How to Obtain a Spouse or Partner Visa in the UK: A Comprehensive Guide

Applying for a UK spouse or partner visa can feel like a deeply personal relationship being reduced to forms, bank statements and supporting documents. However, the Home Office needs evidence that you meet the immigration rules, not simply an assurance that your relationship is genuine.

The partner route can allow you to live in the UK with your spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner. The correct route depends on your relationship, where you are applying from and your partner’s immigration status.

You will normally need to prove that your relationship is genuine, you meet the financial and English language requirements, and you have suitable accommodation in the UK. You must also satisfy the wider suitability requirements.

Because small inconsistencies can affect an application, it is sensible to understand the rules before paying the application fee. Athi Law’s partner visa solicitors can assess your circumstances and help you prepare the evidence expected by UK Visas and Immigration.

What is a UK spouse or partner visa?

A spouse or partner visa is part of the UK family visa system. It allows an eligible person to join or remain with a qualifying partner in the UK.

The route can cover you if you are:

• Married to your UK-based partner

• In a civil partnership recognised in the UK

• An unmarried partner in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership

• Engaged and planning to marry or form a civil partnership in the UK

For an unmarried partner application, you normally need to show that your relationship has existed for at least 2 years. You do not always have to prove that you have lived together throughout that period. Couples may live apart because of employment, study, cultural expectations or immigration restrictions, but they must still demonstrate a genuine and continuing commitment.

The UK partner visa or fiancé visa guide explains how the available routes differ.

Who can sponsor your partner visa?

You and your partner must generally be aged 18 or over. Your partner must also have an immigration status that qualifies them to sponsor you.

Your partner may qualify if they are:

• A British or Irish citizen

• Settled in the UK, including through indefinite leave to remain

• An eligible person with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

• A person with refugee status or humanitarian protection

• A person with qualifying permission as a stateless person

• A person holding certain legacy Turkish worker or businessperson permission

You must both intend to live together permanently in the UK after the application is approved.

If your partner is temporarily in the UK under a Skilled Worker, Student or another eligible work route, you will usually need to apply as their dependant rather than under the family visa route. This distinction matters because the eligibility requirements, costs and route to settlement may be different.

A member of Athi Law’s immigration team can help you identify the correct route before you submit an application.

Meeting the genuine relationship requirement

A marriage certificate is important, but it does not prove every part of the relationship requirement. The Home Office must be satisfied that your relationship is genuine and subsisting, rather than a relationship created mainly to obtain immigration permission.

Your evidence should show how your relationship developed and how you share your life. Depending on your circumstances, you might provide:

• A marriage or civil partnership certificate

• Joint tenancy agreements or mortgage documents

• Council Tax, utility or household bills

• Joint or individually addressed bank statements

• Evidence of visits and travel together

• Communication records covering periods spent apart

• Evidence of shared financial responsibilities

• Birth certificates for children you have together

• Photographs showing the development of your relationship

• Evidence of important events attended together

Quality is more useful than volume. Hundreds of screenshots without dates or context may be less persuasive than a smaller, organised selection covering the full history of your relationship.

You should also explain any apparent gaps. For example, you may have lived separately because you worked in different countries. That does not automatically prevent an application, but you should provide evidence of regular communication, visits, financial support and future plans.

Read Athi Law’s guide to genuine and subsisting relationship evidence for more detail.

Do unmarried partners have to live together for 2 years?

You no longer necessarily have to prove 2 complete years of cohabitation to qualify as an unmarried partner. The important point is normally whether you have been in a durable relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years.

Cohabitation remains strong evidence because it demonstrates a shared home and ongoing commitment. However, it is not the only way to establish the relationship.

Where you have not lived together, explain why. You can support your explanation with records of visits, messages, calls, financial transfers, shared plans and evidence that other people recognise you as a couple.

Athi Law’s guide to proving cohabitation for a partner visa covers the documents commonly used.

The financial requirement

For most new partner visa applications, you and your partner must usually demonstrate qualifying gross annual income of at least £29,000.

Different rules may apply if your first successful application under the partner route was made before 11 April 2024 and you are extending with the same partner. In those cases, the previous £18,600 threshold can continue to apply, together with additional amounts for certain dependent children.

You may be able to meet the current requirement through:

• Salaried or non-salaried employment

• Self-employment

• Income from a qualifying company

• Pension income

• Property rental income

• Dividends or other permitted non-employment income

• Cash savings

• A permitted combination of income and savings

The evidence rules vary considerably between categories. Someone employed for more than 6 months may need a different calculation from someone who recently changed jobs. Directors of specified limited companies and self-employed applicants usually need documents linked to a completed financial year.

The applicant’s employment income may sometimes be included when applying from inside the UK with permission to work. However, an applicant’s overseas employment income will not normally be treated in the same way for an entry clearance application. The sponsor’s present income and confirmed overseas employment may also require separate calculations.

