UK Spouse Visa

Below are the requirements for a UK Spouse Visa

• Relationship Requirement: Both you and your partner(Sponsor) must be in a genuine and subsisting relationship in one of the following ways:

  • Married

  • in a civil partnership, or

  • have been living together in a relationship for at least two years.

• Financial Requirement: You/Your sponsor must meet a minimum income requirement of GBP 29,000 or Savings of GBP 88,500

Watch our Youtube video about details of MIR below:

• Accommodation Requirement: You must have adequate accommodation for yourselves and any dependants and the Applicant’s addition to the household should not lead to overcrowding. Accommodation reports are not required,

Don’t waste your money on Accommodation reports, see our Youtube video below:

• English Language Requirement: The applicant from a non-majority English-speaking country must prove they can speak and understand English to a certain level.

• Suitability Requirement: You must not fall for refusal under the general grounds, such as having a poor immigration history or serious criminal record.

To sponsor your partner for a Spouse Visa, you must be one of the following:

• A British or Irish citizen.

• A person who is 'settled' in the UK, meaning you have Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or proof of permanent residence.

• A person in the UK with refugee status or humanitarian protection.

• A person from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, provided you started living in the UK before 1 January 2021.

As of September 2025, the minimum income requirement you must meet to sponsor a spouse is GBP 29,000 gross per annum.

This amount is sufficient to Sponsor the Applicant and any dependent children who are not British citizens.

Watch our Youtube video about more details of MIR below:

Yes, it's possible. While salaried employment is the most common way to meet the financial requirement, it's not the only way. The Home Office allows you to use several other sources:

• Cash Savings: You can rely solely on cash savings of GBP 88,500 (or equivalent foreign currency as per https://www.oanda.com ), which must have been held in a bank account for at least six months anywhere in the world . (If the funds are not held for 6 months, then you can sell any investments/property which has been held for at least 6 months)

• Pensions: Income from a state, occupational, or private pension can be counted.

• Non-Employment Income: This includes income from property rentals or dividends from shares.

• A Combination: You can often use a combination of different income sources (e.g., part-time work plus cash savings) to meet the threshold.

Watch our Youtube Video below: How to meet financial requirement with Savings?

Watch our Youtube Video below: How to meet financial requirement with Self Employment or Business Income?

You need to provide a range of evidence that tells the story of your relationship. Think of it as building a portfolio of your life together. Strong evidence includes:

• Marriage/Civil Partnership Certificate: The legal basis of your relationship.

• Communication Records: A sample of messages (WhatsApp, texts), call logs, or emails spanning your relationship.

• Photographs: A selection of photos of you together, ideally with family and friends at various events and locations.

• Cohabitation Evidence: If you've lived together, documents like joint tenancy agreements, utility bills in both names, or official letters sent to the same address.

• Financial Co-mingling: Evidence of shared financial responsibilities, such as joint bank accounts or money transfers.

• Statements: Letters of support from friends and family who can vouch for your relationship.

No, you don't have to be married. The visa category covers three types of relationships:

• Spouses: You are legally married.

• Civil Partners: You are in a legally recognised civil partnership.

• Unmarried Partners: You are in a serious relationship and have been living together continuously for at least two years in a way that is similar to a marriage. You must provide strong evidence of this cohabitation, such as joint bills and tenancy agreements covering the two-year period.

Unmarried Partner rules have a new definition as Durable partners, watch our Youtube video: UK Partner Visa 2025: No Cohabitation? New Rules Explained! - YouTube

For your first Spouse Visa application, you must prove you have a basic command of English. This means passing a secure English language test (SELT) at a minimum of level A1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.

For your Spouse visa renewal/extension after 2.5 years, you will need to pass a secure English language test (SELT) at a minimum of level A2

For you Indefinite Leave to remain(ILR) application, after total 5 years on the Spouse visa,, you will need to pass a secure English language test (SELT) at a minimum of level B1

If you are confident with your English speaking skills, then you may pass the test at level B1 and use it for all the three stages - your first application, your renewal/extension, your ILR. Your test certificate will expire after 2 years, however, even an expired certificate can be reused if it was used for a previous successful application.

Watch our Youtube video explaining how to use an Expired test certificate:

You are exempt from this requirement if you:

• Are a citizen of a majority English-speaking country (e.g., USA, Canada, Australia).

• Hold a degree or higher that was taught or researched in English and is recognised by UK ENIC.

