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Spouse Visa as an Immigration Option
The UK Spouse Visa, also known as the Partner Visa, is a family immigration route available to spouses, civil partners, and unmarried partners of British citizens or individuals who hold indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK. This visa provides a pathway to settlement and ultimately British citizenship.
A Spouse Visa initially grants leave to remain for 33 months if the application is made from outside the UK, or 30 months if applied for from within the UK.
To qualify for indefinite leave to remain, the visa must be extended at least once. Extensions are granted for 30 months, with no option for a shorter or longer duration.
After completing five years on the Spouse Visa route, applicants can apply for indefinite leave to remain. Once ILR is granted, spouses of British citizens become eligible to apply for British citizenship through naturalisation.
Unmarried partners must meet additional eligibility criteria. Unlike spouses, they are required to wait 12 months after obtaining ILR before they can apply for British citizenship.
For professional assistance with your UK Spouse Visa application, ZAR Immigration Consultants is here to guide you through every step of the process.
Who Can Act as a Sponsor in a UK Spouse Visa Application
In a UK Spouse Visa application, the sponsor must be either a British citizen or an individual with a qualifying immigration status. Eligible sponsors include:
British citizens
Individuals holding Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK
EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
Irish citizens who are resident in the UK
Holders of a Turkish Businessperson Visa or Turkish Worker Visa
Individuals granted protection status, including refugee status or humanitarian protection
The sponsor must either be currently residing in the UK or intend to return to the UK with their partner at the time of the application.
If the applicant is the spouse or partner of a person with limited leave to remain in the UK—such as a Skilled Worker, student, or any other temporary visa holder—the appropriate route is not the Spouse Visa. Instead, they should apply for a Dependant Visa under the same immigration category as the main visa holder.
For expert guidance on UK spouse and partner visa applications, ZAR Immigration Consultants provides tailored support to help you navigate the process with confidence.
Where to Apply for a UK Spouse Visa
If you are not currently living in the UK under another immigration category, your initial UK Spouse Visa application must be made from abroad—typically from your country of nationality or country of habitual residence.
If you already hold valid leave to remain in the UK under a different immigration category—such as a work visa, student visa, or a fiancé(e) visa—you may be eligible to switch into the spouse visa route from within the UK.
Visitors to the UK are not permitted to switch into the spouse or unmarried partner route. In such cases, you must leave the UK and apply from your country of residence.
All spouse visa applications are completed online. After submission and uploading of supporting documents through the UK government portal, applicants are required to attend a biometric appointment. This takes place either at a visa application centre abroad or at a UKVCAS service point if applying from within the UK.
For step-by-step assistance with your spouse visa application, ZAR Immigration Consultants is here to provide expert support throughout the entire process.
Spouse Visa Application Process
The UK Spouse Visa application process begins by completing an online application form and paying the relevant government fees. Once this is done, you can book a biometric appointment, where your photograph and fingerprints will be taken. Please note, this appointment is not an interview—its sole purpose is to collect your biometric information.
If you need a faster decision, you may choose to book a Priority Service (available overseas) or a Super Priority Service (available within the UK) for expedited processing.
Before attending your biometric appointment, you must upload all supporting documents to the UK government portal. Documents are accepted in digital format, though the Home Office may request originals if there are concerns about authenticity.
For personalised guidance and expert assistance throughout your application process, ZAR Immigration Consultants is here to help you every step of the way.
UK Spouse Visa Processing Time in 2025
As of 2025, the standard processing time for a UK Spouse Visa (entry clearance) application made from outside the UK is up to 12 weeks. However, based on recent trends, most applications are processed within 2 months—and often even sooner.
If you wish to expedite the process, you may be able to book a Priority Service. This option is available only for straightforward applications that meet all eligibility criteria. When selected, your application is placed in a separate priority queue, and while processing times may vary, a decision is typically made within 4 weeks. Please note, this timeline is not guaranteed and depends on the volume of applications at the time of submission.
For applications made within the UK (such as switching from another visa type or extending a spouse visa), the standard processing time is approximately 8 weeks from the date of the biometric appointment.
To receive a faster decision, you can opt for the Super Priority Service, which typically provides a decision within 24 hours of attending your biometric appointment.
For tailored advice and support with your UK Spouse Visa application, ZAR Immigration Consultants offers expert guidance to ensure a smooth and efficient process.
Spouse Visa Validity
If your initial UK Spouse Visa application is made from outside the UK, your visa will be granted for 33 months. Before it expires, you must apply for an extension from within the UK.
Upon applying for an extension, you will be granted a further 30 months (2.5 years) of leave to remain.
You can submit your extension application as early as 2.5 years after your initial grant of leave, and no later than the expiry date of your current visa.
