Most applicants must show a certain level of English language ability, unless exempt.
Indicative levels under current rules are:
You can usually meet the spouse visa English test requirement by:
We routinely advise on which tests are accepted and how to present your evidence correctly so that your application is not refused on technical grounds.
A Spouse Visa UK is a family immigration route under Appendix FM that allows the non UK husband, wife or civil partner of a British citizen or settled person to live together in the UK, usually with full right to work, and to progress to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) on the 5 year partner route if all requirements continue to be met.
You then normally apply for a spouse visa extension, and after completing 5 years on the partner route (excluding time spent on a fiancé visa), you may be able to apply for spouse visa ILR 5 year route, provided you still meet the rules on relationship, finances, accommodation and English language.
Applications are made online to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). Decisions are based on the Immigration Rules, Home Office guidance and human rights considerations under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects your right to family life.
To qualify for a Spouse Visa UK, both you and your partner must meet specific status and relationship rules.
Your partner (the sponsor) must be:
You can usually apply as:
Understanding the differences between partner routes helps you choose the right strategy.
| Route Type | Key Features | Works Toward a 5-Year ILR? | Right to Work? | Typical Initial Length |
| Spouse visa | Married couple, marriage recognised in the UK | Yes – counts toward the 5-year partner route | Yes | 30 or 33 months |
| Civil partner visa | Registered civil partnership recognised in the UK | Yes | Yes | 30 or 33 months |
| Unmarried partner visa | Durable relationship, usually 2 years cohabitation | Yes | Yes | 30 or 33 months |
| Fiancé / Proposed civil partner visa | Intend to marry or form civil partnership in the UK | No – only counts after switching to a spouse/civil partner visa | No | Up to 6 months |
If you are unsure whether to marry first, apply as an unmarried partner, or enter as a fiancé then switch, we can assess the timelines, evidence and costs for each option and recommend the best way forward.
You must show that you and your partner have adequate accommodation available in the UK which:
Common accommodation evidence includes:
Where there is shared living, such as a family home, it is important to show room sizes, number of occupants and evidence that you can live there lawfully.
If you are uncertain whether you should apply under the Appendix FM partner route or as a dependant on another visa, it is important to get advice before making any decision.
Here are the timings and requirements for a UK sponsor licence application and related visa steps.
| Category | Applying from Outside the UK (Entry Clearance) | Switching Inside the UK |
| Who this is for | Applicants living overseas | Applicants already in the UK under a visa that permits switching (for example, Skilled Worker or Student) |
| Application fee | Higher fee due to longer entry clearance validity | Slightly lower than the overseas fee |
| IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) | Charged for around 33 months | Charged for around 30 months |
| Processing time | Standard decision in about 12 weeks; faster if priority service is available and purchased | Standard decision in around 8 weeks; priority and super priority are often available for an additional fee |
| Financial considerations | Overseas income and savings may be counted depending on eligibility rules | Switching can be beneficial because certain types of UK income may be counted depending on circumstances |
| Additional notes | Best option for partners living abroad | Timing and eligibility rules must be confirmed before switching routes |
To qualify for a Spouse or Civil Partner Visa UK, you must generally show that:
Show that your relationship is real, ongoing and supported by credible evidence such as communication records, cohabitation proof or shared responsibilities.
You must be legally married, in a civil partnership or in a long term durable partnership if applying as an unmarried partner.
Both partners must be at least 18 at the time of application.
Your partner must be a British citizen, an Irish citizen or hold eligible settled or pre settled status in the UK.
You must meet the minimum income threshold through employment, self employment or permitted savings. Some exemptions may apply.
Provide evidence that you meet the required CEFR English level or qualify for an exemption.
You must show that you have suitable accommodation in the UK which is not overcrowded and does not rely on public funds.
You must not fall under refusal grounds such as criminality, deception or serious immigration breaches.
If you are applying from a listed country, you must provide a valid tuberculosis test certificate.
Submit the correct form, pay the required fees and attend your biometric appointment for identity verification.
A core part of the spouse visa UK eligibility criteria is proving that your relationship is genuine, subsisting, and that you and your partner intend to live together permanently in the UK.
Before you apply, it is important to understand what the Home Office expects and the evidence they typically review:
Your partner (the sponsor) must be:
Strong, clear and well organised evidence helps reduce the risk of refusal on the grounds that the relationship is not genuine or subsisting.