You should not assume that having earned £29,000 at some point during the year is sufficient. UKVI looks at the relevant category, calculation period and specified evidence.

The partner visa financial requirement guide provides further information about salaries, savings and self-employment.

Using cash savings

Cash savings can be used alone or, in many cases, to make up a shortfall in qualifying income.

If you are relying entirely on savings to meet the £29,000 requirement for an initial partner visa, you will normally need at least £88,500. This is based on £16,000 plus 2.5 times the £29,000 income requirement.

The savings must usually:

• Be held for at least 6 months before the application

• Be under your control or your partner’s control

• Be held in an eligible financial account

• Be available for immediate withdrawal

• Have been obtained lawfully

An exception to the 6-month holding period can apply where the savings came from the sale of property or certain investments previously owned for the required period.

Do not transfer money between several accounts shortly before applying without documenting the movement. Your statements should provide a clear financial trail.

Exceptions to the minimum income requirement

The £29,000 threshold does not apply in the normal way where the sponsoring partner receives certain disability or carer-related benefits. Instead, you usually need to satisfy an adequate maintenance requirement.

Relevant benefits can include Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance and Carer’s Allowance, among others.

Adequate maintenance is not an automatic exemption from providing financial evidence. UKVI will examine the household’s income, housing costs and financial circumstances.

There may also be exceptional cases where refusal would lead to unjustifiably harsh consequences or breach your rights under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. These applications are complex and may lead to a longer route to settlement.

The English language requirement

For your first spouse or partner visa application, you will normally need to demonstrate English speaking and listening ability at level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

You may meet the requirement by:

• Passing an approved Secure English Language Test

• Holding an eligible degree taught in English

• Being a national of a recognised majority English-speaking country

You may be exempt if you are aged 65 or over or have a physical or mental condition that prevents you from meeting the requirement.

For an extension, you may need to demonstrate level A2 if you previously relied on an A1 test. For settlement after 5 years, you normally need level B1 and must pass the Life in the UK Test, unless an exemption applies.

Only tests and providers approved for UK immigration purposes should be used. A general language course certificate may not meet the requirement.

The accommodation requirement

You must demonstrate that suitable accommodation will be available for your family without additional recourse to public funds.

The property must not:

• Be overcrowded under the applicable housing rules

• Contravene public health regulations

You can live in accommodation that is owned, rented or provided by relatives. If you plan to live with family members, you should show that you have permission to stay there and that the property will not become overcrowded.

Evidence may include:

• A tenancy agreement

• Mortgage statements or Land Registry records

• A letter from the owner or landlord

• A property inspection report where appropriate

• Details of the rooms and current occupants

An inspection report is not mandatory in every application. However, it can be helpful where the property is shared or there is a possible overcrowding concern.

Documents you may need

Your document list must be tailored to your circumstances. A typical application may include:

• Your current passport and previous passports

• Your partner’s passport and evidence of UK status

• Your marriage or civil partnership certificate

• Evidence covering the history of your relationship

• Divorce certificates or death certificates from previous relationships

• Payslips and corresponding bank statements

• An employer’s letter meeting the specified requirements

• Tax returns, accounts and HMRC records if self-employed

• Evidence of cash savings or non-employment income

• Proof of accommodation

• Evidence that you meet the English language requirement

• A tuberculosis test certificate where required

• Certified translations of documents not in English or Welsh

Names, dates, addresses and income figures should be consistent across the form and supporting evidence. A minor difference may be explainable, but leaving it unexplained can create unnecessary concerns.

The UK partner visa document pack can help you organise your supporting documents.

How to submit your application

You normally complete the application online. The correct form depends on whether you are outside the UK, extending an existing partner visa or switching from another eligible immigration category.

The usual process includes:

• Completing the correct online application

• Paying the application fee

• Paying the immigration health surcharge where required

• Uploading your supporting documents

• Providing your biometric information or confirming your identity digitally

• Responding to any request for further information

Check every answer before submission. Your immigration history, travel dates, previous addresses and relationship timeline should match your supporting documents.

You should also retain a copy of the completed form and everything submitted. This can be valuable when you later apply for an extension or settlement.

Partner visa fees in 2026

As of June 2026, the standard family visa application fee for joining a partner is £2,064 when applying from outside the UK and £1,407 when applying from inside the UK.

An adult applying from outside the UK for 2 years and 9 months will normally pay an immigration health surcharge of £3,105. An adult applying inside the UK for 2 years and 6 months will normally pay £2,587.50.

This brings the standard government charges to approximately:

• £5,169 for an adult spouse or partner applying from outside the UK

• £3,994.50 for an adult spouse or partner applying from inside the UK

These totals do not include legal advice, translations, English tests, tuberculosis testing, document scanning or optional appointment services.

A fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner is generally granted permission for 6 months and does not normally pay the immigration health surcharge at that stage. A further application and additional fees are required after the marriage or civil partnership.

