UK fiance visa

The UK fiance visa allows a person who has settled status in the UK to bring their fiance to join them in the UK. Settled status in the UK means that you are ordinarily resident in the UK with no immigration restriction on the length of your stay.

If you are a UK citizen returning to settle in the UK, you can apply for your fiance to join you at the same time.

UK fiance visa - eligibility

To qualify for a fiance visa you must satisfy the following criteria:

  • You and your future spouse must be at least 21 years of age.
  • You and your future spouse must have met each other.
  • You and your future spouse must intend to live together on a permanent basis once you are married.
  • You must show that any previous relationship that you or your partner were involved in (whether it be as a married or an unmarried couple) has ended.
  • You and your future spouse must have sufficient funds to support yourselves (and any dependants) without claiming public funds.
  • You must have suitable accommodation available for you, your future spouse and any dependants.

UK fiance visa - duration

A UK fiance visa grants you with entry to the UK for six months, during which time you are required to marry your fiance in the UK.

Once you have married you may apply to stay in the UK on a UK spouse visa which will initially be granted for a period of two years. At the conclusion of this two year period you are eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) as long as your marriage is subsisting.

UK fiance visa - dependants

If you and your future spouse have children under the age of 18 they are only allowed to enter the UK as your dependants if you can show that it would create serious problems if they were not granted entry to the UK at the same time.

In these circumstances it may be better to wait until after you have married your future spouse. You can then apply for your dependants to enter the UK at the same time as you apply for your UK spouse visa.