UK spouse and partner visa: requirements and application

Both partners must be 18 or over and intend to live together permanently in the UK. The sponsor must be a British or Irish citizen, settled in the UK, an EEA or Swiss citizen with pre-settled status who started living in the UK before 1 January 2021, a holder of a Turkish Businessperson or Turkish Worker visa, a person with refugee or humanitarian protection status, or someone granted stateless leave before the relationship began. You must be married or in a civil partnership recognised in the UK, have lived together for 2 years, have a 2-year relationship where living together is not possible, or be engaged and plan to marry within 6 months of arrival.

The first application needs English speaking and listening at CEFR A1 or above from an approved test, or a degree taught in English. To extend after 2.5 years you need at least A2 if you first used A1; a B1 result can be reused for settlement after 5 years. Applicants over 65 or with a qualifying medical condition are exempt.

Evidence should come from official sources such as the government, a bank, landlord, utility provider or doctor and be less than 4 years old: a marriage certificate, a rental agreement, joint bills or bank statements, or letters to the same address. Couples who cannot live together must show ongoing commitment, for example regular contact, sharing costs and time spent together. You also provide details of previous marriages, children and travel history.

New partner applications need a combined gross income of at least £29,000 a year, from UK employment, UK self-employment or company director income, pensions, non-work income such as rent or dividends, or cash savings above £16,000. Only income earned in the UK counts for employment, so a sponsor living abroad with you must usually show a UK job offer or use savings. People who first applied before 11 April 2024 and extend with the same partner use the old £18,600 threshold, plus £3,800 for the first child and £2,400 for each further child. The requirement is waived if the sponsor receives specified disability or carer’s benefits; adequate means of support must then be shown instead.

The visa costs £2,064 from outside the UK and £1,407 inside, for each applicant including children. The health surcharge for an adult is £3,105 for 2 years 9 months and £2,587.50 for 2 years 6 months; for a child £2,328 and £1,940. A fee waiver is possible if you cannot afford accommodation or essential living costs.

After 2 years 9 months you extend for 2 years 6 months, then apply for indefinite leave to remain after 5 continuous years as a partner. Time on other visas or as a fiancé(e) does not count. If you were allowed in without meeting the income or English rules, for example on human rights grounds, the route to settlement is 10 years. Partners of refugees who claimed asylum after 2 March 2026 get permission ending with their partner’s.

Family visa decisions involve a human rights claim, so a refusal normally carries a right of appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber). From outside the UK the appeal must be lodged within 28 days of receiving the decision; the tribunal fee is £82 without a hearing or £144 with one. The refusal letter states whether you can appeal.