Apply for your spouse visa
There are specific eligibility and financial requirements you and your partner need to satisfy.
You must:
- Have met in person (not just online)
- Intend to live together permanently
- Meet the financial requirements
- Meet the English language requirement
- Have satisfactory accommodation in the UK
Financial requirements of a UK partner visa
You can fulfil one or a combination of the following financial requirements.
Salaried income
The UK citizen or settled person must earn a minimum income of £18,600 for the 12 months prior to the visa application date. If they had not earned this amount in the previous 12 months, they must have been permanently employed for six months and earning a gross annual income of £18,600.
Cash savings
The base level of cash savings required is £62,500. This increases when there is more than one applicant involved (such as children). The cash saving generally must be held in a bank account for a minimum period of six months unless it was held as an asset for more than six months and then sold and converted to cash savings.
Required documents for a UK spouse visa application
Visa applications are most commonly rejected because they aren’t accompanied by the correct supporting documents. We’ve put together a general list of required documents when applying for a UK spouse visa.
Please note that the required documents will vary for each individual and is dependent on your specific circumstances. After consulting with one of our immigration experts, an individualised document checklist will be provided for your unique circumstance.
Personal information
- Completed visa application form
- A current and valid passport
- One colour passport photograph
- Evidence of marital status or long-term relationship
- Evidence of current employment or studies
- Evidence that the applicant meets the English language requirement
Financial information
- Bank statements
- Business bank statements
- Bank balance certificate
- Payslips
- Tax returns (business or personal)
- Evidence of income from property or land
Accommodation details
- Details of the accommodation in the UK
- Supporting letter from occupant/landlord
- Tenancy agreement
- Payslips
- Land Registry documents
Settled partner’s details
- Evidence of current employment and monthly income after tax
- Evidence of current immigration status/permission to be in the UK
- Evidence of relationship (e.g. phone records, emails, letters, photographs)
Extend your visa
The UK spouse visa is valid for two years and six months. If you’re planning on spending more time than this in the UK, you must apply to extend your visa before it expires. Note, that you can only apply to extend your visa from within the UK.
To apply for an extension, you will need to fill in a current version of form FLR (M).
As well as filling in this form you must also:
- Pay the specified extension application fee
- Provide passport photographs of you and your partner
- Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge
- Provide a valid passport
- Demonstrate that you meet the financial criteria
- Complete all mandatory sections of the form
- Ensure the relevant sections are signed by both you and your partner
It’s vitally important that your application contains all the relevant documentation. If not, it may be marked as invalid and returned to you. This could result in the loss of appeal rights if your permitted stay has run out by the time you make your next application.
Switch to a UK spouse visa
If you are in the UK on another visa and are in a relationship or married to a British citizen, you can apply to switch to a spouse visa.
How long does it take to receive your UK spouse visa?
Most UK spouse visa applicants will receive an answer within, but it can take a little longer for your application to be processed, depending on the complexity of your application.
How much will a spouse visa cost?
Currently, a spouse visa will cost £1,523 when you apply outside of the UK.
Remember: All applicants must pay an additional fee of £624 (for every year that you will be staying in the UK) related to the Immigration Health Surcharge. This allows all applicants access to the National Health System.
It’s expensive, so always be sure
Applying for a UK visa is costly, so you need to make sure your application is filled in and submitted correctly.
That’s what we’re here to do. Our expert immigration advice and assistance will always maximise your chances of lodging a successful application.
Our "no visa, no fee" guarantee means that we won’t charge you any fees if your application is not successful.