Fees can change, so you should check the current amount before applying.

How long does a decision take?

A partner visa application made from outside the UK will usually receive a decision within 12 weeks.

An application made inside the UK will usually take around 8 weeks where the financial and English language requirements are met. Applications relying on exceptional circumstances or private and family life grounds can take substantially longer.

Priority or super priority processing may be available in some locations and application categories, but availability is not guaranteed. Paying for a faster service does not improve your prospects of approval. It only aims to provide a quicker decision.

Can you switch to a partner visa inside the UK?

You may be able to switch if you are already in the UK with immigration permission lasting more than 6 months.

You cannot usually switch from:

• A Standard Visitor visa

• A Marriage Visitor visa

• Most forms of permission lasting 6 months or less

A person admitted as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner can apply inside the UK after the marriage or civil partnership has taken place.

Do not allow your current permission to expire while deciding what to do. Applying late can affect your status and future applications.

What happens after your visa is approved?

A spouse or partner applying from outside the UK is usually granted permission for 2 years and 9 months. An extension or in-country switch is normally granted for 2 years and 6 months.

You can generally work and study while holding permission as a spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner. However, you will normally have no recourse to public funds.

Fiancé and proposed civil partner visa holders cannot normally work or study during their initial 6-month period. Those rights usually begin after the marriage or civil partnership and approval of the spouse or civil partner application.

Athi Law’s guide to living on a UK partner visa explains your main rights and restrictions.

Extending your partner visa

You must apply for an extension before your current permission expires. You will normally need to prove that:

• Your relationship remains genuine and subsisting

• You continue to live together or have a reasonable explanation for living apart

• You meet the applicable financial requirement

• You meet the next English language requirement

• You still have adequate accommodation

Keep official correspondence throughout your initial visa period. Council Tax bills, bank statements, utility bills and NHS letters can help demonstrate that you have continued living together.

Read more about extending a UK partner visa.

Applying for indefinite leave to remain

You may normally apply for indefinite leave to remain after completing 5 continuous years on the qualifying partner route. Time spent as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner does not count towards the 5-year period.

You must normally continue to satisfy the relationship, financial, accommodation and suitability requirements. You will also usually need to meet the B1 English requirement and pass the Life in the UK Test.

If you were granted permission on family or human rights grounds without meeting all the standard requirements, you may be following a 10-year route instead.

The indefinite leave to remain after a partner visa guide explains the general settlement process.

Common reasons for refusal

Partner visa applications can be refused because of:

• Missing specified financial documents

• Bank statements that do not match payslips

• Using the wrong financial calculation period

• Insufficient evidence of a genuine relationship

• Unexplained differences between the form and documents

• An invalid English language certificate

• Missing certified translations

• Inadequate accommodation evidence

• Applying under the wrong immigration route

• Failing to disclose previous immigration or criminal matters

A refusal does not always mean the relationship was doubted. It may arise because the evidence did not meet a technical requirement.

Your decision letter should explain whether you have a right of appeal or another available remedy. Seek advice promptly because strict time limits can apply. Athi Law’s article on common partner visa application mistakes highlights issues to check before submission.

Frequently asked questions

Can you apply for a spouse visa immediately after getting married?

Yes. There is no general requirement to wait for a set period after the wedding. However, you still need to prove that the marriage is legally recognised, your relationship is genuine and you meet the remaining requirements.

Can your spouse work in the UK on a partner visa?

A person granted a spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner visa can generally work in the UK without employer sponsorship. A person holding a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner visa cannot normally work until they have married or formed a civil partnership and successfully switched route.

Can you apply without earning £29,000?

Possibly. You may qualify by using permitted savings, non-employment income or a combination of sources. Different rules apply if the sponsor receives specified benefits. Exceptional family or human rights circumstances may also be relevant.

Do you need a solicitor to apply?

There is no legal requirement to instruct a solicitor. However, legal advice can be useful where you are self-employed, recently changed employment, rely on savings, have an unusual relationship history, previously received a refusal or cannot meet a standard requirement.

Can you include children in the application?

Eligible dependent children can be included. They must normally be under 18 when first applying under the route and must not be living an independent life. Separate fees and immigration health surcharge payments usually apply to each child.

Can you travel while an in-country application is pending?

Leaving the Common Travel Area while an in-country immigration application is awaiting a decision can result in the application being treated as withdrawn. You should obtain advice before making travel plans.

Speak to Athi Law about your spouse or partner visa

A strong partner visa application should tell a clear and consistent story. Your form, financial evidence, accommodation documents and relationship records should all support the same account.

Athi Law can review your eligibility, identify the correct financial category, prepare a tailored document list and help you address potential problems before submission.

To discuss your circumstances with an experienced immigration solicitor, contact Athi Law today. Early advice can help you avoid preventable errors and approach your application with greater confidence.