UK Spouse Visa

A UK spouse visa — formally a partner visa under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules — allows the husband, wife, or civil partner of a British citizen or person with settled status to live and work in the United Kingdom. Initial leave is granted for 30 months (in-country) or 33 months (from outside the UK), leading to Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years on the route.

1. What Is a UK Spouse Visa?

The spouse visa is a family visa route under Appendix FM of the UK Immigration Rules. It exists for married couples and civil partners where one partner is a British citizen or holds settled status in the UK (Indefinite Leave to Remain or EU Settled Status) and the other partner is a foreign national who requires permission to live in the UK.

The visa is not automatic upon marriage to a British citizen. You must make a formal application, meet a set of defined eligibility criteria, and submit evidence to satisfy the Home Office that the relationship is genuine.

Unmarried partners who have lived together for at least two years may apply under the unmarried partner route, which uses the same Appendix FM framework and has largely the same requirements.

If you are not yet married, you may be eligible for a UK fiancé(e) visa, which grants six months in the UK to marry — after which you can switch to a spouse visa without leaving the country.

2. Who Can Apply?

The applicant (the person who needs the visa) must be the spouse or civil partner of someone in the UK who is:

• a British or Irish citizen
• a person with Indefinite Leave to Remain or EU Settled Status
• a person with refugee status or humanitarian protection
• a person on a Turkish Businessperson or Turkish Worker visa

Both parties must be aged 18 or over. The applicant must intend to live with their sponsor in the UK as their partner.

3. UK Spouse Visa Requirements

To be granted a UK spouse visa, an applicant must satisfy five core requirements:

1. Relationship — the marriage or civil partnership must be legally valid and the relationship must be genuine and subsisting
2. Financial — the UK-based sponsor must meet a minimum income threshold (currently £29,000)
3. Accommodation — the couple must have adequate accommodation available that is not overcrowded
4. English language — the applicant must demonstrate English language ability at CEFR level A1 or above
5. Immigration status — the applicant must not fall for refusal on general grounds, such as deception or a poor immigration history

4. Financial Requirement: The £29,000 Rule

The minimum income threshold for a UK spouse visa in 2026 is £29,000 gross per year.

This applies to the sponsor's employment income. The threshold has been frozen at this level while the government reviews the Migration Advisory Committee's June 2025 recommendations regarding further increases. Our detailed guide to the £29,000 financial requirement covers Category A and B income, the self-employment rules, the savings top-up formula, and the adequate maintenance test in full.

How the financial requirement works in practice:

• Salaried employment: the sponsor must demonstrate that their gross annual salary at the time of application is at least £29,000, typically through payslips and a letter from their employer
• Self-employment: more complex rules apply — you will generally need tax returns, SA302s, and company accounts for the last full financial year; see our financial requirement guide for the Category B rules
• Multiple income sources: pension income, rental income, and a second job can all be combined with employment income in certain circumstances
• Cash savings: savings of at least £16,000 held for at least six months can supplement income shortfalls, using a prescribed formula

If the sponsor receives certain qualifying benefits — such as Carer's Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, or Personal Independence Payment — the adequate maintenance test applies instead of the £29,000 threshold.

5. Relationship Requirements

The Home Office must be satisfied that the relationship is genuine and subsisting — meaning it exists in reality, not just on paper, and that the couple intend to live together permanently in the UK.

UKVI is alert to sham marriages and will look for evidence of a relationship that has developed naturally over time. The evidence that carries most weight includes:

• photographs spanning the relationship, showing both partners together at different stages
• communication records — messages, calls, emails — that demonstrate regular contact
• evidence of visits, including boarding passes and visa stamps
• proof of shared financial responsibility, such as joint accounts or shared bills
• statements from family and friends who know the couple

The requirements are the same whether the couple has lived together or maintained a long-distance relationship, though the evidence will differ. Our guide to proving a genuine relationship explains what caseworkers look for, the red flags that attract extra scrutiny, and how to present communication and travel evidence effectively. Couples who have lived together should also see our cohabitation evidence guide, which sets out the documents the Home Office expects at both the initial application and extension stages.

6. Accommodation Requirements

The couple must show that they have accommodation in the UK that is:

• owned or occupied exclusively by them, or available to them
• not overcrowded under the Housing Act 1985 definition
• fit for habitation

Living with family members is acceptable provided the property is not overcrowded once all occupants are counted. A property inspection report is not always required, but it is prudent where the accommodation could be questioned — for example, a small flat with multiple occupants. Our accommodation requirements guide explains the room and space standards used to assess overcrowding, what documents landlords and owners need to provide, and how to handle the family accommodation scenario.

7. English Language Requirement

The applicant must demonstrate English language ability at CEFR level A1 (speaking and listening) at the initial application stage. This is tested through a Secure English Language Test from an approved provider, such as IELTS Life Skills A1.