• Are over 65 years old or have a physical or mental condition that prevents you from meeting the requirement.

The process follows these general steps:

1. Complete the Online Application Form: This is done on the official GOV.UK website.

2. Pay the Fees: You will need to pay the application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which gives you access to the NHS.

3. Book a Biometrics Appointment: You'll be directed to book an appointment at a visa application centre (VAC) in your country to have your photograph and fingerprints taken.

4. Upload Your Supporting Documents: You will upload all your evidence electronically before your biometrics appointment.

5. Attend the Appointment: Attend your scheduled appointment at the VAC.

6. Wait for a Decision: The Home Office will then process your application and inform you of the outcome.

Yes, in many cases.

This is known as an application for Further Leave to Remain (FLR M). You can typically switch to a Spouse Visa if you are in the UK on a long-term visa that was granted for more than six months, such as a Skilled Worker visa or Student visa or a Graduate route visa.

However, you cannot switch to a Spouse Visa if you are in the UK as a visitor. In that situation, you must return to your home country to apply.

Watch our video about Tourist visa and getting married in the UK:

https://youtube.com/shorts/ArnWLs6cztA

Processing times can vary depending on where you apply from and the complexity of your application.

• Applications from outside the UK: The standard processing time is typically up to 12 weeks (about 3 months).

• Applications from inside the UK: The standard processing time is usually around 8 weeks(about 2 months).

For an additional fee of GBP 500, you can use the Priority Service, which aims for a decision within 30 working days (outside the UK). This service is subject to availability.

or

For an additional fee of GBP 1000, you can use the Super Priority Service, which aims for a decision within 1 working day (inside the UK). This service is subject to availability.

The cost is significant and has two main parts:

1. Application Fee: As of September 2025, the fee for applying from outside the UK is approximately GBP 1,938. Applying from inside the UK costs around GBP 1,321.

2. Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): This is a mandatory fee that allows you to use the National Health Service (NHS). It is GBP 1,035 per year. For a Spouse Visa from outside the UK (granted for 33 months), this would be approximately GBP 3,105. For a Spouse Visa from inside the UK (granted for 30 months), this would be approximately GBP 2,587.50

Please note that the IHS is required to be paid to file the application, even if you have your own private medical insurance.

Always check the latest UKVI fees on the GOV.UK website before applying.

Refusals are heartbreaking but often avoidable.

The most common reasons include:

• Failure to meet the financial requirement: Not providing the correct evidence or miscalculating income is a leading cause of refusal.

• Insufficient evidence of a genuine relationship: The Home Office was not convinced that the relationship is real and subsisting.

• Incorrect or missing documents: Submitting incomplete paperwork, expired documents, or evidence in the wrong format.

• Failing the suitability requirements: For example, not disclosing a criminal conviction.

A typical document checklist includes:

• Applicant's & Sponsor's Passports: Current and valid.

• Proof of Relationship: Marriage certificate, photos, communication logs, etc.

• Financial Evidence: Payslips (usually the last 6 months), bank statements, and a letter from the employer confirming details.

• Accommodation Proof: Tenancy agreement, land registry title, or a letter from the property owner confirming you can live there.

• English Language Certificate: A pass certificate from an approved test centre.

• Tuberculosis (TB) Test Certificate: Required if you are applying from a listed country.

This is not an exhaustive list; the documents you need will depend on your specific circumstances.

Review and download the list of documents on our website at:

List of Documents - Partner Visa Overseas

Watch our three videos explaining the list of documents:

Part 1 of 3 - List of documents for UK Spouse / Partner / Fiance visa from Overseas

Part 2 of 3 - List of documents for UK Spouse / Partner / Fiance visa from Overseas

Part 3 of 3 - List of documents for UK Spouse / Partner / Fiance visa from Overseas

It is not mandatory to use a lawyer or immigration adviser. Many people successfully apply on their own, especially if their case is straightforward (e.g., a simple salaried employment and a long-term marriage).

However, you should strongly consider hiring a professional like ourselves, if your case is complex, for example:

• You are self-employed.

• You have a poor immigration history.

• You have had a previous visa refusal.

• You are relying on complicated financial sources.

A good lawyer can help you avoid common mistakes and present your case in the strongest possible way.

Meeting the requirement through self-employment is more complex.

Typically, the sponsor will need to provide evidence of their income over the last one or two full financial years.

Key documents include:

• Annual self-assessment tax returns (SA302s).

• Business accounts prepared by an accountant.