A refusal is upsetting, but it is not always the end of the road.
Depending on how you applied and the reasoning in the refusal letter, you may have options such as:
Spouse Visa Appeal
Administrative Review (AR)
Fresh application
We assess the refusal in detail, advise on prospects of success and design a strategy that balances time, cost, risk and the impact on your family life. Early legal advice usually improves your chances of turning a refusal into a successful outcome.
Once your Spouse or Civil Partner Visa UK is granted, you can usually:
You cannot:
Your initial grant will usually last for 30 or 33 months depending on where you applied from.
Before your initial visa expires, you must apply for a spouse visa extension if you wish to remain in the UK with your partner.
When to extend
The 5 year ILR route:
Time spent on a fiancé visa does not count towards the 5 year residence period, although it is an important stepping stone to the partner route.
For most new partner applications made on or after 11 April 2024, the sponsor must normally show a gross annual income of at least £29,000. (GOV.UK)
For applicants who were already on the 5 year partner route before 11 April 2024, and who are extending with the same partner, a lower protected threshold of £18,600 usually continues to apply, with additional amounts for certain dependent children, up to a maximum of £29,000.
Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to rely on:
Some sponsors are exempt from the standard minimum income requirement if they receive specific disability or carer’s benefits. In those cases, the assessment focuses on whether you have adequate maintenance, not a fixed salary threshold.
If your British spouse earns £24,000 a year and you hold savings of £20,000 that have been in your name for at least 6 months, it may be possible to combine income and savings to meet the £29,000 minimum.
Once you obtain ILR on the partner route, you may later be able to apply for British citizenship by naturalisation, typically after:
We can advise on timing, travel patterns and evidence to support a smooth transition from spouse visa ILR to a successful British Citizenship Application.
Choosing the right representative for a Spouse or Civil Partner Visa UK can make the difference between a stressful process and a confident, well managed journey to approval.
At A Y & J Solicitors, you benefit from:
We combine legal precision with practical empathy, recognising that behind every file there is a family that simply wants to be together.
As a multi-award-winning, SRA-regulated law firm recommended by The Legal 500 with over a decade of specialised immigration experience, we create the gold standard and benchmark in expertise, authority, and credibility to get the desired results. Moreover, this result driven approach has created an overall record of 5,000+ successful immigration and visa applications, enabling the companies and individuals to be confident that their visa process is in experienced hands committed to their success.
Before your initial visa expires, you must apply for a spouse visa extension if you wish to remain in the UK with your partner.
When to extend
The 5 year ILR route:
Time spent on a fiancé visa does not count towards the 5 year residence period, although it is an important stepping stone to the partner route.
Our client, a British national, ran a growing consultancy with fluctuating income. The couple had already delayed applying due to confusion about the financial rules. We reconstructed three years of accounts, aligned the figures with Appendix FM categories, obtained a detailed accountant’s letter and provided a clear explanatory schedule for the caseworker. The spouse visa was approved on the first attempt.
A non UK spouse had been refused entry clearance on the basis that the relationship was not genuine and subsisting. We obtained the full case file, identified errors and gaps in the earlier evidence, and rebuilt the application with a strong timeline, additional relationship proof and expert legal representations. The new application was approved, allowing the couple to start their life together in the UK.
An applicant on a Skilled Worker Visa wanted to switch into the family visa as a partner route with a British spouse. We used a combination of sponsor salary and the applicant’s UK employment income, following the detailed Appendix FM rules on combining incomes. The application was granted quickly using a priority service, and the couple moved onto a clear 5 year path to ILR.
A strong spouse visa documents bundle builds your case and reduces the risk of refusal or Home Office queries.
This is a core 2025 checklist. The Home Office may ask for more documents depending on your case.
This structure can easily be turned into a downloadable checklist or internal client facing pack.
Applying for a UK spouse visa involves several stages. Getting each step right, in the right order, improves your chances of a smooth outcome.
Check that you and your partner meet the status, relationship, financial, English and accommodation requirements.
Build a complete, well organised evidence bundle based on the checklists above, including relationship proof and financial documents in the correct categories.
Choose between applying outside the UK (entry clearance) or inside the UK (switching or extending), depending on your current immigration status and risk profile.
Fill in the family visa as a partner application on the gov.uk website, carefully answering questions about your history and relationship.
Pay the application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge for the full length of the visa.