Once you have completed five years of continuous residence in the UK as the partner of a British citizen under the 5-year route, you become eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
If you are following the 10-year route (typically due to not meeting all requirements under the 5-year route), you will only be eligible for ILR after 10 years of continuous residence.
After being granted ILR, you may apply for British citizenship and your first British passport, subject to meeting the relevant requirements.
For clear guidance on which route applies to you and expert assistance with your application, ZAR Immigration Consultants is here to help at every stage of the process.
UK Spouse Visa Requirements
1. Genuine and Subsisting Relationship
You must be in a genuine and ongoing relationship with your partner and intend to live together permanently in the UK. “Permanently” does not mean you cannot travel or have ties elsewhere, but your primary home must be in the UK.
2. Financial Requirement
For applications made from outside the UK, the financial requirement is typically assessed based on the British partner’s income. However, joint savings can be used to meet the threshold if income is insufficient.
For applications made within the UK, the non-British partner’s income (through employment or self-employment) can also be counted, provided they had the right to work in the UK prior to the application.
3. Accommodation Requirement
You must show that you have adequate accommodation for you and any dependants. For a couple, one bedroom is sufficient, but suitable arrangements must be made if children or other family members are part of the household.
4. English Language Requirement
The non-British partner must meet the English language requirement:
A1 level for the initial visa application
A2 level at the time of visa extension
These are basic proficiency levels intended to ensure effective communication in everyday situations.
5. Tuberculosis (TB) Test
If you are applying from outside the UK and have lived in a country listed on the UK government’s TB test list for at least six months prior to your application, you must provide a clear TB test certificate.
6. Suitability Requirements
You must meet general suitability criteria, which include checks to ensure you do not have a serious criminal record, immigration violations, or other issues that could make you inadmissible to the UK.
For personalised guidance and expert support through each stage of the spouse visa process, ZAR Immigration Consultants
Financial Requirements for the UK Spouse Visa (Post 11 April 2024)
From 11 April 2024, new financial thresholds apply to UK Spouse Visa applications. If you are applying under the new rules, you must meet the following financial requirements:
Annual income threshold: £29,000
Savings threshold (if no income): £88,500
You can combine income and savings to meet the requirement using this formula:
Shortfall in income × 2.5 + £16,000
For example, if the sponsor earns £18,000 per year, the shortfall is £11,000. The required savings would be:
£11,000 × 2.5 + £16,000 = £43,500
Only approved sources of income are considered, such as:
Employment or self-employment (UK-based)
Rental income
Dividends or investment income
Pension income
If the applicant is outside the UK, only the sponsor’s income is considered. However, the applicant’s income from rental property, investments, or pensions may be counted.
If the applicant is in the UK with a visa that permits work, their UK employment income can be included, along with the sponsor’s.
If both the applicant and sponsor are living abroad and planning to return to the UK together:
The British partner may rely on overseas employment income and provide proof of a job offer in the UK meeting the income threshold.
If the British partner is self-employed or running a business abroad, they may rely on this income if they can prove a viable plan to continue similar work in the UK.
Income is calculated gross (before tax and NI deductions).
Evidence required includes:
Payslips
Bank statements
Letter from employer confirming salary and employment details
If the sponsor has:
Worked for the same employer for 6+ months: Show income of at least £9,300 gross over 6 months
Changed jobs recently: Two options:
Show total income over the past 12 months, or
If the new job provides income over £18,600 in less than 6 months, that may suffice
Must rely on net income before tax from the last completed financial year.
Full accounts and tax documents are required—even if they must be prepared earlier than required by HMRC.
If income in the most recent year is insufficient, the average of the last two financial years can be used.
Directors of UK-registered companies can rely on:
Salary
Dividends
You must provide:
Company accounts
Personal bank statements
Payslips and dividend vouchers
One full financial year of records is required.
If the sponsor is employed by a company owned (in part or full) by a family member, the documentation required is similar to that for company directors, including:
Company accounts
Company bank statements
Personal bank statements and payslips
All requirements are set out in Appendix FM SE of the UK Immigration Rules.
Savings Requirements
Savings can be held by either partner or jointly and must:
Be in a cash account with instant access
Be held for at least 6 months prior to application (though not necessarily in the same account)
Be traceable, especially if derived from property or asset sales (you must show ownership of the asset for at least 6 months before the sale)
For expert advice on meeting the financial requirements and navigating the UK Spouse Visa process under the updated rules, ZAR Immigration Consultants
GET AN EXPERT TO PREPARE YOUR SPOUSE VISA APPLICATION
Exemption from the Financial Requirement – UK Spouse Visa
In some cases, applicants may be exempt from meeting the standard financial requirement (such as the £29,000 income threshold introduced after 11 April 2024).