Exemptions apply if the applicant:

• is a national of a majority English-speaking country (as defined in Appendix English Language)
• holds a UK degree, or a degree taught in English from a recognised overseas institution and verified by ECCTIS

8. Required Documents

A complete spouse visa document pack will typically include:

Relationship evidence

• marriage certificate (with certified translation if not in English)
• photographs spanning the relationship
• communication records
• travel evidence (boarding passes, visa stamps)

Financial evidence

• six months of payslips and corresponding bank statements
• employer letter confirming salary and contract type

Accommodation evidence

• tenancy agreement or mortgage statement
• utility bills or council tax bill in the sponsor's name

Identity documents

• applicant's valid passport
• sponsor's passport or proof of settled status

Other requirements

• completed online application form
• biometric enrolment at a visa application centre
• TB test certificate where required — applicants from Nigeria, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and other listed countries must obtain a certificate from an approved clinic before applying
• English language test certificate

9. eVisa and Your Digital Immigration Status

Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) have been replaced. Since 31 December 2024, spouse visa holders are issued an eVisa — a digital record of their immigration status linked to their UKVI online account — rather than a physical card. Our guide to the spouse visa eVisa explains how share codes work, what to do when you renew your passport, and the steps for those still holding a BRP.

What this means in practice

• Travel: you prove your right to enter the UK using a share code generated from your UKVI account, not by presenting a card at the border
• Passport changes: if you renew your passport, you must update your UKVI account to link the new travel document before you travel — failure to do this can result in being denied boarding
• Right to rent and right to work: these checks are now conducted entirely through the online share code system; landlords and employers no longer accept BRPs as evidence
• Existing BRP holders: if you held a BRP issued before 2025 and have not yet transitioned to an eVisa, you should create or update your UKVI account without delay

10. Processing Times and Fees

Application fees (as of April 2026)

Processing times

Standard processing from outside the UK is within 24 weeks, though the majority of applications are decided faster. Allow additional time before applying for TB test appointments and Secure English Language Tests — depending on availability in your country, these can take four to six weeks to arrange. See our priority and super priority guide for a full breakdown of costs, lead times, and which countries offer each service level.

11. Priority and Super Priority Services

Priority service (outside the UK): targets a decision within 30 working days. Available at most visa application centres and worth considering if you have a specific travel date in mind.

Super priority service: targets a decision by the end of the next working day. Only available from a limited number of countries. At £1,000 on top of the standard visa fee, it is a significant additional cost — but it can be justified where family separation is prolonged or there is a specific need to travel quickly. Our priority services guide lists country availability, biometric appointment wait times, and how to factor in TB test and English test lead times when planning your timeline.

12. Common Reasons for Refusal

The three most frequent grounds for refusal are set out below. Our spouse visa refusal guide goes deeper into each ground, explains the difference between appeal and reapplication, and covers admin review and Article 8 human rights arguments.

1. Financial requirement not met

The sponsor's income falls below £29,000, or the evidence submitted does not follow the specified format — for example, payslips that do not cover the required six-month period, or bank statements with unexplained deposits.

2. Relationship not found genuine

The caseworker is not satisfied that the relationship is genuine and subsisting. This is particularly common where couples have met recently, where contact records are thin, or where the application relies heavily on photographs without supporting communication or financial evidence.

3. Accommodation does not meet the standard

The property is assessed as overcrowded, or the documentation submitted does not clearly establish that the accommodation is available to the couple.

13. Switching to a Spouse Visa from Another Visa

Most people who are already in the UK on a valid visa can switch to a spouse visa without leaving the country, provided they are not on a category that prohibits switching (such as a visitor visa or short-term student visa).

Common switching routes include graduate visa to spouse visa, student visa to spouse visa, and skilled worker visa to spouse visa. Our switching guide covers which categories can switch, how combined household income is assessed, and the timing considerations that prevent gaps in lawful leave.

14. Extensions and the Route to Settlement

A spouse visa leads to Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years of continuous residence on the partner route. The typical path is:

• Initial visa: 33 months (outside the UK) or 30 months (in-country)
• FLR(M) extension: a further 30 months
• ILR application once five years of continuous residence is completed

At each stage, the Home Office reassesses the relationship, the financial position, and the continuity of the residence. Evidence of cohabitation spanning the visa period is required at the extension stage — our FLR(M) extension guide explains the documents required and the A2 English upgrade needed at that point. For the full five-year settlement pathway, including the 180-day absence rule, the Life in the UK test, and the B1 English requirement for ILR, see our spouse visa settlement guide.

15. Do You Need Legal Representation?

Not always. If your situation is straightforward — salaried income clearly above £29,000, a well-documented relationship, and no previous visa issues — many couples prepare and submit their own applications successfully.

Legal support is worth considering when:

• the sponsor is self-employed or has variable income
• income comes from multiple sources and needs to be combined correctly
• the relationship has features that may invite scrutiny from a caseworker
• a previous application has been refused
• you are switching from a complex visa category
• you are on a tight timeline and cannot afford an avoidable error

We offer a fixed-fee review of your document pack before submission, as well as full representation for applications where the risk of refusal is higher. Contact us to discuss your specific circumstances.

16. Frequently Asked Questions

Page last reviewed: May 2026. Requirements are subject to change. Always verify current fees and thresholds against the official UK Visas and Immigration guidance on GOV.UK before submitting an application.