Provide fingerprints and a digital photo at a visa application centre or UKVCAS centre, unless you use an identity app where available.
Submit your documents via the online portal or at your appointment, following the correct format and labelling conventions.
Processing time depends on whether you choose standard, priority or super priority service and whether UKVI requests more evidence.
If granted, you will usually receive a visa vignette or, increasingly, an e-visa digital status linked to your UKVI account as part of the UK’s digital immigration rollout.
Keep records of income, cohabitation and travel so you are ready to extend and later apply for ILR without scrambling for old evidence.
| Location | Standard Processing | Priority | Super Priority |
| Outside the UK | Around 12 weeks from biometrics | Often within 6 weeks or less (where available and with an additional fee) | Not always available outside the UK |
| Inside the UK | Up to 8 weeks | Faster service (availability varies; extra fee applies) | Often aims for a decision by the end of the next working day after biometrics (availability limited; higher fee) |
Fees change regularly, but the figures below give a realistic 2025 snapshot. Always check the latest rates or speak with us for an up to date quote.
| Cost item | Applying outside the UK | Applying inside the UK | Notes |
| Spouse / partner visa Home Office fee | Approx. £1,938 | Approx. £1,321 | Standard partner, spouse, civil partner and unmarried partner route |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | Approx. £3,105 | Approx. £2,587.50 | Based on £1,035 per year multiplied by visa length |
| Priority service | Around £500 (where available) | Around £500 | Speeds up decision time |
| Super priority service | Not always available | Additional £1,000 | Aims for next working day decision |
Many spouse visa refusal reasons are avoidable with proper planning. Common issues include:
Limited proof of contact or shared life, inconsistencies in timelines, or unconvincing statements can lead to doubts about the genuineness of your relationship.
Income below the threshold, relying on ineligible income sources, or missing documents required under the specific financial category often cause refusals.
Using non-approved tests, expired certificates, incorrect test levels or failing to show exemption can lead to refusals or delays.
Lack of clear evidence that the property is adequate, available and not overcrowded can create doubts and lead to further enquiries or refusals.
Discrepancies between forms and documents, undisclosed periods of overstay or previous refusals not properly explained often result in credibility concerns.
We have guided thousands of couples through the Spouse or Civil Partner Visa UK process, from straightforward first time applications to highly complex appeals.
Our support typically includes:
We review your relationship history, finances, accommodation and immigration record, and confirm your best visa options.
We help you decide whether to apply as a spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner or fiancé, and whether to apply from inside or outside the UK.
We provide tailored checklists, templates and examples so your relationship and financial evidence is complete and easy for the caseworker to review.
We prepare detailed personal statements and legal representations that link your evidence directly to the Appendix FM rules and official guidance.
We frequently act in cases involving previous refusals, complex income (self employment, director income, mixed sources), medical issues, or complicated immigration histories.
We remain available throughout the process to handle queries, correspondence and any Home Office requests for further information.
A UK Spouse or Civil Partner Visa is a family visa under Appendix FM that allows the non UK husband, wife or civil partner of a British citizen or settled person to live in the UK and eventually apply for ILR if they continue to meet the rules. (GOV.UK)
A Y & J Solicitors is a London based, SRA regulated UK immigration law firm with many years of experience across both business and personal immigration. We act for individuals, families and companies from around the world who need clear, strategic UK immigration advice.
Our dedicated partner and family visa team focuses on the Spouse or Civil Partner Visa UK, Same Sex Partner Visa, Spouse Visa Appeal, Spouse or Civil Partnership Visa Extension, Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and British Citizenship Application routes. We are committed to transparent communication, meticulous case preparation and a practical, human approach to helping families live together in the UK.
Chief Executive Officer
The driving force behind the company, Yash has years of legal experience and an uncompromising focus on client success. His leadership is the catalyst for integrity, innovation, and results.
Senior Associate
Sunny is an experienced immigration caseworker with 8 years in Sponsor Licence, Skilled Worker, family settlement, and Naturalisation matters. He built a strong UK business client base and is the go-to for direct advice, problem solving, and winning outcomes.
Chief Operating Officer
Anik combines strategic mind with operational acumen to drive scale of impact and efficiency in service delivery. His systems philosophy runs the engine smoothly.
Business Relationship Manager
Amin heads the frontlines of client interaction. He is driven by a consultative mind and profound knowledge of immigration options, matching clients with solutions that best meet their objectives.
