UK spouse visa – basic requirements and eligibility
A UK spouse and partner visa (spouse visa) enables you to move to the UK to live with your British or settled sponsor. This visa is suitable for:
- married couples or civil partners (regardless of how long you have cohabited or been together);
- unmarried couples who can prove that they have been together in a relationship similar to marriage for at least two years; and
- a fiancé/fiancée/proposed civil partner who intends to marry/enter into a civil partnership in the UK within six months of arrival and continue living in the UK by then transitioning to a spouse/partner visa (this type of visa is called a fiancé visa).
In addition to proving the genuineness of a relationship, UK spouse/partner visa applicants are also required to meet minimum income and English language proficiency requirements.
There are various ways to meet the requirements and everyone’s circumstances are different. Not all applicants will need to provide the same evidence.
How we can help
If you feel confident reading and understanding the rules and guidance yourself, the system is designed so that you can apply without a lawyer or representative. However, having an experienced lawyer by your side can remove a lot of the time, worry, and stress involved in the process.
We recognise the process is already very costly and instructing a lawyer is a luxury for many, but with our experience and expertise we can remove as much of the stress and worry as possible. We take pride in our ability to find solutions to complex circumstances and have a track record of successful spouse and partner visa applications. We will keep you on the right path and ensure that the application process runs smoothly.
Where appropriate, our specialist immigration lawyers offer full legal representation to prepare and submit your visa application to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). With this service, you can expect:
- clear advice on rules and procedure;
- a bespoke document list of all mandatory and recommended evidence for your application;
- assistance with drafting supporting statements or letters;
- a thorough review of, and feedback on, all your documentation and evidence;
- a tailored covering letter from your lawyer that addresses any complexities specific to your case; and
- assistance with completing and submitting your online application forms and digital evidence.
For those who prefer to prepare their own applications, we may be able to offer a document checking service to review your application bundle and provide constructive feedback.
If you simply have questions about the application, we can arrange a one-off fixed-fee consultation session.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can spouses and partners only be sponsored by British citizens?
It is not just British citizens who can sponsor their spouses and partners. You can also sponsor a spouse or partner if you hold:
- indefinite leave to remain or the right of abode;
- settled or pre-settled status issued under the EU Settlement Scheme;
- refugee or humanitarian protection status; or
- Irish citizenship.
What is the minimum income requirement for the UK spouse visa?
The sponsor (or the applicant if they are in the UK with permission to work) must have an annual income of at least £29,000. The minimum income requirement can also be met by relying other non-employment income sources of at least £29,000, or cash savings of at least £88,500.
The income requirement is rigid and there are strict evidential requirements to prove this.
Can I visit the UK as a tourist and apply for a spouse visa while I am here?
No. This is a common trap people fall into. Visitors cannot “switch” to a spouse visa from inside the UK. Applications will be refused. Other longer-term visa holders can switch, but not visitors. Visitors must return to their home country before making their visa application.
How long is the UK spouse visa processing time?
Applications made inside the UK usually take around eight weeks under UKVI’s standard service. However, it is possible to pay for a “super-priority” service at the time of application to get a decision in one to two working days.
Applications made outside the UK usually take around 12 – 24 weeks for a decision. It is possible to pay for a “priority” service to shorten the wait time to around six weeks, though UKVI does not guarantee these timescales.
How long is a spouse visa valid for?
A standard spouse visa is valid for an initial period of 33 months (two years and nine months) if you obtain it abroad. If you obtain it in the UK, it will be valid for 30 months (two years and six months). A fiancé/fiancée or proposed civil partner will only be granted an initial period of six months.
Do I need to renew my spouse visa?
Yes. Before your first visa expires, you will need to apply again to extend your visa for a further 30 months. After living in the UK for a total of five years on this visa route, you will be able to apply for settlement (indefinite leave to remain).
When can I get British citizenship?
If you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, you can apply to naturalise as a British citizen immediately after acquiring indefinite leave to remain. If you are unmarried, you will need to wait one year more. See our page on naturalisation here.
Get in touch with our experts today:
Our team has extensive spouse visa experience. We have successfully supported numerous applications involving complexities such as:
- cash savings held across multiple different accounts and currencies, or held as investments;
- employment income from multiple jobs or from employment held less than six months;
- cases involving children from previous relationships where one parent will not be travelling to the UK and separated from their child;
- couples living apart due to work or family commitments, and therefore risking being unable to prove the subsisting relationship requirement;
- applicants spending excessive time outside the UK during their visa, risking being unable to prove they intend to live together permanently in the UK.
The financial requirement in particular can be complicated, and we have strong expertise in financial planning to ensure that income sources meet the rules. We can also mitigate the chance of an application being refused by making legal representations and providing a strong package of evidence addressing any complexities in your application.
