What is a spouse visa?
A spouse visa is also called a UK marriage visa. It lets you move to the UK to live with your husband, wife, or civil partner. To apply, your partner (called your "sponsor") must be a British citizen, an Irish citizen, or a person who is settled in the UK. "Settled" means they live in the UK permanently and there is no limit on how long they can stay.
Can I work on a spouse visa?
Yes, you are eligible to work or study in the UK once the visa has been granted.
Spouse visa requirements
To qualify for a UK spouse / marriage visa you must satisfy the following requirements:
- You and your spouse must be 18 years old or over.
- You must have a genuine and subsisting relationship and intend to live together permanently.
- You must have enough money to support yourselves (and any dependents) without claiming public funds.
- Your sponsoring partner must earn more than £29,000 per year or have enough savings to be able to sponsor you.
- You must have suitable accommodation for you, your spouse and any dependants.
- You must satisfy the English language requirements.
How do I apply for a spouse visa?
You can apply for a spouse visa from overseas or from within the UK.
If you are already in the UK on a fiance visa, work visa, or student visa valid for more than six months, you may be able to switch into a spouse visa.
How long does the application take?
The average processing time for a spouse visa application is 2 – 12 weeks from the date we submit the application to the UKVI. Processing times vary depending on the country where the application is made.
How long does a spouse visa last?
If applying from overseas, a spouse visa is initially issued for 33 months. If you are applying from within the UK a spouse visa is issued for a period of 30 months.
Can I extend my spouse visa?
You can apply for an extension for an additional 30 months which can take your total time in the UK on this visa up to five years. At this point you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) provided you are still in your relationship and living in the UK with your partner. After you have been granted ILR you may be eligible to apply for naturalisation as a British citizen.
Spouse visa entry clearance
If you are seeking to enter the UK on the basis of your relationship with your sponsor you must apply for entry clearance before coming to the UK.
If you are applying from inside the UK you must have leave to remain in the UK on a visa that is valid for six months at the time you apply.
You cannot switch to a spouse visa if you are already in the UK and were initially admitted for a period of less than six months - for example, if you were initially admitted entry as a visitor or prospective student.
English language requirements for partners
As a spouse visa applicant, you must show that you can speak and understand English. For your first application, you need to reach CEFR level A1. This is a basic level, and the test only checks your speaking and listening.
You do not need to take a test if any of these apply to you:
- you are a national of a majority English-speaking country
- you have a degree that was taught in English (if your degree is from outside the UK, it must be confirmed by Ecctis)
- you are aged 65 or over
- you have a physical or mental condition that prevents you from meeting the requirement (you will need medical evidence, and the Home Office decides each case)
If none of these apply, you will need to pass an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT). Only SELT results are accepted, so check that your test centre is approved before you book.
If you are applying from overseas, we can help arrange an approved test in your home country.
Contact us to find out more about the English language requirements.
Spouse visa dependants
Children under 18 years of age can enter the UK as your dependants. You should make an application for them at the same time that you make your spouse visa application. You do not need to show extra income for dependent children. The £29,000 requirement is the same whether or not you bring children.
What if your relationship ends?
If your relationship ends, you must tell UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) as soon as you can. This is important. If you do not tell them, you could be asked to leave the UK. It can also cause problems for any UK visa you apply for in the future.
You tell UKVI by filling in the official form on the GOV.UK website.
When you fill in the form, you will need to give:
- your partner's full name, exactly as it appears in their passport
- your partner's date of birth
- your partner's UKVI reference number, if you have it
After you tell them, UKVI will decide what happens to your partner's permission to stay in the UK. It does not always end straight away. Your partner may be able to stay in the UK for another reason, or there may be other circumstances that UKVI will consider.