• Business bank statements.

• Proof of tax payments and National Insurance contributions.

The rules are very specific, so this is an area where professional advice is highly recommended.

Watch our Youtube Video below:

How to meet financial requirement with Self Employment or Business Income?

Yes. You can use cash savings either on their own or in combination with income.

• To rely solely on savings: You need £88,500.

• The savings must be held in an account in your name, your partner's name, or jointly.

• The funds must have been in the account for at least 6 months prior to the application date and must be immediately accessible.

If combining savings with income, the calculation is: (Shortfall from £29,000 income) x 2.5 + £16,000 = Required Savings.

Watch our Youtube Video below: How to meet financial requirement with Savings?

This is an alternative way to meet the financial requirement that applies only if the UK sponsor receives one of several specific state benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Carer's Allowance, or Attendance Allowance.

Instead of meeting the £29,000 income threshold, you only need to show you have enough money left over after paying for housing to be at least equal to what a family of your size would receive on Universal Credit. This is a much lower threshold.

• If you apply from outside the UK, your initial visa (known as 'entry clearance') will be granted for 33 months.

• If you apply from inside the UK, your visa (known as 'leave to remain') will be granted for 30 months (2.5 years).

This is the first half of the standard five-year route to settlement.

Before this initial visa expires, you will need to apply for an extension to complete your 5 years. You can apply for extension as follows:

• within last 28 days of your visa expiry, if you were initially granted 30 months or

• within last 3 months of your visa expiry, if you were initially granted 33 months

Yes, absolutely! ✅ One of the main benefits of the Spouse Visa is that it comes with the full right to work in the UK. You can take up almost any job, for any employer, or even be self-employed and start your own business.

You can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), also known as settlement, after you have lawfully resided in the UK on the Spouse Visa route for a continuous period of 60 months (5 years).

The earliest you can apply for ILR is within the last 28 days of completing the 5 years.

To be eligible for ILR, you will need to meet all the requirements again (relationship, financial, etc.) and pass two tests:

1. The Life in the UK Test.

2. An English language test at a higher level of B1 CEFR or above. ( If you had already passed a level B1 test for either the first or second Spouse visa application, then you can reuse an expired test certificate.

Watch our Youtube video explaining how to re-use an expired English test certificate:

If your relationship with your sponsoring partner ends, you are required to inform the Home Office of this change in circumstances.

Your visa is dependent on this relationship. The Home Office will likely take action to 'curtail' (shorten) your visa, giving you a limited period (e.g., 60 days) to either leave the UK or apply for a different visa if you are eligible for one.

An important exception exists for those whose relationship has broken down permanently as a result of domestic violence. In such cases, you may be able to apply for ILR immediately under the domestic violence route.

Yes, you can bring your dependent children to the UK with you, provided they are under 18 years of age. They will need to make their own separate applications as your dependants. You will need to prove you have sole responsibility for them or have the permission of their other parent to bring them to the UK.

Each child will have their own application fee and will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Having a criminal record can impact your application under the "suitability grounds." You must declare all convictions, no matter how old or minor they seem.

• A conviction that resulted in a prison sentence of 12 months or more will usually lead to a refusal, but can be challenged in an Appeal depending on the facts of the case.

• Lesser sentences or non-custodial sentences may not lead to refusal but will be scrutinised by the Home Office.

Failing to disclose a conviction is seen as deception and will almost certainly lead to a refusal and a potential ban on re-applying.

Applying for a Spouse visa from within the UK after your previous leave has expired (known as 'overstaying') is extremely difficult and usually leads to refusal.

There are very few exceptions, such as if you have a child together with your partner and the child is a British citizen or Settled in the UK or the child has a Private/Human rights visa, etc.

If you are an overstayer, your best course of action is to leave the UK and apply from your home country. There is no re-entry ban irrespective of how long you overstayed. However, this is a very serious situation that requires urgent, specialist legal advice.

You must show that you will have a place to live that is "adequate." This means:

• It will not be overcrowded according to UK law.

• The property is owned or occupied exclusively by your family unit. This means you can't rely on sleeping in a living room at a friend's house. You should have at least one bedroom for your exclusive use if you are living in a shared accommodation.

• It must be obtained without recourse to public funds.

Evidence can include a tenancy agreement, a letter from family or friends who own their home confirming you can live there, along with their mortgage statement or land registry title.

Don’t waste your money on Accommodation reports, see our Youtube video below: