The UK Spouse Visa enables overseas nationals who are married or in a civil partnership with a British citizen or a person who is settled here to live in the UK. After 5 years in the UK, Spouse visa holders can apply for indefinite leave to remain, the equivalent of a US Marriage Green Card, allowing them to remain permanently here. This is an important step for spouse visa holders as they no longer need to apply for immigration visas or pay the immigration healthcare surcharge, and they can apply for UK citizenship after 12 months. It is important that you only apply for your UK Marriage Green Card when you meet the required timelines, as applying too early will result in the refusal of your case.
1. What is a UK Spouse Visa?
The UK’s Spouse Visa enables non-British nationals who are married or in a civil partnership with a British citizen or a person who is settled here permanently to live in the UK and later secure indefinite leave to remain. UK Spouse visa holders can live here for up to 30 months initially and then apply to extend their stay for another 30 months, allowing them to stay for up to 5 years in total.
To apply for a UK Spouse visa, applicants must be married, in civil partnership, or have been in a relationship for at least 2 years with a British citizen or settled person. The relationship must be genuine and subsisting. In addition, applicants must have sufficient knowledge of the English language and meet the financial requirements. The financial requirements state that the applicant and their partner must have a combined income of at least £29,000. This can be met in a number of ways, including income, savings, and investments.
2. UK Spouse Visa Processing Time in 2025
As of 2024/25, the processing time for the Spouse visa is 12 weeks for applications made outside the UK and 8 weeks if submitted from within the UK. These timescales assume that you meet the financial and English language requirements.
If you use the Spouse Visa Priority Service, you can expect a decision within 30 working days if you apply outside the UK. Currently, the Priority Service is not available for applications made inside the UK. Alternatively, it may be possible to use the Super Priority service for a fee of £1,000, which provides a decision on the next working day.
A number of factors can influence the processing time of your Spouse Visa, including:
- Application completeness.
- Additional documentation requests.
- Seasonal delays or backlogs.
In order to ensure that your application is processed without delay and as quickly as possible, we recommend:
- Checking that you are eligible before you apply
- Having your application checked before submission
- Ensuring that any documents required to support your application are gathered and provided
- Engaging the services of an immigration Solicitor who can handle your application – we understand how to ensure that your application will be processed successfully without the need for more information and unnecessary delays
3. UK ‘Marriage Green Card’ Timeline
The UK Marriage Green Card also referred to as Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), allows a person on a Spouse visa to settle permanently in the UK after living here continuously for 5 years. UK Spouse Visas only allow holders to remain in the UK for a certain amount of time (typically 30 months each time) and must be further extended before they expire. Spouse visa holders are also much more restricted in terms of what they can do in the UK. They must pay the healthcare surcharge to use the NHS, and they are unable to vote in UK elections or remain indefinitely.
Indefinite Leave to Remain holders, on the other hand, are able to remain indefinitely, vote, claim benefits, and travel to and from the UK without restrictions. In addition, they can apply for British citizenship after 12 months.
Step-by-step breakdown of the ILR process:
- You must wait until you have lived continuously in the UK for five years on a Spouse Visa
- Ensure that you meet all of the eligibility requirements for a ILR
- Complete and submit the online application form for ILR
- Pay the application Fee
- Book an appointment UKVCAS appointment to provide your biometrics (photo and fingerprints)
- Submit any documents requested by the Home Office. This can be done by uploading them to the online service or having them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment.
Depending on your case, you may be asked to attend an interview to provide any additional information required by UKVI.
You can expect a decision on your ILR within 6 months.
4. Comparing UK Spouse Visa and Marriage Green Card Timelines
UK Spouse Visa applications are normally processed much faster than ILR. Spouse visa applicants typically receive a decision within 8 to 12 weeks, whereas the expected time for ILR decisions is more like 6 – 8 months.
5. Tips to Reduce Waiting Times and Avoid Delays
To remove difficulties in securing a positive decision and ensure a timely decision, it is always recommended to:
- Instruct an immigration Solicitor to handle your case – we understand the end-to-end process and how to avoid any delays
- Have your application checked by an immigration Solicitor before it is submitted.
- Follow the instructions and guidance provided by UKVI to ensure that all of the details and documents required are provided
- Ensure that documents are correctly translated if this is necessary
- Keep plenty of evidence to demonstrate that your marriage is subsisting and genuine and that you intend to continue living with your married partner in the UK.
It is important to track your application through each stage and respond promptly to queries. Just in case, always check your ‘junk mail’ folder to ensure that any correspondence from the Home Office is received and dealt with accordingly in a timely manner.
6. FAQs About UK Spouse Visa and Indefinite Leave to Remain/Marriage Green Card sTimelines
What is the fastest way to get a UK Spouse Visa?
The fastest way to get a UK Spouse visa is to apply as soon as you are eligible, ensure that any documents and information required by UKVI are provided upfront, and use super-priority service for an additional fee of £1,000 for a decision on the next working day.
Can I travel while waiting for my visa decision?
If you have applied for a Spouse visa from within the UK, it is always advisable not to travel until you have received a decision. You may be refused entry when you return, and your application may be automatically withdrawn by the Home Office.
How long does it take to get a Indefinite Leave to Remain/Marriage Green Card?
It normally takes around 6 months to get a Marriage Green Card from the date of receipt of your application and when you have provided your biometrics. This may be longer if more information is requested or you need to attend an application interview.
Conclusion
UK Spouse Visa applications are normally processed within 8 to 12 weeks, while the expected time for Indefinite Leave to Remain decisions is typically much longer at 6 – 8 months. Remember, you can reduce the processing time for your application by using the priority application service if it is available, applying early, and staying informed at all times. If you need more assistance and support on your spouse visa or Indefinite Leave to Remain application, please feel free to contact a member of our friendly and highly experienced immigration law team. We will verify whether you are eligible and guide you through each stage of the application process, ensuring that the decision you receive is successful.
