UK Spouse & Partner Visa 2026: The Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about bringing your spouse, civil partner, or long-term partner to the UK — eligibility, the £29,000 income requirement, the MAC’s 2025 review recommendations, savings rules, English language, fees updated for April 2026, and the route to settlement.
What is the Spouse & Partner Visa?
The UK Spouse and Partner visa is the primary family immigration route that allows a non-UK national to join and live permanently with their husband, wife, civil partner, or long-term unmarried partner in the United Kingdom. It is governed by Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules.
The visa is granted initially for 33 months if applying from outside the UK. After an extension of a further 30 months, you will have completed five years of continuous residence and can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Once you hold ILR, you are no longer subject to immigration control and can eventually apply for British citizenship.
Who Can Apply
You can apply if you are aged 18 or over and your partner in the UK is one of the following:
- A British or Irish citizen
- A person settled in the UK — with Indefinite Leave to Remain, EU Settled Status, or proof of permanent residence
- A person with refugee status or humanitarian protection leave
- A holder of a Turkish Businessperson or Turkish Worker visa
- A person with pre-settled status who started living in the UK before 1 January 2021
You cannot apply for a Spouse or Partner visa if your partner is in the UK temporarily on a work visa or student visa — in that case you would need to apply as a dependant instead.
Relationship types covered
The visa covers three categories of relationship:
- Married couples and civil partners — your marriage or civil partnership must be legally recognised in the UK.
- Unmarried partners — you must have been living together in a genuine relationship for at least two years, or be able to provide strong evidence explaining why cohabitation was not possible (such as work commitments, study, or immigration restrictions).
- Fiancé(e)s and proposed civil partners — a short-stay visa is granted to enter the UK and marry within six months. You must then apply to extend your leave as a spouse. You cannot work or study during this initial period.
Genuine and subsisting relationship
Regardless of relationship type, UKVI must be satisfied that your relationship is genuine and subsisting — meaning it is real, ongoing, and that you intend to live together permanently in the UK. Evidence includes shared accommodation records, joint bank accounts, utility bills at the same address, photographs together across different times and locations, and regular communication records.
Any prior marriages or civil partnerships by either you or your sponsor must have formally ended. Provide a decree absolute (or overseas equivalent) for every prior marriage. Failure to disclose previous relationships is a common cause of refusal.
Financial Requirement: the £29,000 Threshold
The minimum income requirement for a UK Spouse or Partner visa is £29,000 gross per year. This threshold was raised from £18,600 on 11 April 2024 and remains in place for all new applications as of April 2026.
The requirement is assessed primarily against the sponsor’s (UK-based partner’s) earnings, though the applicant’s own income can be counted in some circumstances — for example if they are already in the UK with permission to work. Accepted sources include employment, self-employment, pension income, and other lawful earnings. Multiple sources can be combined.
Applicants who first entered the partner route before 11 April 2024 remain on the previous £18,600 threshold for their extensions, plus £3,800 for a first child and £2,400 for each additional child. If you were already on the five-year route before April 2024, check your original decision letter to confirm which threshold applies to your extension.
The MAC review and what it means for applicants
On 10 June 2025 the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) published a major review of the minimum income requirement. Commissioned by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, the review concluded that the current £29,000 threshold is higher than necessary and recommended a reduction to approximately £23,000–£25,000. The MAC also recommended against any further increase toward the £38,700 Skilled Worker threshold — a level the previous Conservative government had planned — describing such an alignment as “incoherent” given the different purposes of family and economic migration.
As of April 2026, the government had not implemented any change to the £29,000 threshold and the Minister for Migration confirmed that family visa financial requirements remained under review. Until a formal Statement of Changes is published, the £29,000 level applies to all new applications.
Meeting the Requirement Through Savings
If the £29,000 income threshold cannot be met fully through earnings, cash savings can be used to bridge the shortfall. The formula is:
(Annual shortfall × 2.5) + £16,000
Example: income of £19,000 leaves a £10,000 shortfall. Required savings: (£10,000 × 2.5) + £16,000 = £41,000.
With no income at all: £16,000 + (£29,000 × 2.5) = £88,500.
Savings must have been held for at least six consecutive months before the application date.
Six months of payslips and corresponding bank statements must be provided to evidence employment income — the bank statements must show the salary being paid in. Payslips alone are not sufficient. Self-employment requires additional documents including tax returns, business accounts, and HMRC evidence.
English Language Requirement
You must demonstrate English language ability at minimum CEFR A1 for your initial application. The requirement increases to A2 on your first extension. For ILR, a B1 test has historically been required — however, from 26 March 2027 the standard for settlement on various routes (including the family route) is proposed to rise to B2. Always check GOV.UK for the current requirement before booking a test.
You can meet the requirement by:
- Passing an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider such as Trinity College London or the IELTS SELT Consortium
- Being a national of a majority English-speaking country (US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and others listed on GOV.UK)
- Holding a degree taught or examined in English, confirmed by a certificate from the awarding institution
Exemptions apply if you are under 18, aged 65 or over, or have a physical or mental condition that prevents you from meeting the requirement.