If the British sponsor is in receipt of one or more of the following disability-related benefits, the financial requirement is considered met:
Carer’s Allowance
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Severe Disablement Allowance
Attendance Allowance
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
For further guidance on whether you qualify for this exemption and how to meet the alternative maintenance requirement, ZAR Immigration Consultants
English Language Requirement for the UK Spouse Visa – ZAR Immigration consultants
To apply for a UK partner or spouse visa, you must meet the English language requirement in the speaking and listening components. The required level depends on the stage of your visa journey:
Initial spouse/partner visa application: A1
(GESE Grade 2 or IELTS Life Skills A1)
Extension application: A2
(GESE Grade 3 or IELTS Life Skills A2)
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application: B1
(GESE Grade 5 or IELTS Life Skills B1)
If You Are in the UK:
You must take your test with one of the following Home Office-approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) providers:
Trinity College Manchester (most popular due to extensive locations and availability)
IELTS SELT Consortium
LanguageCert
Pearson
If You Are Outside the UK:
Use one of the following providers:
PSI Services (UK) Ltd
IELTS SELT Consortium
LanguageCert
Pearson
Important Notes:
Tests focus only on speaking and listening.
The test fee is approximately £150, varying slightly by provider and location.
Bring a valid identity document (usually a passport, UK BRP, EEA ID card, or Convention Travel Document).
After passing, you’ll receive a SELT unique reference number – this must be used in your visa application (no paper certificate is required).
Test results are valid for 2 years.
You may be exempt from the test if you have an academic qualification taught in English:
UK degree: Automatically satisfies the requirement.
Overseas degree taught in English:
You’ll need a statement from Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) confirming:Your degree is equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s degree or higher
The course was taught or researched in English
Degrees from majority English-speaking countries (e.g., USA, Australia, New Zealand) are generally accepted.
Note: For Canada, you must still confirm the language of instruction unless you are a Canadian citizen (citizenship alone satisfies the requirement).
For expert advice on meeting the English language requirement and navigating your visa application, Zar Immigration Consultants
Nationals Exempt from the Language Test
USA
Australia
New Zealand
Jamaica
Barbados
The Difference Between the 5-Year and 10-Year Partner Routes – ZAR Immigration consultants
The main difference between the 5-year and the 10-year partner routes lies in the length of time it takes to qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK.
When all substantive requirements—including financial, language, immigration status, and evidential criteria—are met, the UK spouse visa is granted under the 5-year route. This means you become eligible to apply for ILR after five years of continuous residence as a partner.
If some requirements are not fully met but refusal of the application would be considered unfair and cause significant hardship, leave to remain may be granted under the 10-year route. This route makes you eligible for ILR only after 10 years of residence under a partner visa, parent visa, or under the private life route.
If you initially held a visa under the 5-year route but later had to switch to the 10-year route, the time already spent on the 5-year route counts towards the qualifying 10-year period.
Conversely, if you held permission under the 10-year route but subsequently switched to the 5-year route, the time spent on the 10-year route does not count towards the qualifying five years on the 5-year route.
You can switch from the 10-year route to the 5-year route as soon as you meet the requirements; there is no need to wait until your current visa expires.
You become eligible to apply for ILR after:
Completing five years on the 5-year route, or
Completing 10 years in total, which can be a combination of time spent on both the 5-year and 10-year routes.
For tailored advice on which route applies to your situation and how to make the most of your time towards settlement, ZAR Immigration Consultants
Spouse Visa Application Fees from 9 April 2025 – ZAR Immigration consultants
If you are applying from outside the UK:
Visa fee: £1,938
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £3,105
Optional priority service: £500
If you are applying within the UK:
Visa fee: £1,321
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £2,587.50
Optional super-priority service: £1,000
If you are applying with a dependent child:
The visa fee and priority service fee for the child are the same as for the main applicant.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for the child is £776 per year, which amounts to:
£2,328 for an entry clearance application
£1,940 for applications to extend stay
For detailed advice on the application process and fee payments, ZAR Immigration is here to guide you every step of the way.
UK spouse visa FAQs
Can I Work on a UK Spouse Visa?
Yes, a UK spouse visa grants you the right to work without any restrictions. You are free to take up employment, become self-employed, or even start your own business.
To prove your right to work to an employer, you can generate a share code online through the government website. This allows your employer to confirm your immigration status and work eligibility.
At ZAR Immigration consultants in Manchester, we ensure you’re fully informed of your rights and entitlements under your visa, including your ability to work and build a future in the UK.
Can I Claim Benefits in the UK?
If you hold a UK spouse visa, you are not entitled to claim public funds, including benefits or tax credits. This condition is part of the visa and is strictly enforced.
However, this restriction does not affect your partner’s eligibility for benefits. If your partner is a British citizen or has settled status, they may still be entitled to claim benefits such as Child Benefit, Housing Benefit, or Tax Credits, subject to the usual eligibility criteria.
