granted permission on the 10-year family route will be subject to different settlement provisions. ## British Citizenship After a UK Spouse Visa Obtaining [indefinite leave to remain](https://immigrationandvisasolicitors.co.uk/settlement-indefinite-leave-to-remain/) does not automatically make a person a British citizen. However, a person who is married to a British citizen can potentially apply to naturalise as a British citizen once they have indefinite leave to remain, provided they satisfy the remaining nationality requirements. Unlike many other [naturalisation](https://immigrationandvisasolicitors.co.uk/best-naturalisation-visa-lawyers-london-immigration/) applicants, the spouse of a British citizen does not normally need to wait 12 months after obtaining indefinite leave to remain before applying for British citizenship. Separate residence, good character, English language and [Life in the UK](https://www.gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test) requirements apply. ## How Our UK Spouse Visa Solicitors Can Help UK Spouse Visa applications can involve complex issues relating to income, employment history, self-employment, savings, previous immigration history, accommodation and relationship evidence. Our immigration solicitors can assist with: - assessing whether you satisfy the Spouse Visa requirements; - identifying the correct financial category; - calculating whether the minimum income requirement is met; - advising on cash savings and other permitted sources of funds; - considering the adequate maintenance test; - advising on relationship and cohabitation evidence; - preparing a tailored document checklist; - reviewing supporting documents; - preparing legal representations; - completing and submitting the application; - advising on switching and extension applications; - advising on applications involving exceptional circumstances or Article 8; and - advising on the route from a Spouse Visa to indefinite leave to remain and British citizenship. If you require advice about a UK Spouse Visa application, contact our immigration team to arrange a consultation with a qualified immigration solicitor. ## UK Spouse Visa FAQs ### How much is the UK Spouse Visa fee in 2026? As at September 2026, the Home Office application fee is £2,064 for a spouse applying from outside the UK and £1,407 for an application made from inside the UK. The Immigration Health Surcharge is normally payable in addition to the application fee. ### What is the minimum income requirement for a UK Spouse Visa in 2026? For most applicants making their first application on the partner route on or after 11 April 2024, the minimum income requirement is £29,000 gross per year. Applicants protected by the transitional arrangements because they entered the partner route before 11 April 2024 may remain subject to the previous £18,600 threshold and applicable child additions. Different rules apply where the sponsor receives certain specified disability or carer's benefits. ### Is the Spouse Visa income requirement increasing to £38,700? No increase to £38,700 has taken effect. The previous government's proposed staged increases were not implemented. As at September 2026, the standard minimum income requirement for most new partner applications remains £29,000. ### How much in savings do I need for a UK Spouse Visa? If relying entirely on cash savings to meet the standard £29,000 minimum income requirement at the entry clearance or limited leave stage, the required amount is normally £88,500. Different calculations apply if savings are being combined with qualifying income. ### How long does a UK Spouse Visa last? A Spouse Visa granted from outside the UK is normally valid for up to 2 years and 9 months. An extension or qualifying in-country application is normally granted for up to 2 years and 6 months. Special rules can apply where the sponsor has protection status. ### Can I work on a UK Spouse Visa? Yes. A person granted a Spouse Visa as a spouse or civil partner can normally work in the UK without requiring employer sponsorship. A person in the UK as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner cannot work until they have married or entered into a civil partnership and obtained permission as a partner. ### Can I switch from a Student or Skilled Worker Visa to a Spouse Visa? Potentially, yes. Applicants with qualifying immigration permission can usually apply to switch to the family partner route from within the UK if they meet the requirements of Appendix FM. Applicants in the UK as visitors or with permission for 6 months or less are generally unable to switch, subject to limited exceptions and human rights considerations. ### Can I apply for a Spouse Visa if my partner receives benefits? Yes, depending on the benefit. Where the sponsor receives certain specified disability or carer's benefits, the standard £29,000 minimum income requirement may not apply. The applicant will normally need to satisfy the adequate maintenance and accommodation requirements instead. ### Do I need IELTS for a UK Spouse Visa? Not necessarily. If you use an English language test, it must be an approved Secure English Language Test and satisfy the required CEFR level. IELTS for UKVI is one possible option, but applicants can also satisfy the English language requirement through certain degrees, nationality exemptions or other approved tests. The usual minimum level for an initial Spouse Visa is A1 in speaking and listening. A2 is normally required for an extension where the applicant previously relied on A1. ### When can I apply for indefinite leave to remain on a Spouse Visa? An applicant on the standard 5-year partner route can normally apply for indefinite leave to remain up to 28 days before completing the required 5-year qualifying period. Time spent on another visa or as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner does not normally count towards the 5-year partner route. ### Do I need to pass the Life in the UK Test for a Spouse Visa? The Life in the UK Test is not normally required for the initial Spouse Visa or a standard extension. It is normally required when applying for indefinite leave to remain, together with English language ability at a minimum of B1 in speaking and listening, unless an exemption applies. ### Can a UK Spouse Visa be refused even if we are legally married? Yes. A legal marriage alone does not guarantee a successful application. The Home Office must also be satisfied that the relationship is genuine and subsisting and that the applicant meets the relevant financial, accommodation, English language, immigration status and suitability requirements. ### Can I apply for a Spouse Visa if I am currently in the UK as a visitor? Usually not from within the UK. A visitor will normally need to leave the UK and make a Spouse Visa application from overseas. There can be exceptions where exceptional circumstances or human rights considerations apply, but these cases require individual assessment. ### How long does a UK Spouse Visa decision take? Applications made outside the UK are currently usually decided within approximately 12 weeks. Qualifying applications made inside the UK are normally decided within approximately 8 weeks. More complex applications, including some applications relying on exceptional circumstances, can take substantially longer. ### Will I receive a BRP if my Spouse Visa is approved? UK immigration status is now principally evidenced digitally through an eVisa and UKVI account. Applicants granted a Spouse Visa should follow the instructions in their decision notification to access and maintain their digital immigration status. ## Expert UK Immigration Solicitors [Our expert immigration team](https://immigrationandvisasolicitors.co.uk/our-uk-immigration-lawyers-london/) understand that an application can be refused where an Applicant lacks the correct understanding of the supporting documents required to satisfy the Home Office's requirements. The UK Immigration Rules coupled with the Home Office’s supplementary Policy Guidance are complex and a failure to submit the correct documentation could lead to a UK visa refusal which can cause Applicants emotional stress and disruption for their families. [Our expert immigration team are regularly instructed](https://immigrationandvisasolicitors.co.uk/success/) to assist in the preparation of Family of a Settled Person or a Spouse visa applications and in some cases are instructed to attend same day visa appointments at one of the Premium Centre’s in the UK. Our team offer some of the following services: - Consultation with an experienced immigration solicitor who can advise on whether you meet the eligibility requirements; - Tailored legal advice which will assist you in collating the documents required for an application; and - Preparation of online/paper visa application forms and legal representations. If you wish to have your documents checked by an expert immigration solicitor, please contact us so we can explore your options. We are an [Immigration law firm based in Middle Temple, London](https://immigrationandvisasolicitors.co.uk/pages/contact/) and our solicitors are fully authorised by the [Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)](https://www.sra.org.uk/). Contact our specialist immigration team today and we can offer you a consultation in person or via telephone so we can explore your options. You can leave us a message on our [Contact Form](https://immigrationandvisasolicitors.co.uk/pages/contact/) or give us a call on 02030110276.