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Moving to the UK to live with your husband, wife, or partner is a big life step. The rules can look complicated. This guide keeps the language simple, the steps clear, and the links focused on the main official pages you’ll actually use. You’ll find every spouse/partner route, the forms you’ll fill, evidence to prepare, fees, timelines, and a crisp FAQ.


1) What the UK “spouse visa” really is (and who it’s for)

The “UK spouse visa” is the Family route for partners under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. If your partner is British (or Irish), settled (has ILR, Settled Status), or has pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or is here with refugee/humanitarian protection, you can usually apply as their partner. The visa is granted for 2 years 9 months if you apply from outside, and 2 years 6 months if you extend or switch inside the UK. After 5 years on this route (two grants), you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

There are three closely related options people ask about:

  • Spouse/Partner (Family Route) – for married couples, civil partners, and unmarried partners (usually living together 2+ years).
  • Fiancé(e)/Proposed Civil Partner – a 6-month visa to come to the UK to marry; you cannot work on this visa and you must switch into the spouse/partner route after marriage.
  • Marriage Visitor – for people who want to visit to marry but not stay or settle (this is not a spouse route).


2) Types of partner applications you’ll see in practice

A. Entry clearance from outside the UK (first spouse/partner visa)

  • You apply online, upload documents, attend biometrics, then attend an embassy/visa centre decision.
  • If approved, you get a visa vignette to travel, then a BRP (or digital status) after arrival.
  • Length: typically 33 months (2 years 9 months).

B. Extension inside the UK — “FLR(M)”

  • Used to extend your spouse/partner permission after the first grant.
  • Done online via the FLR(M) journey.
  • Length: 30 months (2 years 6 months).
 


C. Settlement at 5 years — “SET(M)” (ILR as a partner)

  • After two grants (5 years total), you apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain on the 5-year partner route.

 


D. Fiancé(e)/Proposed Civil Partner

  • 6 months to enter and get married in the UK.
  • You cannot work on this visa.
  • After the wedding, you switch inside the UK to FLR(M).

 


 3) The big rules you must meet (simple checklist)

A) Relationship requirement

  • Married, civil partners, or unmarried partners (normally 2+ years cohabitation).
  • Relationship is genuine and subsisting.
  • Any previous marriages/civil partnerships ended.

B) Financial requirement (minimum income)

  • New applications generally need £29,000 gross a year (combined) from 11 April 2024 onward.
  • If you first applied before 11 April 2024 and you’re extending with the same partner, your extension can still use the older £18,600 threshold (plus extra for non-British children).
  • Different categories of income and savings can be combined (salary, self-employment, non-employment income, and cash savings).

 


C) English language requirements

  • First partner visa:CEFR A1 speaking & listening (approved SELT or accepted qualification).
  • Extension FLR(M): CEFR A2.
  • ILR (SET(M)): CEFR B1 plus the Life in the UK Test


 D) Tuberculosis test (if you’re from a listed country)

If required for your country of residence, get a TB certificate before you apply (check GOV.UK country list on the partner route).

4) Forms you will actually complete (and when)

You won’t print long PDFs in most cases; you’ll follow online journeys that ask  the Appendix FM questions.

  • First spouse/partner visa (outside the UK): online application via the partner route (Appendix FM) + upload docs + book biometrics.
  • Extension or switch inside the UK: FLR(M) online journey
  • ILR at 5 years: SET(M) online journey.
  • Optional document: some applicants may be asked for a simple partner declaration confirming information provided.

You’ll also complete the IHS payment and biometrics booking as part of the online flow.

5) What documents to prepare (evidence pack)

Think of your evidence in four boxes:

1. Identity & civil status

  • Passport(s), marriage or civil partnership certificate, divorce/annulment if relevant, children’s birth certificates if applying with dependants.

2.  Relationship proof (genuine and subsisting)

  • Cohabitation: joint tenancy/mortgage, council tax, joint bank statements, utility bills to the same address over time.
  • Communication and life together: travel bookings, photos over time with family/friends (label them), messages/logs are useful but don’t overload.
  • For unmarried partners: aim for 2 years of cohabitation documents spread across the period.

3. Financial requirement

  • Salaried: payslips, bank statements showing deposits, employer letter.
  • Self-employed: tax returns, accounts, bank statements (follow the Appendix FM-SE categories).
  • Savings: 6 months’ rule and the correct calculation (check the guidance if you intend to rely on savings).

4. English, TB, and other items

  • SELT confirmation (A1 → A2 → B1 at settlement), Life in the UK pass for ILR.
  • TB certificate (if applicable).
  • Any relevant refugee/humanitarian protection documents for the sponsor if that’s your base.

6) Costs you should plan for

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS):

  • £1,035 per year for most adult applicants; £776 per year for children under 18.
  • It’s charged upfront for the whole period (e.g., 2.5 years ≈ £2,587.50 for an adult).
  • Calculated in 6-month blocks; the system does the math for you.

Application fees & priority services:

Main official pages:


Fees do change. Use the fee calculator for your country/currency and the fees table for official rates and any Priority/Super Priority surcharges.

7) How long it usually takes

Typical headline figures are up to ~12 weeks from outside and around ~8 weeks inside the UK for standard partner cases that meet the rules. Priority options (fee-paid) can be faster where available. Always check the current pages above, as times vary by country and season. 

