UK Partner & Spouse Visa: What It Is, Who Qualifies, and How to Apply in 2025
Updated July 2025
Bringing your partner to live with you in the UK is a major step toward building a future together. The UK Partner and Spouse Visa is designed for couples who wish to live in the UK on the basis of their genuine and continuing relationship. Whether you're married, in a civil partnership, or in a long-term relationship, this visa opens the door to residency and eventually settlement.
This 2025 guide provides a comprehensive overview of what the UK Partner or Spouse Visa is, who qualifies, and how to apply. We’ll cover eligibility, financial and English requirements, accommodation rules, required documentation, fees, timelines, and changes to watch this year.
Table of Contents
1. What Is the UK Partner or Spouse Visa?
The UK Partner or Spouse Visa allows individuals to live in the UK with their British or settled partner. It is part of the family visa category and leads to settlement after five years of continuous residence. This visa is available to spouses, civil partners, fiancé(e)s, and long-term partners.
Unlike visitor or work visas, the Partner or Spouse Visa is focused on family reunification and long-term residence. Once granted, the visa typically allows the holder to live, work, and study in the UK. The visa is also a pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and eventually British citizenship.
2. Who Can Apply for a Partner or Spouse Visa?
To apply, you must be 18 years or older and in a qualifying relationship with someone who is settled in the UK. You can apply if:
You are legally married or in a civil partnership recognised in the UK
You are engaged or a proposed civil partner intending to marry within 6 months
You have been in a relationship for at least 2 years and can prove it is genuine and ongoing
The visa is open to opposite-sex and same-sex couples. You must intend to live together permanently in the UK.
3. Relationship Requirements
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will assess whether your relationship is genuine, subsisting, and not entered into solely for immigration purposes.
To meet the relationship requirements, you must be able to demonstrate the following:
✅ General Requirements
You and your partner have met in person
Meeting must have occurred physically at least once—video or phone contact alone is not sufficient.You are in a genuine and continuing relationship
Evidence should reflect an ongoing, committed partnership. This may include:Joint bills or financial commitments
Shared tenancy or mortgage agreements
Photos together at significant events
Correspondence (letters, messages, emails)
Travel or plans made together
You intend to live together permanently in the UK
You are not related in a prohibited degree
Certain close family relationships (e.g., siblings, half-siblings, adopted parent/child) are barred from forming a valid partnership unless strict legal criteria are met (e.g., age, consent, legality of relationship under UK law).
💍 Marriage or Civil Partnership
If already married or in a civil partnership, your union must be legally recognised in the UK, regardless of whether the ceremony took place in the UK or abroad.
Any previous marriages or civil partnerships must have legally ended (e.g., divorce, annulment, or death of previous partner).
💑 Fiancé(e) or Proposed Civil Partner Route
You must intend to marry or register a civil partnership within 6 months of arriving in the UK.
You must show plans or preparations for the upcoming ceremony.
Previous relationships must have been legally ended.
After marriage/civil partnership, an application to remain in the UK as a spouse/partner is required.
👫 Unmarried Partner Route
You and your partner must have been in a relationship for at least 2 years.
While physical cohabitation is no longer strictly required, you must provide robust evidence that the relationship is genuine and akin to marriage or civil partnership.
You must still have met in person at least once.
4. Eligibility of the Sponsoring Partner
The UK-based partner (the sponsor) must meet one of the following conditions:
Be a British or Irish citizen
Hold Indefinite Leave to Remain or settled status
Have pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (if living in the UK before 1 Jan 2021)
Have refugee status or humanitarian protection
Be in the UK with Turkish ECAA visa rights
Both applicant and sponsor must be over 18.
5. Financial Requirement in 2025
As of April 2024, the minimum income requirement (MIR) is £29,000 per year. This amount must be met by the sponsoring partner (or jointly, if applying from inside the UK).
You can also meet the financial requirement through:
Savings over £16,000 (held for at least 6 months)
Income from pensions, property, or certain benefits
If applying from abroad, only the sponsor's income is considered. From within the UK, both incomes can be counted. Proposals to increase the MIR to £38,700 are currently paused pending review.
6. English Language Requirement
Applicants must prove they can speak and understand English.
For first-time applicants: minimum A1 CEFR level
For visa extension (after 2.5 years): minimum A2 level
For settlement (ILR): minimum B1 level
You may be exempt if:
You are from a majority English-speaking country
You have a degree taught in English
You are over 65 or have a relevant medical condition
7. Accommodation Requirement
You must show that you and your partner have adequate accommodation in the UK. This housing must:
Be owned or rented by you or your partner
Be free from overcrowding and meet public health standards
Tenancy agreements, mortgage documents, or letters from landlords can be used as evidence.
8. Application Routes and Timeline
There are two main application routes:
1. Entry Clearance (applying from outside the UK):
Visa valid for 33 months
Apply online and attend biometric appointment abroad
2. Switching or Extending (from inside the UK):
Visa valid for 30 months
Apply online via UKVCAS and attend biometric appointment
Processing times:
Standard: up to 12 weeks (outside UK), 8 weeks (inside UK)
Priority service may reduce the wait
9. Documents You Need
You will need to provide:
Valid passports or travel documents
Evidence of relationship (photos, correspondence, shared bills)
Proof of income (payslips, bank statements, savings)
Accommodation documents (rental agreement, mortgage, etc.)
English language certificate or exemption proof
TB test results if applying from listed countries
All documents not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a certified translation.
10. Fees, NHS Surcharge & Processing Times
Application fee (outside UK): £1,846
Application fee (inside UK): £1,048
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £1,035/year per adult
You may also choose to pay for priority services to speed up processing. This is optional and varies in cost depending on your location.
11. After You Apply
You will be notified by UKVI of the decision. If approved:
Outside UK: you will receive a 90-day entry vignette and collect your BRP upon arrival
Inside UK: your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) will be posted to you
If refused, you will be given a reason and told whether you have a right to appeal or apply again.
12. Visa Extension and Applying for ILR
You can extend your Partner or Spouse Visa before it expires. The extension lasts another 30 months.
After 5 years of continuous residence under the Partner route, you may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
ILR applicants must:
Meet the financial requirement
Show continued relationship and cohabitation
Pass the Life in the UK Test
Meet the B1 English level
13. Changes to Be Aware of in 2025
Minimum income threshold remains at £29,000 as of July 2025
Proposals to increase it to £38,700 are under review
English language and integration criteria may tighten
Further announcements expected in the second half of 2025
It is essential to check official sources regularly for updates.
The UK Partner or Spouse Visa offers a clear path for couples wishing to live together in the UK. Understanding the eligibility requirements, preparing complete documentation, and planning for processing timelines can significantly improve your application’s success.
Be sure to gather evidence well in advance and stay informed about rule changes. With the right preparation, this route can lead to permanent residence and citizenship in the UK.
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