UK spouse visa
Guides in this hub
What documents do I need for a UK spouse visa document checklist, start to finish?
Identity and application evidence. You must include your name, date of birth, current passport or travel ID, previous passport photo pages and stamps, details of previous immigration applications, any criminal convictions, your National Insurance number (if you have one), your parents' details if applying from outside the UK, tuberculosis test results (where required), and certified translations of any documents not in English or Welsh. Relationship evidence the Home Office accepts. Relationship evidence must come from government, a bank, landlord, utility provider, or a medical professional, confirm the relationship, and be less than 4 years old. Examples include a marriage or civil partnership certificate, tenancy agreement, utility or Council Tax bills, a joint bank statement, and a doctor's or dentist's letter confirming the same address. Financial evidence: income, savings and payslips. Income evidence includes UK employment income, self-employment or director income on a Self Assessment return, cash savings above £16,000, pensions, and non-work income. If relying on employment income, include bank statements, 6 months of payslips, and an employer letter with the listed contents.
Who can apply as a partner or spouse — and who cannot
To apply as a partner both people must be 18 or over, the UK partner must hold a qualifying status (British or Irish citizen; settled in the UK; EU/EEA/Swiss pre-settled status begun before 1 January 2021; Turkish Businessperson/Worker visa; protection status; or stateless-person permission granted before the relationship), and the couple must intend to live together permanently in the UK. The relationship must be proved in one of four ways: a UK-recognised marriage or civil partnership; living together in a relationship for at least 2 years; being a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner who will marry within 6 months of arriving; or a relationship of at least 2 years where the couple cannot live together. The applicant must also prove knowledge of English and that the couple meets the financial requirements.
My partner is in the UK on a student visa — can I apply for a family visa to join them?
No, a family visa cannot be used to join a family member who is in the UK temporarily on a work visa or student visa — the route in that case is to apply as their dependant.
How much do we need to earn before I can apply to join my partner?
The couple usually needs a combined income of at least £29,000 a year; savings may be used instead of income to meet the requirement. Where the UK partner receives a listed disability or carer's benefit, there is no minimum income requirement, but the couple must show enough money to house and support themselves without relying on additional public funds. Couples who first applied as partners before 11 April 2024 and are extending face a transitional £18,600 figure, plus £3,800 for the first child and £2,400 for each additional child who must be provided for, capped at £29,000.
We are not married and have not lived together — can I still apply as a partner?
Yes, if you have been in a relationship for at least 2 years but cannot live together, you may still apply as a partner. You will need to provide evidence of this relationship.
I am coming as a fiancé(e) — what changes about my checklist and my stay?
A fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner visa lasts 6 months (no work or study during the engagement). You must marry or form a civil partnership within 6 months of arriving. After that you can switch to a partner visa.
How much will the application and the healthcare surcharge actually cost us?
Applying to join a partner costs £2,064 from outside the UK or £1,407 in the UK, charged for each person including each dependant added. The healthcare surcharge is, per adult, £3,105 for a 2 years 9 months stay and £2,587.50 for a 2 years 6 months stay (£5,175 for 5 years); per child it is £2,328 and £1,940 for the same periods.
How long you can stay, extending, and when you can settle
A partner visa lasts up to 2 years and 9 months; a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner visa lasts 6 months. Extending or switching gives up to a further 2 years and 6 months and can be done more than once. The earliest settlement (indefinite leave to remain) is after 5 years continuously in the UK on a family visa as a partner; time as a fiancé(e) does not count.
Frequently asked questions
How long will I have to wait for a decision, inside and outside the UK? Decisions usually take 12 weeks if applying outside the UK, and 8 weeks inside the UK where the financial and English requirements are met (about 12 months inside where they are not). Our proof of address is in my partner's name only — what evidence can I use? You can use other evidence like a joint bank statement or letters from government, a bank, landlord, utility provider, or a medical professional confirming your relationship and shared address, provided they are less than 4 years old. What if we cannot meet the financial requirement? A 10-year settlement route exists where the financial requirements cannot be met but an exception applies. You should speak to an OISC-regulated adviser or a solicitor about your specific situation. General information only — not legal advice. Seek advice from an OISC-regulated adviser or a solicitor for your own application, evidence, or refusal risk.