Get in Touch
Spouse Visa Extension After 2.5 Years
If you’re on the 5-year route to settlement in the UK, you must extend your spouse visa after the initial 2.5 years. This extension is required before applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
If you hold a different visa (excluding visitor visas), you may switch to the partner route from within the UK. This switch marks the start of your qualifying period for ILR—five years under the 5-year route or ten years under the 10-year route.
The 5-year period typically includes:
2.5 years from your initial grant of leave (or 33 months if granted entry clearance from abroad)
An additional 2.5 years from the extension
After completing five years as a partner under the 5-year route, you may apply for ILR—provided you still meet all requirements and have passed both the Life in the UK Test and the B1 English test, if applicable.
The financial requirements for your extension remain the same as those for your initial application.
Difference Between the 5-Year and 10-Year Routes
Spouse or partner visas in the UK can be granted under either the 5-year or 10-year route to settlement.
5-Year Route
You will be placed on the 5-year route if you meet all the requirements of Appendix FM, including financial and English language requirements.
10-Year Route
You may be granted leave under the 10-year route in the following situations:
You were initially granted permission under the 10-year route and your circumstances remain unchanged.
You don’t meet the financial requirement or your income source doesn’t comply with the immigration rules, but refusing your application would cause unjustifiable hardship.
You were on the 5-year route but now temporarily cannot meet the financial requirement.
You fail to meet the English language requirement at the extension stage
General Requirements for a Spouse Visa Extension
To qualify for a spouse visa extension under the 5-year route, you must meet the following criteria:
Both the applicant and sponsor must be in the UK.
The applicant must hold valid leave to remain.
The applicant must not fall under suitability grounds for refusal.
The relationship must be genuine and ongoing.
The couple must have lived together in the UK since the last grant of leave.
Financial requirements must be met.
The applicant must meet the A2 level English language requirement.
Requirement to Be Present in the UK
Spouse visa extension applications are usually made within the UK. In rare cases, if your visa expires while you are abroad, you may apply for entry clearance from outside the UK.
While your British partner does not need to be physically in the UK on the exact day of your application (e.g., due to travel), they must be ordinarily resident in the UK, with the UK as their main home
Absences from the UK and Spouse Visa Extensions
When applying for a spouse visa extension, you must declare any absences from the UK of more than six months. While there’s no fixed limit on absences, frequent or extended time abroad may raise concerns about your intention to live in the UK permanently.
If your absences are significant or exceed your time spent in the UK, you’ll need to provide clear explanations and evidence that your trips were temporary and your main home remains in the UK.
Priority Applications for Spouse Visa Extension
The Super Priority Service offers a faster decision—usually by the next working day after submitting your biometrics. It costs £1,000 and may not be available daily, so early booking is advised.
Biometrics are submitted at a UKVCAS centre, and once done, your application is typically processed within 24 hours.
If your case is complex or requires discretion, the Home Office may remove it from the priority queue. In such cases, the £1,000 fee is usually refunded.
Relationship Requirement for Spouse Visa Extension
To extend your spouse visa, you must show that you and your British partner have lived together in the UK throughout your current visa period.
Evidence typically includes official documents addressed to both of you, such as:
Bank statements
Council tax bills
Utility bills
Letters from government departments
For guidance on meeting this requirement and presenting strong evidence, ZAR Immigration consultants is here to help.
Financial Requirement for Spouse Visa Extension
The financial requirement for a spouse visa extension under the 5-year route is the same as for the initial application.
If your first application was made before 11 April 2024, you must show:
Income of at least £18,600 per year (can be from the applicant, the sponsor, or combined); or
Savings of £62,500 held for at least 6 months; or
A combination of income and savings.
To calculate the required savings when topping up income:
Subtract your income from £18,600.
Multiply the shortfall by 2.5.
Add £16,000.
Example:
If your income is £16,000:
(£18,600 – £16,000) = £2,600 → £2,600 × 2.5 = £6,500 + £16,000 = £22,500 savings needed.
Savings must be:
In a cash account
Held by you or your partner for at least 6 months
Not combined with self-employment income
For accurate financial assessments and application support, ZAR Immigration consultants is ready to assist.
Extending a Spouse Visa Under the 10-Year Route
If your current spouse visa is under the 10-year route, you can either:
Extend under the same route if your circumstances remain unchanged, or
Switch to the 5-year route—a faster path to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) that may reduce overall application costs.
To switch to the 5-year route (as of 11 April 2024), you must meet the updated financial requirement:
£29,000 annual income from approved sources, or
£88,500 in savings held for at least 6 months, or
A combination of income and savings.
Example:
If your income is £19,000, the shortfall is £10,000. Multiply by 2.5 = £25,000
Add £16,000 → £41,000 in savings needed
English Language Requirement
For your spouse visa extension, you must meet the A2 level in speaking and listening.
If you previously met the requirement by proving you are from a majority English-speaking country or hold a UK/Ecctis-approved degree, you must provide evidence again.
Exemptions apply if you are over 65, have a medical condition or disability, or face exceptional circumstances preventing you from meeting the requirement.
Spouse Visa Renewal Cost
Before applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), you must renew your spouse visa at least once. If you’re on the 5-year route in the UK, renew your visa within 28 days before expiry. This renewal completes the 5-year residence required to qualify for ILR.
Extension costs:
Visa fee: £1,258
Immigration Health Surcharge: £1,035 × 2.5 = £2,587.50
Exceptional Circumstances in Spouse Visa Extension
If you cannot meet the usual requirements for a spouse visa extension due to exceptional circumstances, you may still apply under the 10-year route. This may reset your qualifying period, requiring additional applications before you can apply for ILR, but success is still possible.
It’s crucial to apply before your current visa expires. Missing the deadline can result in losing your right to work and break your continuous residence for ILR.
If financial hardship prevents you from paying fees, you can request a fee waiver, but this must be done before your visa expires to protect your rights.
For peace of mind and the best chance of success, seek legal advice early. ZAR Immigration consultants can provide expert guidance tailored to your situation.
If you need more time with a consultants or want a quote for representation, please complete the contact form below or visit our Immigration Advice page to book an appointment that suits you. ZAR Immigration is here to support you.