If your English is strong enough, taking an A2 or even B1 test on your first application means you can reuse the same certificate for your extension — saving time and cost later. If settlement English requirements move to B2, a B2 test taken early may also cover that stage.
Accommodation Requirement
You must show that adequate accommodation is available in the UK for you and your partner, without relying on public funds and without the property being overcrowded. Acceptable evidence includes a tenancy agreement or mortgage documents, council tax bills, and utility bills confirming the address. If you plan to live with family, written confirmation and evidence of sufficient space is required. For outside-UK applications, the accommodation must already be arranged — prospective accommodation is not accepted.
Fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge
The following fees apply to applications submitted on or after 8 April 2026:
| Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Visa fee — outside the UK | £2,064 |
| Visa fee — inside the UK (extension / switch) | £1,407 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | £1,035 per year |
| IHS — initial 33-month grant (outside UK) | £3,105 total |
| IHS — 30-month FLR(M) extension (inside UK) | £2,587.50 total |
| Priority service — outside UK (30 working days) | £500 additional |
| Super-priority service — inside UK (next working day) | £1,000 additional |
| Each dependant child | Visa fee + IHS at same rates |
| ILR (settlement) — from 8 April 2026 | £3,226 per person |
The IHS covers NHS access for the full duration of your visa and is paid upfront in full at the point of application. For an initial 33-month outside-UK application at the current fee, the combined minimum upfront cost is approximately £5,169 (£2,064 fee + £3,105 IHS) before any legal fees, language tests, or document costs. A fee waiver may be available for in-country applications if you genuinely cannot afford the fee.
How Long the Visa Lasts
The initial Spouse or Partner visa granted from outside the UK lasts 33 months (2 years and 9 months). An extension from inside the UK grants a further 30 months. Together these complete the five years of continuous residence needed for ILR.
Work Rights
Once granted, you have full permission to work in the UK with no restrictions on job type, employer, or hours. You can change jobs freely and undertake most self-employed activities. You cannot claim most public funds — housing benefit, tax credits, or income support — during your visa. If you entered on a fiancé(e) visa, you cannot work or study until you have married and extended your leave as a spouse.
How to Apply
Confirm eligibility and finances
Check the sponsor meets the £29,000 income requirement (or can supplement with savings), that the relationship qualifies, and that the English language requirement can be met before committing to the application.
Gather documents
Passport, marriage or civil partnership certificate (or two years of cohabitation evidence for unmarried partners), six months of payslips and corresponding bank statements, English language certificate, accommodation evidence, and decree absolutes from any previous marriages.
Complete the online application
Apply on GOV.UK. Pay the application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge at this stage. Ensure all details match exactly across your documents — discrepancies are a common cause of delays and refusals.
Provide biometrics
Attend an appointment at a visa application centre to provide fingerprints and a photograph. If applying from outside the UK, this is at your nearest UK Visa Application Centre in your home country.
Await decision and set up your eVisa
If approved, you receive an eVisa — a digital record of your immigration status linked to your UKVI account. There are no physical BRP cards. Set up your account and link your travel document before travelling to the UK.
Decision Timelines
- Approximately 12 weeks — outside the UK, standard service
- Approximately 8 weeks — inside the UK, standard service
- 30 working days — outside UK priority service (£500 additional)
- Next working day — inside UK super-priority service (£1,000 additional)
Applications from inside the UK that do not meet the financial or English language requirements can take significantly longer — in some cases up to 12 months. Applying well in advance of your current visa expiry and ensuring your application is complete from the outset is essential. Note that submitting before your current visa expires triggers Section 3C leave, which automatically extends your existing permission until a decision is reached — even if the decision takes longer than expected.
Route to ILR and British Citizenship
The Spouse and Partner visa sits at the start of a defined path to permanent residence. How long that path is depends on who your sponsor is:
- Partner of a British citizen: five-year route to ILR confirmed and protected. The 2025 White Paper and subsequent confirmation from Bird & Bird and other legal analyses confirm that Appendix FM family visa holders sponsored by a British citizen remain on the five-year qualifying period.
- Partner of a non-British settled resident (someone with ILR or EU Settled Status who is not a British citizen): the White Paper proposed a ten-year baseline for this group. Implementation details and exact exemptions were still being consulted on as of April 2026. If this applies to your situation, take specialist advice before applying.
Initial visa (33 months) — granted on entry from outside the UK. Full work rights from day one.
First extension — FLR(M) (30 months) — applied for from inside the UK before the initial visa expires. Must continue to meet financial and relationship requirements. English language moves to A2.
ILR — after 5 years — apply once five continuous years are complete. Requires B1 English (B2 from March 2027 under proposed changes), a Life in the UK Test pass, ongoing relationship evidence, and no excessive absences. ILR removes the need for further visa applications.
British citizenship — from 12 months after ILR — spouses of British citizens can naturalise after holding ILR for 12 months. Requires continued residence and meeting the good character requirement.