8) Step-by-step: applying from outside the UK (first spouse/partner visa)

  1. Check you meet the rules (relationship, financial, English, TB if required).
  2. Online application via the partner route; pay fees and IHS; book biometrics.
  3. Upload documents (or use a scanning service at the visa centre).
  4. Biometrics appointment (photo/fingerprints; hand in passport if required).
  5. Decision & vignette in passport; travel to the UK within the vignette window.
  6. Collect BRP or confirm digital status after arrival; start your 2 years 9 months clock.
  7. Keep evidence of living together (bills, statements) for your next FLR(M) extension.

9) Step-by-step: applying inside the UK (switch/extend on FLR(M))

1.Meet the rules i.e. relationship still genuine, A2 English for extension, financial at the correct level.

2. FLR(M) online application:  Upload documents and pay IHS + fee. 

3. Biometrics via UKVCAS; take originals to your appointment if asked.

4. Decision; if granted, you get 30 months more (2 years 6 months).

5. Repeat once more if you’re not at the 5-year point yet, or move to SET(M) when eligible.

10) Settlement (ILR) at 5 years — what changes

  • Time in the UK: 5 years on the 5-year partner route (there is a separate 10-year route for exceptional cases).
  • KoLL: pass the Life in the UK Test and meet B1 English (unless exempt).
  • Show you still live together and meet the residence rules for this route.
  • Apply online using SET(M).

11) Common questions (human answers)

Q1. We’re newly married. Is that a problem?

No. New marriages are fine. You still need to show the relationship is genuine and ongoing (photos over time, trips together, chats, plans, etc.). If your first grant is recent, that’s normal.

Q2. We don’t meet £29,000 with salary alone. What can we do?

You can sometimes combine categories (for example, salary + cash savings). The savings formula and the accepted documents are strict, so follow the financial requirement guidance on GOV.UK closely. 

Q3. What English test level do I need?

  • First grant: A1.
  • Extension FLR(M): A2.
  • ILR: B1 plus the Life in the UK Test. Use an approved test provider from the SELT list on GOV.UK.

Q4. Can we apply as unmarried partners?

Yes, if you can show 2+ years of cohabitation (documents in both names to the same address spread across that period). If you can’t, consider the fiancé(e) route to marry and then switch.

Q5. Can I work on a spouse/partner visa?

Yes. Work is allowed (except on the fiancé(e) visa). After you switch to the partner grant, you can work in almost any job.

Q6. How do priority and super priority work?

Some countries/UKVCAS centres offer Priority (fee-paid) for faster decisions if your case is straightforward and documents are complete. Check availability and prices in the fees pages.  Check GOV.UK for more information.

Q7. What happens if we can’t meet the rules exactly?

There is a longer 10-year partner route based on exceptional circumstances (for example, best interests of a British child, or very significant obstacles to family life outside the UK). This is complex—consider advice if you think this applies.

Q8. Do I need health insurance?

No private policy required. You pay the Immigration Health Surcharge which grants NHS access. Keep the IHS receipt and your BRP/digital status as proof. 

Q9. When can I apply for British citizenship?

After ILR, many partners can apply 12 months later (or immediately if married to a British citizen and residence rules are met). Check the nationality rules separately.

Q10. How many times can my British partner sponsor?

There’s no hard lifetime “cap” like some countries, but Home Office will look at immigration history and credibility. Previous sponsorships, short gaps between relationships, or adverse history will be scrutinised.

12) Simple “to-do” list you can copy (outside-UK first grant)

  • Scan passports, marriage/civil certificates, previous visas.
  • Build a relationship timeline with labelled photos and trips.
  • Collect cohabitation items (tenancy, bills, bank statements).
  • Choose how you’ll meet the financial requirement; gather payslips, bank statements, employer letter (or accounts/tax returns, or savings statements).
  • Book English test A1 (if needed) and TB (if required for your country).
  • Start your online partner application, pay fees and IHS, book biometrics.
  • Upload evidence in clear, labelled PDFs.
  • Keep records of submission, payment, and biometrics.
  • Wait for decision. When approved, travel before the vignette expires.

13) Key official links (only where it matters)

14) Friendly tips that genuinely help

  • Tell a clear story. Add a short cover letter: how you met, how you built a home together, what your plans are.
  • Use date-spread documents. A bundle with evidence every few months is stronger than 100 photos from one week.
  • Label PDFs sensibly (e.g., “Bills-Gas-Jan-Apr-2025.pdf”).
  • Don’t flood. Quality beats quantity.
  • Check names and dates match across passports, certificates, and forms.
  • If money is tight, explore combining income categories or relying on savings (the rules are technical—follow the GOV.UK guidance exactly).
  • Keep copies of everything you upload and submit.

15) Disclaimer (please read) 

This guide is for general information only. It is not legal advice. UK immigration rules, forms, fees, income thresholds, English-test levels, and processing times change. Before you apply, always confirm details on the official GOV.UK pages above, including the partner route page, the financial requirement page, the English requirement page, the IHS page, the FLR(M)/SET(M) online forms, the fees tables, and the processing times pages. If your case is complex (previous refusals, income fluctuations, long gaps in cohabitation, medical or criminal history, or rights-of-child issues), consider getting advice from a qualified UK immigration lawyer. Decisions you make based on this guide are your responsibility; rely on the official links for final, current requirements.

16) Important Official Links

  1. Family visas: apply, extend or switch: Apply as a partner
  2. Apply online (form FLR (M))
  3. Apply online (form SET(M))
  4. Marriage Visitor visa: Overview
  5. Family Visas: Apply, Extend or Switch
  6. Declaration for spouses, civil partners ... - Visas and immigration
  7. Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application
  8. Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 1 July 2025
  9. Visa processing times: applications outside the UK
  10. Indefinite leave to remain if you have family in the UK
  11. Appendix FM and Appendix HM Armed Forces


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