What is the requirement for a UK Spouse visa?  If you are married to a British or Irish citizen, you can apply for a spouse visa to live with them in the UK. The visa lasts for up to two years and six months and it is also possible to extend the visa if you wish.

You will need to satisfy a range of requirements and provide sufficient evidence with your visa application to prove that you are eligible. At Halliday Reeves, our immigration experts regularly secure UK spouse visas for our clients. We can put together the strongest possible application on your behalf and check that all the necessary documents that UK Visas and Immigration will need are included.

To speak to one of our expert immigration lawyers about obtaining a spouse visa, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

What is the requirement for spouse visa at UK?

The first requirements apply to your spouse, who should be:

• British or Irish or have indefinite leave to remain, refugee status or humanitarian protection or be from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and hold pre-settled status, meaning they were living in the UK prior to 1 January 2021
• Aged 18 or over
• In a legal marriage with you that is recognised under UK law

The requirements that you will need to satisfy are that you have:

• An acceptable standard of English
• You can support yourself and your dependants financially

If you do not satisfy these two criteria, then you may still be eligible for a spouse visa if:

• You have a child who is British or Irish or who has lived in the UK for seven years or more and it would not be reasonable to require them to leave the UK
• Your human rights would be breached if you were not granted a visa

Proving you meet the requirements for a spouse visa

UK spouse visa requirements mean that you must provide evidence with your application showing that you satisfy all of the necessary criteria.

UK spouse visa language requirement

You will usually have to prove that your knowledge of the English language meets a certain standard, except in some situations such as if you are over 65 or if you are from certain English-speaking countries or you hold a degree that was taught in English.

Proof is generally provided by taking and passing an approved English language test.

UK spouse visa financial requirement

You and your spouse must have a combined income of £18,600 or more per year.

If you have children who are not British or Irish citizens or do not have pre-settled status or who are not permanently settled in the UK you will also have to show that you have additional income to support them. This is an extra £3,800 for your first child and £2,400 for the next and any subsequent children.

You may be able to use savings if you hold more than £16,000. You can also use income from self-employment or from a company directorship, money from your pension and income from other sources such as share dividends or rental property.

You will need to provide evidence such as payslips, bank statements and a letter from your employer confirming full details of your job, to include your income, job title, contract type and how long you have earned your current salary.

UK spouse visa requirements – fees

You are required to pay a spouse visa application fee. This is £1,523 if you are applying from outside of the UK and £1,052 if you are applying from within the UK.

In addition, you are required to pay the healthcare surcharge. This is generally £624 for each year that your visa lasts.

Other UK spouse visa requirements

You are also required to provide full information in support of your application, including your passport or other valid travel identity document, a copy of your biometric residence permit if you hold one, tuberculosis test results if you are from an affected country and a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.

Contact our expert spouse visa lawyers

At Halliday Reeves we specialise solely in immigration, meaning we have an exceptional depth of understanding and expertise in this complex area of law.

We offer a free 15-minute enquiry service to discuss the requirement for a UK spouse visa with you and ensure that this is the best immigration option for your circumstances.

We have offices in Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Wakefield and Nottingham. To speak to one of our expert immigration lawyers about obtaining a spouse visa, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

What is a spouse visa UK? A UK spouse visa or UK marriage visa gives an individual permission to come to the UK to live with their spouse, fiancé or partner for more than six months. The spouse, fiancé or partner should be a British or Irish citizen or have settled status.

Overseas citizens who wish to join their husband or wife in the UK will need a valid visa if they wish to stay for longer than six months. This is a visa that will give you the right to work or study in the UK.

To speak to one of our expert immigration lawyers, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

Understanding The UK Spouse Visa

The UK spouse visa is intended to allow couples to live together where they are in a long-term relationship, including marriage or civil partnership.
As well as being available to a spouse of a British or Irish citizen or someone with settled status in the UK, a spouse may also be able to apply to join a partner who has refugee status in the UK or humanitarian protection in the UK.

What Is Spouse Visa UK?

A spouse visa UK allows you to stay in the country for two years and six months, provided you are already married. If you are applying as a fiancé or fiancée or proposed civil partner, then you will be allowed to stay for six months so that you can marry or enter into a civil partnership. You can then apply to extend your stay.

Those holding a spouse visa as a married person or civil partner can apply for a visa to extend their stay before their existing visa expires. Up to 28 days from the old visa can be carried forward to the new visa.

Can I Switch To A Spouse Visa?

Depending on circumstances, you may be able to switch to a spouse visa from another type of visa, provided that your partner is not in the UK on a temporary work or student visa. If they are, you may still be able to stay with them, but you should apply as their dependant.

If you have an existing visa for six months as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner or you have been given permission to stay in the UK to await the outcome of a family court case or a divorce, you can apply to switch to a spouse visa from within the UK.