Adding Children to Your Application
Dependent children under 18 can be added to your Spouse or Partner visa application. Each child requires their own visa fee and IHS payment. Children must be living with both parents or, if only with one parent, you must show the other parent has given consent or has died. British or Irish citizen children do not need visas — the additional fees only apply to non-British, non-settled children.
If Your Application Is Refused
A refusal on the Spouse and Partner visa route typically carries a right of appeal because it engages Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (the right to family life). Your refusal letter will confirm whether appeal rights apply and the deadline for lodging an appeal — 14 calendar days if you are in the UK, 28 calendar days if applying from overseas.
The most common grounds for refusal are failure to meet the financial requirement, insufficient relationship evidence, English language issues, and undisclosed previous relationships. Before reapplying or appealing, read the refusal letter carefully and address each specific reason given. Reapplying without resolving the underlying issue is very likely to result in another refusal, and the application fee is non-refundable.
Planning Your Application
The Spouse and Partner visa is one of the most-used immigration routes in the UK and one of the most document-intensive. The financial requirement — £29,000 with strict evidential standards — remains the most common point of failure. Sponsors who are self-employed, on variable income, or who recently changed jobs face the most complexity, because the rules on how income is calculated vary by income type.
Policy in this area is genuinely in flux. The MAC’s June 2025 review recommended reducing the income threshold, the government is reviewing its response, and settlement route timelines remain subject to ongoing consultation under the White Paper process. None of these discussions affect what you need to do today — you apply under the rules as they currently stand — but they are worth tracking if your timeline extends into late 2026 or beyond.
The safest approach is to apply as soon as you genuinely meet the requirements, with evidence that precisely matches the Home Office’s specified formats. Always verify the current fees and requirements directly on GOV.UK before applying — this guide reflects the position as of 28 April 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
From 8 April 2026, the application fee is £2,064 if applying from outside the UK and £1,407 if applying from inside the UK (FLR(M) extension). On top of this you pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) of £1,035 per person per year, totalling approximately £3,105 for an initial 33-month grant or £2,587.50 for a 30-month extension. The combined upfront cost for a first-time outside-UK application is approximately £5,169 before document, language test, or legal costs.
The minimum income requirement is £29,000 gross per year, unchanged since April 2024. The MAC published a review in June 2025 recommending a reduction to around £23,000–£25,000, but the government had not implemented any change as of April 2026. The £29,000 flat rate applies to all new applications made on or after 11 April 2024. Transitional applicants who first entered the partner route before that date remain on the previous £18,600 threshold plus child top-ups.
Yes. If the £29,000 income threshold cannot be met fully through earnings, cash savings can bridge the shortfall. The formula is: (annual shortfall × 2.5) + £16,000. For example, if the sponsor earns £19,000, the shortfall is £10,000 and required savings are £41,000. With no income at all, savings of £88,500 are required. Savings must have been held for at least six consecutive months before the application date.
The initial Spouse visa granted from outside the UK lasts 33 months (2 years and 9 months). A first extension from inside the UK (FLR(M)) grants a further 30 months. Together these complete the five years of continuous residence needed to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
Yes. Once a Spouse or Partner visa is granted, you have full permission to work in the UK with no restrictions on job type, employer, or hours. You can change jobs freely. If you entered on a fiancé(e) visa, you cannot work or study until you have married and extended your leave as a spouse.
For partners of British citizens, yes. The 2025 Immigration White Paper confirmed that Appendix FM family visa holders sponsored by a British citizen retain the five-year route to ILR. Partners of non-British settled residents face a ten-year baseline under the White Paper proposals, though implementation details and exemptions were still being consulted on as of April 2026. If this applies to your situation, seek specialist advice.
The most common reasons are: failure to meet the £29,000 financial requirement or providing incomplete evidence (payslips without corresponding bank statements); insufficient evidence of a genuine and subsisting relationship; failure to meet the English language requirement; and undisclosed previous marriages or relationships. Refusals typically carry a right of appeal under Article 8 ECHR — 14 days if in the UK, 28 days from overseas.
Standard processing times are approximately 12 weeks for outside-UK applications and 8 weeks for in-country extensions. Priority service (outside UK) costs £500 additional and targets 30 working days. Super-priority service (inside UK only) costs £1,000 additional and targets the next working day after biometrics. Complex cases or applications with missing documents can take significantly longer.
As of April 2026, the £29,000 threshold remains in force. The MAC’s June 2025 review recommended reducing it to approximately £23,000–£25,000, but the government had not confirmed whether or when it would adopt those recommendations. The planned Conservative-era increases to £34,500 and £38,700 were never implemented and have not been revived. Always verify current requirements on GOV.UK before applying.
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. UK immigration rules and fees change regularly — always verify current requirements at GOV.UK before applying. Moving to the UK is not a regulated immigration adviser. For complex cases, seek advice from a solicitor regulated by the SRA or an adviser registered with the OISC. Fees quoted reflect the schedule effective from 8 April 2026. MAC review information from the official GOV.UK publication dated 10 June 2025. White Paper settlement information from the May 2025 “Restoring Control over the Immigration System” White Paper and subsequent official guidance.
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