Spouse Visa
The UK Spouse visa category is for partners of British citizens or persons with indefinite leave to remain in the UK, who wish to join, or stay with, their husband or wife in the UK. You can also apply for a UK Spouse visa if your Spouse is outside the UK, but intending to return to the UK with you.
How we work
Find out more about how we workRequirements for a UK Spouse visa application
In order to qualify for a UK Spouse visa you will need to prove that you meet the following requirements:
- Your partner is British or holds Indefinite Leave to Remain or is a refugee;
- You are both over the age of 18;
- You have met in person and are legally married;
- Your relationship is genuine and you intend to live together permanently;
- Any previous relationships have broken down permanently;
- You will be adequately maintained in the UK without recourse to public funds;
- There is adequate accommodation for you and any dependents;
- You have passed an approved English langauge test to the required level.
The requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on your circumstances. Contact us today to speak to one of our immigration lawyers for expert advice on your individual needs.
Financial requirement for a UK Spouse visa
In order to demonstrate that you can be adequately maintained in the UK without recourse to public funds, you will need to satisfy a financial requirement.
The financial requirement for a UK Spouse visa application states that you will need to demonstrate that your Spouse (or both of you jointly if you are in the UK with valid leave to remain) has a gross annual income of at least:
- £29,000 if you are applying after the 11th April 2024 for your first period of leave to remain or entry clearance.
- If you applied for your visa before the 11th April 2024 and you are applying to extend your leave in the UK you will need to show that;
- you have a combined income of £18,600;
- £3,800 for a first child (who is not British or settled in the UK); plus
- £2,400 for each additional child (who is not British or settled in the UK).
Satisfying the financial requirement
You can meet the UK Spouse visa financial requirement through salaried and non-salaried income, self-employed income, salary and/or dividends from a company of which you are a Director, property rental income, dividends and income from investments, stocks, shares, bonds or trust funds, pension income, insurance payments, maintenance payments and cash savings above £16,000 that have been held for at least six months, unless you can demonstrate that they have come from the sale of property or investments within the last 6 months.
In some circumstances it is possible to rely on a combination of the above sources of income to satisfy the financial requirement. Different considerations will apply if your Spouse is in receipt of certain benefits and you may be exempt from the financial requirement.
What else do you need to know
UK Partner visa processing times
UK Visa & Immigration aims to process 95% of UK Partner visa applications within 12 weeks.
If you require a faster visa processing timeline, most visa application centres outside the UK offer a Settlement Priority Visa Service. This will ensure that your UK Spouse visa application is placed at the front of the queue at every stage of the decision-making process. The visa processing time for a UK Spouse visa submitted via the Settlement Priority Visa Service is normally not more than 30 working days. A well prepared visa application may result in a quicker processing time.
If you apply to switch into or extend your stay as a Spouse from within the UK, you will be able to choose from two processing timelines. If you apply via the Standard Service, your in-country application will normally be decided within 8 weeks. If you apply via the Super Priority Service, you should normally receive a decision on the next working day after providing your biometric information.
UK Spouse visa application fee
The Home Office application fee for a UK Spouse visa application submitted outside the UK is currently £1,846. The Home Office application fee to switch into the Spouse category from within the UK or extend stay as a Spouse is currently £1,048. In addition to these fees, you will also be required to pay the NHS surcharge which is currently:
For each adult (18 or older) it costs:
- £2,587.50 if you’re staying for 2 years and 6 months
- £3,105 if you’re staying for 2 years and 9 months
- £5,175 if you’re staying for 5 year
For each child (under 18), it costs:
- £1,940 if you’re staying for 2 years and 6 months
- £2,328 if you’re staying for 2 years and 9 months
- £3,880 if you’re staying for 5 years
Get a faster decision on your application
If you’re applying from the UK, you may be able to pay an extra £1,000 for the super priority service to get a faster decision
UK Partner visa validity period
If your application for a UK Partner visa is successful, your visa will be valid for 33 months initially. If you apply for leave to remain in the UK as a Spouse then you will be granted leave valid for 30 months.
Before your initial grant of leave expires, you will need to apply to UK Visas and Immigration to extend your stay. If your application for further leave to remain as a Spouse is successful then you will be granted further leave to remain for a period of 30 months.
After spending 5 years in the UK as the Spouse of a British citizen or settled person, you will be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain.
FAQs
Can a Spouse visa holder work in the UK?
Spouse visa holders have a full right to work and study in the UK.
Unable to satisfy the requirements for a UK Spouse visa?
If you are not able to satisfy certain of the requirements for a UK Spouse visa, you may still be able to apply to join or remain with your partner on Human Rights grounds if you can demonstrate that there would be very significant difficulties in your relationship continuing outside the UK.
How can we help you with your UK Spouse visa application?
Sarah Rogers
Founder of IAC
Our immigration lawyers regularly assist foreign national Spouses to relocate to, and settle in, the UK. Whether you require expert advice on the requirements of the Immigration Rules, an independent assessment of your prospects of qualifying for a visa or professional assistance with preparing an immigration application, we can help.
The financial requirement rules are particularly complex and include mandatory requirements. We can advise you and ensure that you can meet all of the requirements and have the required supporting documents that must be provided to UK Visas and Immigration in order to demonstrate your ability to meet the rules. Our immigration lawyers specialise in assisting applicants with complicated financial circumstances to secure successful outcomes in their Spouse visa applications.
We can help you with as much or as little advice and assistance as you need with tailored packages or individual services giving you flexibility to chose all the assistance you need, when you need it. You’ll also have the benefit of access to our innovative client portal, giving everything you need at your fingertips.
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