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Applying for a Spouse Visa (UK)

If you are the husband, wife or civil partner of a British citizen, you can make an application for a Partner visa, sometimes called a spouse visa. This will allow you to remain in the UK for up to five years, and acts as a pathway to permanent residence in the UK.

Strict requirements need to be satisfied when making a UK spouse visa application, and during the five-year period of your stay. If all of these requirements are met, you will be successful in securing a UK spouse visa and can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK at the end of five years.

It is important to understand the Immigration Rules and take care when submitting a spouse visa application, as you are not guaranteed to be approved even if your spouse or partner is a British or Irish citizen. Spouse visa refusal can be extremely disruptive and affect your work and family life. However, working with an expert immigration solicitor when making an application can give you a stronger chance of success.

The expert immigration lawyers at Tyler Hoffman Solicitors can help to verify that you meet the UK spouse visa financial requirement and any other relevant eligibility criteria. We can also support you to fill in your application and use our attention to detail to make sure everything proceeds as smoothly as possible. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.

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What you should know about the UK spouse visa

A UK spouse visa, officially known as a "partner visa," allows a non-British spouse or civil partner of a British citizen or settled person (someone with indefinite leave to remain) to live in the UK. Someone who is married or in a civil partnership can apply from overseas. Alternatively, if you are a British citizen and would like to apply for your partner to join you in the UK, you may also apply as long as you meet the qualifying requirements.

In order to qualify:

  • Both parties must be 18 years of age or over
  • Both parties must intend to permanently live in the UK
  • The relationship must be ‘genuine and subsisting’
  • The overseas partner must have a satisfactory level of English
  • Your marriage or civil partnership must be recognised by UK law
  • You must show that you can support yourselves and any dependents without having to claim benefits from the government

There are more detailed requirements that must be met but, provided all of the above criteria are met in your situation, you will usually be eligible to apply for a spouse visa. Seek legal advice from expert immigration solicitors if you have any questions about eligibility or finding the right visa route for your needs.

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What are the UK spouse visa requirements?

To be eligible for a UK spouse visa, applicants must meet several requirements:

  • Relationship: Applicants must prove their relationship is genuine and recognised by law. This includes providing evidence like a marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate. You may need additional evidence of shared living arrangements, financial commitments or communications between yourselves in some circumstances. You can also apply for a family visa as a proposed civil partner or spouse if you are engaged, but in these cases you will also need to prove that any prior engagements, partnerships or marriages are legally finished and that you have plans to marry within six months of your arrival in the UK.
  • Financial requirements: The couple must meet a minimum income requirement of a combined £29,000 per year, although this does not apply if the settled person receives certain types of benefits or allowances. You may also need to prove that you have sufficient income or savings for any dependent children who are not settled or British citizens, which usually means those applying for a family visa alongside you, or for a dependent visa. If you first applied before April 2024 and you are seeking to extend your partner visa, earlier rules apply. In these cases, the minimum income threshold is £18,600 per year, along with savings for any dependants.
  • Accommodation: The couple must demonstrate that they have adequate accommodation in the UK, which is suitable for them and any dependents, without relying on public funds.
  • English language requirement: Applicants must prove a sufficient level of English language ability. This usually means passing an approved English language test at A1 level or above, although you may be exempt if you are applying for a UK spouse visa from a country where English is an official language.
  • Intention to live together: Both partners must intend to live together permanently in the UK.

As we have noted, you may need to provide sufficient evidence that you meet the eligibility requirements and of your intentions after you move to the UK. Our spouse visa lawyers can help you to prepare your application and present your evidence effectively.

What is the spouse visa UK application process?

Spouse visa applications are not usually complicated, provided you collect all of the evidence you will need beforehand and carefully follow the instructions you are given. The application process usually unfolds in the following order:

  1. Gather documents and other evidence: You will need to prove that you meet the eligibility requirements for a family visa, and this means submitting documents containing relevant evidence. Documents that typically need to be included in the application include a civil partnership or marriage certificate, photos or communication records pertaining to your relationship, payslips and other financial evidence, and an English Language test certificate.
  2. Fill in the application form: The application begins online through the Home Office website, where you can access and fill in the relevant application form. Applicants may need to provide additional details on the relationship and finances, and will be instructed to do so during the application process. At this stage, you will need to pay the spouse visa application fee. This is £1,846 if you are applying from outside the UK, or £1,258 if you are applying from within. You must pay this fee not only for the main applicant, but for any dependent children who are part of the same application. Applicants must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which costs £1,035 per year (or part of a year) of your stay.
  3. Attend a biometric appointment: Applicants must attend a biometric appointment at a visa application centre to submit their fingerprints, have a photo taken and present any supporting documents that are required. You will be invited to book an appointment at the relevant stage of the spouse visa application process, and you can usually attend at a UK visa application centre in the country from which you are applying.
  4. Wait for a decision: Applications usually take around 12 weeks if applying from outside the UK, and eight weeks if applying from within. A priority service is available for faster processing and a decision within 30 days, but this comes at an additional cost. If the application is approved, the spouse visa holder can remain in the UK for up to 33 months, after which they must apply for an extension. After five years living in the UK on a spouse visa, the applicant may be eligible for indefinite leave to remain, if they meet additional criteria. If the application is refused, it may be possible to apply again or appeal the decision. Speak to experienced immigration lawyers about your options in these cases.
  5. Receive your documentation: Successful applicants have a set period in which to enter the UK, and must also collect a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) within 10 days of arrival in the country. Any documents you have submitted as part of the process will also be returned at this stage.

The spouse visa application process is comprehensive and comes with strict requirements. Applicants must provide clear, verifiable documentation and answer all of the questions carefully during the application process, as mistakes at this stage can result in the application being denied. If this happens, you will need to pay the application fee again if you are able to reapply, so it is best to avoid this and get your application right the first time. Contact Tyler Hoffman Solicitors for reliable immigration advice and support during an application.

Can I extend my partner visa?

UK partner visas are granted for an initial period of 33 months, or two years and nine months. You can extend your stay at the end of this period, provided all of the relevant UK spouse visa requirements continue to be met. At the end of this period, you can apply for an extension. 

If you are applying as someone who is not yet married but is engaged, your visa will be granted for six months. You must marry your partner within the period and then apply for a partner visa, which grants you the same 33 month stay.

What can I do under a spouse visa?

A UK spouse visa holder can work or study in the UK during their stay, provided they remain married to their partner. If you decide to divorce your spouse, you will need to inform UK Visas and Immigration, as this may affect your visa status. If you come to the UK on a Marriage Visitor visa (as a proposed civil partner or spouse) you cannot work or study and must marry within six months of your arrival.

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Use the form below to contact our expert immigration solicitors today, or call us on 03300 536 786. We will aim to get back to you within two hours of your enquiry.

Services in this section

EEA National Permanent Residence Card

EEA National Family Member Permanent Residence

EEA National Applying For Naturalisation As The Spouse Of A British Citizen

Permanent Residence Card

EEA Family Resident Permits & National Registration Certificates

Spouse Visa

Fiancé Visa UK

Student Visa

Visit Visa

Indefinite Leave To Remain

Naturalisation And British Citizenship

Adult Dependant Visa In/Out Country

Application For Travel Document

Sponsorship Declaration

Private Medical Treatment Visit Visa

Replacement Of Biometric Card

Appeals At Immigration Tribunals

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