A UK spouse visa lets a non-British partner live and work in the UK with their British or settled spouse. The route covers married couples, civil partners, and unmarried partners who have lived together for at least two years, as well as fiancé(e) visa applicants who plan to marry within six months of arrival. Adam Bernard Solicitors’ London immigration team prepares and submits UK spouse visa applications, compiles relationship evidence, and represents clients where an application has been refused.
Call 0207 100 2525 for immediate help with your UK spouse visa application, or book a free video consultation via Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp or Skype.
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What Is the UK Spouse Visa?
The UK spouse visa (sometimes called the partner visa) sits under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. It’s the route a British citizen or settled person uses to bring their foreign spouse, civil partner, or long-term unmarried partner to live in the UK. It’s granted for an initial 2 years and 9 months, with a further extension of 2 years and 6 months before a spouse can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).
Who Can Apply for a UK Spouse or Partner Visa?
You can apply for a UK spouse visa if you are:
- Married to a British citizen or settled person
- In a civil partnership with a British citizen or settled person
- An unmarried partner who has lived together with your partner for at least two years
- Engaged to be married (fiancé/fiancée route — marriage or civil partnership must take place within 6 months of arrival)
Who Can Sponsor a UK Spouse Visa Application?
The sponsoring partner must be aged 18 or over and hold one of the following:
- British citizenship
- Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
- Settled or pre-settled EU status
- Refugee or humanitarian protection status
- A Turkish Worker or Businessperson visa
Financial Requirement for a UK Spouse Visa in 2026
Applications submitted from 11 April 2024 onward must meet a minimum income threshold of £29,000 per year. This can be met through:
- The sponsor’s employment or self-employment income
- Savings of £88,500 or more, held for at least 6 months (or a combination of savings and income)
Sponsors receiving certain benefits — including carer’s allowance or disability payments — may be exempt from the income requirement. Our solicitors assess which route applies to your circumstances before you apply, to avoid a refusal on financial grounds.
Proving Your Relationship Is Genuine
Every UK spouse visa application must be supported by evidence that the relationship is genuine and ongoing. Caseworkers look for:
- Photographs together over time
- Shared travel history
- Joint tenancy agreements or bank accounts
- Correspondence, call logs, and messages
- Supporting letters from family and friends
Weak or thin relationship evidence is one of the most common reasons a UK spouse visa is refused. Our team builds evidence bundles designed to withstand scrutiny.
English Language Requirements
Applicants must meet:
- CEFR A1 for the initial spouse visa application
- CEFR A2 for extension applications
- CEFR B1 for indefinite leave to remain
You may be exempt if you hold a UK degree, a degree taught in English (ENIC-confirmed), are aged 65 or over, or have a long-term medical condition that prevents you from meeting the requirement.
How Long Does a UK Spouse Visa Take to Process?
- Outside the UK: around 12 weeks
- Inside the UK: around 8 weeks
- Priority service: 5–10 working days, where available
What Happens If Your UK Spouse Visa Is Refused?
Refusals are commonly due to insufficient relationship evidence, a financial shortfall, inadequate accommodation, English language requirements not being met, or credibility concerns raised by the caseworker. Depending on the refusal reason, your options include:
- An appeal
- A fresh application
- An administrative review
- Judicial review
Adam Bernard Solicitors reviews refusal letters, identifies the specific errors or gaps, and advises the strongest route back to a successful application.
After the Spouse Visa: Settlement and Indefinite Leave to Remain
Once you’ve held a UK spouse visa for the qualifying period, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain as a settled spouse, and — after a further 12 months — for British citizenship. Our immigration solicitors advise on the full route from spouse visa through to settlement and naturalisation, so applications are prepared consistently at every stage.
Why Choose Adam Bernard Solicitors for Your UK Spouse Visa?
- Expertise across spouse and partner visas, ILR, and settlement (SET(P))
- Full application preparation — forms, documents, and submission
- Legal support for refusals, appeals, and judicial review
- Advice tailored to cultural and personal circumstances
- Multilingual consultations in person, by Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp, or Skype
- Transparent fees and a high approval success rate
Call 0207 100 2525, available 24/7, for a free consultation.
For the official government position on eligibility and evidence requirements, see GOV.UK’s spouse visa guidance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A UK Spouse or Partner Visa allows non-British partners to live and work in the UK with their settled or British spouse/partner. Eligible applicants include married couples, civil partners, or unmarried partners living together for at least two years. Fiancé/fiancée visas are also available, but marriage or civil partnership must occur within six months of arrival.
Sponsors must be 18 or over and be:
A British citizen
Holder of Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
Settled or pre-settled EU status
Refugee or humanitarian protection
Turkish Worker or Businessperson visa holder
You must prove your relationship is genuine and ongoing. Evidence includes:
Photos together
Travel history
Joint tenancy or bank accounts
WhatsApp/call logs
Letters from family/friends
Our London spouse visa solicitors can help compile strong relationship evidence bundles.
The minimum income threshold for new applications from 11 April 2024 is £29,000 per year. Sponsors can meet this through:
Employment or self-employment income
Savings held for 6+ months
Exemptions apply if the sponsor receives benefits like carer’s allowance or disability payments.
Applicants must meet CEFR A1 for initial applications, A2 for visa extensions, and B1 for ILR/settlement. Exemptions may apply if you:
Hold a UK degree
Hold a degree taught in English (ENIC confirmed)
Are 65+
Have a long-term medical condition
Standard processing:
Outside UK: 12 weeks
Inside UK: 8 weeks
Priority service: 5–10 working days
Refusals can occur due to missing relationship evidence, financial shortfalls, inadequate housing, English requirements, or credibility concerns. Options include:
Appeal
Fresh application
Administrative review
Judicial review
Our Adam Bernard Solicitors team reviews refusals, identifies errors, and advises the best strategy to maximise success.
Clients choose Adam Bernard Solicitors because we offer:
Expertise in spouse and partner visas, ILR, and SET(P)
Full application preparation including forms, documents, and submissions
Legal support for refusals, appeals, and ILR settlement
Tailored advice respecting cultural and personal circumstances
Multilingual, accessible consultations via in-person, Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp, or Skype
Transparent fees with high approval success rates
Call us 24/7 on 0207 100 2525 for expert advice and a free consultation.
