A UK citizen or permanent resident can bring their spouse or partner to the UK to live with them permanently. The spouse visa falls under the family visa category and children and parents of UK citizens can also apply for these respective visas.
A UK spouse visa, partner visa or UK marriage visa as it is sometimes called, allows UK permanent residents to bring their overseas partners and dependants with them to the UK. Your overseas partner must be over the age of 18 and you must be engaged, married to or in a civil partnership with them.
The benefits of the spouse visa
The UK spouse visa allows you to work and study without restrictions. This visa may also lead to indefinite leave to remain after you’ve extended your visa and have lived in the UK for five continuous years.
The UK spouse visa application requirements
You can apply for a UK spouse visa if:
- Yourself and your partner are over the age of 18
- You are married or in a UK recognised civil partnership
- You are engaged and will marry or become civil partners within six months of entering the UK
- You have been living together and are in a relationship for over two years and can show proof of this
- Your partner is a British citizen, UK permanent resident or UK refugee
- You have suitable accommodation to live in the UK for your spouse and any dependants
- Meet the minimum financial requirements
- You meet the English language requirements (Australian citizens are exempt from meeting this requirement)
What are the UK spouse visa financial requirements?
This is also known as the minimum income requirement. The UK government wants to make sure that you will be able to support yourself and your family without relying on public benefits.
If you want to be able to settle and gain indefinite leave to remain status within five years, then you and your partner must have a minimum gross annual income of £18,600.
If you are bringing children who do not have British citizenship, you will need:
- £3,800 for your first child
- £2,400 for each child thereafter
Children under the age of 18 can enter the UK as dependants. You can make the application for any dependants at the same time as your spouse visa application.
You will need to use your income and bank statements to show you have met the minimum income requirements – this must be met at least six months prior to your application.
If your income alone does not reach the minimum requirements then you can also use cash savings (up to £16,000), income from stocks, shares, bonds, property or trust funds, pension income, insurance payments and maintenance payments to make up this amount of money.
Certain exceptions will allow you to gain a partner visa without meeting the minimum income requirements, such as having:
- A Disability Living Allowance
- Carers Allowance
- Industrial injury disablement benefit
- Attendance allowance
How long does a spouse visa last?
If your application is successful from outside the UK, your spouse visa will usually be valid for 33 months. From inside the UK, it will be valid for 30 months.
After five years you can apply for your indefinite leave to remain status – you will need to extend your initial visa.
How much does a UK spouse visa cost?
We break down the costs involved in applying for a spouse visa in 2021
| Application requirements | Out of country application fee | In-country application fee |
| The spouse visa UK fee in 2021 | £1,523 | £1,033 |
| Immigration healthcare surcharge | £1,872 | £1,560 |
| Priority service for faster visa processing (optional) | £573 | £800 |
Extra fees you may incur
- Immigration lawyer fees
- English language test
- Tuberculosis test
- Translated documents
- Housing reports
Meeting the spouse visa accommodation requirements
Applicants must prove that they will have adequate accommodation, without relying on public funds. It is a requirement that at least part of the accommodation must be exclusively owned or occupied by the family.
It will not be considered adequate if it is:
- Overcrowded
- Contravenes public health regulations
Children under the age of 10 can share rooms but past this age individuals should have their own bedrooms. Couples can share a bedroom.
Unmarried partner visa
You can apply if you and your partner are unmarried, as long as you meet all the requirements and your relationship is akin to a civil partnership or marriage.
You will need to provide information that proves you have been in a long-term relationship.
How long does the application for a spouse visa take?
The average processing time is around six to eight weeks, however this could be delayed due to Covid -19.