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Family Visas

Spouse Visa

A UK Spouse Visa lets the husband, wife, or civil partner of a British citizen or settled person come to live in the UK, or stay here, with their family. The rules are detailed and the financial evidence is strict, so getting the application right the first time matters. We prepare your case so it meets the Home Office requirements in full.

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What is a Spouse Visa?

The Spouse Visa, part of the family route under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules, allows the partner of a British citizen or a person settled in the UK to join them or remain with them here. It applies to married couples and civil partners. Unmarried partners who have lived together in a relationship for at least two years apply on a closely related but separate route.

The visa is normally granted for an initial period, after which you extend it, and after five years of continuous residence on this route you can usually apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. The Home Office looks closely at three things: that your relationship is genuine and subsisting, that you meet the financial requirement, and that you have somewhere adequate to live.

Who this visa is for

  • You are married to, or in a civil partnership with, a British citizen or someone settled in the UK.
  • Your partner has settled status, indefinite leave, or another qualifying immigration status.
  • You both intend to live together permanently in the UK.
  • You can meet the financial requirement, through income, savings, or a permitted combination.

The main requirements

Every case turns on its evidence, but most Spouse Visa applications must satisfy the following.

A genuine, subsisting relationship

You must show the relationship is real and continuing, usually through your history together, communication, and time spent in each other's company.

The financial requirement

The sponsoring partner generally needs to meet a minimum income requirement, currently £29,000 a year, or hold enough qualifying savings to meet it in another permitted way. Some sponsors are exempt, for example where they receive certain disability or carer benefits, and a different test applies. We check the figure and how you meet it against the rules in force when you apply.

Suitable accommodation

You must have somewhere adequate to live that you own or occupy exclusively, without overcrowding and without breaching public health rules.

English language

You usually need to prove your knowledge of English at the required level, unless an exemption applies, for example on the grounds of nationality or a relevant qualification.

Immigration rules and financial thresholds change regularly. The figures and timescales on this page are a general guide, correct as at June 2026, and not advice on your case. We confirm the rules that apply to you before any application is made.

How we handle your application

  1. 1

    Initial consultation

    We review your relationship, immigration history, and finances, then tell you plainly whether you qualify and on which route.

  2. 2

    Document plan

    We give you a clear, tailored list of the evidence the Home Office expects, so nothing important is missed.

  3. 3

    Preparing your case

    We check every document, draft the supporting letters, and complete the application so it presents your case at its strongest.

  4. 4

    Submission and follow-up

    We submit the application, deal with the Home Office on your behalf, and keep you updated until a decision is made.

What is included in our service

  • An initial eligibility check of your case
  • A document checklist tailored to your circumstances
  • Drafting of the application and your supporting statement
  • Sponsor letter and relationship evidence
  • Submission to UKVI and biometric appointment booking
  • Email and phone support until your decision

Government costs are paid separately and are not part of our fee. For a Spouse Visa these are the Home Office application fee, currently £2,064 from outside the UK or £1,407 for an in-country application, the Immigration Health Surcharge at £1,035 per person for each year of your visa, the biometric enrolment fee, and any English test, document translation, or TB test costs that apply to you. These third party figures are correct as at 24 August 2026 and the Home Office can change them at short notice, so we confirm the current amounts with you before you apply.

Common questions

It depends on where and how you apply and on Home Office workloads at the time. As a guide, we usually take two to four weeks to prepare and submit your application once your documents are ready, and the Home Office aims to decide most straightforward applications within around twelve weeks on standard processing. That comes to roughly three to four months end to end. Where it is available, a priority service can shorten the Home Office stage, and we will tell you if that suits your case.

In many cases dependent children can apply alongside the main applicant on a related route. We assess each child's position as part of your case so the family is dealt with together where possible.

You apply to extend before your current leave runs out. After completing the qualifying period on this route, you can usually apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. We can handle each stage for you.

Family cases are rarely identical. If your situation is unusual, for example where finances are met in a less common way or there are exceptional circumstances, we look at whether another part of the rules or a different argument applies. Speak to us and we will tell you honestly where you stand.