At ZAR Immigration consultants
Can I Apply for a Spouse Visa If I Don’t Meet the Financial Requirements?
Yes, you may still be eligible to apply for a UK spouse visa even if you do not meet the standard financial requirements, especially if a refusal would result in unjustifiably harsh consequences due to compassionate or exceptional circumstances in your case.
In such situations, the Home Office may consider alternative sources of income not normally permitted under the rules—such as support from a third party, anticipated future income in the UK, or other exceptional financial arrangements.
If your application is approved on this basis, you will be granted entry clearance or leave to remain under the 10-year route instead of the standard 5-year route to settlement.
At ZAR Immigration consultants
If I Have a Child from a Previous Relationship, Can I Join My Partner and Bring My Child Later Once We Are Settled?
Yes, if you have a child under the age of 18 from a previous relationship, they can apply for a child dependent visa to join you in the UK at a later stage. However, to be successful, you must be able to show that you have sole responsibility for your child’s upbringing.
If, during the initial period of settling in the UK, day-to-day care of the child has been temporarily transferred to someone else, it must be clearly demonstrated that this was a short-term arrangement. The longer the alternative care arrangement continues, the more difficult it becomes to prove that it was truly temporary.
At ZAR Immigration consultants
How Soon Do I Have to Travel to the UK Once My Spouse Visa Is Issued?
When you apply for entry clearance, you will be asked to indicate your intended travel date to the UK. The start date of your spouse visa will usually align with this date.
Once your visa is issued, you will receive a 30-day vignette (sticker) in your passport. This vignette allows you to enter the UK during that 30-day window. After arrival, you must collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) from the post office you selected during your application.
At ZAR Immigration consultants
Is There a Limit on How Long I Can Stay Outside the UK If I Have a Spouse Visa?
There is no fixed limit on how long you can travel abroad while holding a UK spouse visa, but you must maintain your main home and family life in the UK.
If you spend more than six months outside the UK, the Home Office may ask you to explain the reason for your prolonged absence.
Additionally, if you spend more time abroad than in the UK, it could raise concerns about whether you genuinely intend to make the UK your permanent home.
At ZAR Immigration consultants
Can My British Partner Work Abroad While I Hold a UK Spouse Visa?
There is no restriction preventing your British partner from working abroad or receiving income from employment overseas while you are in the UK on a spouse visa.
However, when you apply to extend your visa or later apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), you will need to demonstrate that you and your partner are living together in the UK and that you both intend to make the UK your permanent home.
At ZAR Immigration consultants
Glossary of Commonly Used Terms – ZAR Immigration consultants
Appendix FM – A section of the UK Immigration Rules that deals with family immigration, including spouse or partner visas.
Appendix FM SE – A supplement to Appendix FM that outlines the specific documents and evidence required to meet the financial requirement of the spouse or partner visa.
Suitability – Refers to the criteria related to a person’s character and background, aiming to exclude applicants with criminal convictions, immigration offences, or other factors that make them unsuitable for a UK visa.
Eligibility requirements – The core conditions that must be met for the visa to be granted, such as relationship status, financial requirements, English language proficiency, and accommodation.
Sponsor – The British partner who is supporting the spouse or partner visa application.
Period of grant – The length of time for which the visa is issued.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) – A mandatory fee paid alongside the visa application to grant access to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). This fee is payable regardless of whether the applicant intends to use NHS services.
Curtailment – When the Home Office shortens the validity of a visa. This can happen, for example, if the relationship breaks down and the applicant is no longer eligible to stay under the spouse visa category.
At ZAR Immigration consultants
How Immigration Solicitors Can Help with Your Partner Visa Application – ZAR Immigration consultants
An experienced immigration consultant provides you with confidence and clarity in achieving the outcome you desire. A professionally prepared application is typically processed faster, and if the caseworker has any follow-up questions, your consultant will be best positioned to respond promptly and effectively.
At ZAR Immigration consultants, we recommend full legal representation as the most reliable way to secure the right outcome in the shortest possible time.
Our meticulous preparation ensures the application is straightforward for the caseworker to process and approve—minimizing requests for additional information or escalation to senior staff.
We understand which applications attract the attention of senior caseworkers, and we carefully highlight this in our cover letters to streamline the review process.
Our services include comprehensive preparation of your application, legal representation throughout the process, and handling all follow-up communications with the Home Office until you receive your visa and biometric residence permit.
Our fees for partner visa representation vary depending on the complexity of your case and the types of income used to meet the financial requirements.
Before accepting your instructions, we conduct a brief telephone or Zoom consultation to assess your case and provide you with an accurate, all-inclusive quote.
If you are relying on exceptional circumstances or are unsure whether you meet the eligibility criteria, we recommend an initial detailed consultation to clarify your situation.
ZAR Immigration consultants