For other applications, you will need to apply from outside of the UK. This means that if you are in the UK as a visitor or you hold a visa that is valid for no more than six months, you will need to leave the UK and apply to switch to a spouse visa from overseas. The application should be made online.

If your application to switch to a spouse visa is successful, you will be able to stay for two years and six months.

Securing a UK Spouse Visa

The spouse visa application process can be complicated and it is important to ensure that the forms are correctly completed and that you have all of the necessary documents in support. It is often necessary to provide a wide range of evidence along with your spouse visa application.

Our team has extensive experience in making successful spouse visa applications. If you ask us to represent you, we can ensure that you have the correct documents in support and that your application is as strong as possible.

Contact Our Expert Spouse Visa Lawyers

At Halliday Reeves we specialise solely in immigration, meaning we have an exceptional depth of understanding and expertise in this complex area of law.

We offer a free 15-minute enquiry service to discuss your requirements and to ensure you have chosen the best immigration route for your situation.

We have offices in Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Wakefield and Nottingham. To speak to one of our expert immigration lawyers about obtaining a spouse visa, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

If you are living in the UK with your husband or wife, you may wish to renew your UK spouse visa to stay longer. Your original spouse visa will generally be valid for two years and six months. You should apply to extend your stay before your spouse visa expires.

If your spouse or partner is a British or Irish citizen or has settled status in the UK and you live with them under a spouse visa, you can apply to extend this if you wish to stay longer than the initial term.

If your application to extend your spouse visa is granted, you will be given a further two years and six months.

To speak to one of our expert immigration lawyers, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

How To Renew Spouse Visa UK

The requirements for a spouse visa renewal or extension are strict. You will need to prove that your relation is genuine and subsisting and that it is a legally recognised marriage or civil partnership.

In renewing a UK spouse visa, you will also have to provide evidence that you have been living with your husband or wife or civil partner during the time you have spent in the UK so far. In addition, you will need to confirm that you intend to continue to do so.

Financial requirements for renewing UK spouse visa

You will need to show that you and your spouse meet the minimum income requirement of £18,600 per year. If you have children who are not British or Irish citizens or do not otherwise have settled status in the UK, you will also have to show that you have sufficient income to cover their expenses. This is £3,800 for the first child and £2,400 for the second and any subsequent children.

Income that can be used towards the required total includes:

• Income from your UK job as shown on your payslips or P60
• UK self-employment income, as accounted for on your Self Assessment tax return
• Money from a pension
• Income from other sources such as property rental income or share dividend income

It is possible to use cash savings in excess of £16,000 as part of this financial requirement, provided that you can demonstrate where the money came from and it is from an acceptable source.
You can use a combination of income sources to meet the necessary minimum amount.

To prove your income is at the required level, you will need to provide documentary evidence, such as:

• Payslips for the previous six months
• Bank statements
• A letter from your employer (or your spouse’s employer) confirming:
  • That you (or your spouse) work for them
  • Job title or position held
  • Length of employment
  • Whether the employment contract is permanent or fixed term
  • The amount you (or your partner) earn before deductions and for how long you have earned this
  • Confirmation that the payslips you are providing are genuine

English Language Requirement For Spouse Visa Renewal

You will also need to show that you meet the minimum standard in the English language. This can be done by taking an approved English language test, which will check that you can both speak and understand English sufficiently.

Character Requirement To Renew Spouse Visa

The visa authorities will check whether there are any grounds to reject your spouse visa extension request, such as a breach of your immigration and visa conditions or a criminal conviction.

Making A Spouse Visa Renewal Application

Applying to renew or extend a UK spouse visa is not always straightforward. The UK Visas and Immigration authorities need to see a full range of supporting evidence and if some information is left out by mistake, your application will be rejected.

We can put together a strong application on your behalf and ensure that you have the best possible chance of success.

Contact Our Expert Spouse Visa Lawyers

At Halliday Reeves we specialise solely in immigration, meaning we have an exceptional depth of understanding and expertise in this complex area of law.

We offer a free 15-minute enquiry service to discuss how to extend spouse visa in UK and ensure that this is the best immigration option for your circumstances.

We have offices in Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Wakefield and Nottingham. To speak to one of our expert immigration lawyers, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

If you are married to a UK citizen or someone with leave to remain in the UK, you may be eligible for a spouse visa, allowing you to spend up to two years and six months in the UK with your husband or wife. We answer the question, ‘how much does a UK spouse visa cost?’

There are a number of charges involved with obtaining a UK visa. The level of some fees depends on whether you will be applying for the visa from outside or inside the UK and the speed of response that you would like.

To speak to one of our expert immigration lawyers, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

How Much A Is Spouse Visa UK?

The application fee depends on where you are applying. For those applying from outside of the UK, the cost is £1,523. If you will be applying from within the UK, the cost is £1,052.
Please be advised the fee when applying from outside the UK may vary as the fee is converted to the local currency rate of the Country and may be higher or lower depending on the conversion rates at the time

The Healthcare Surcharge

As well as paying the UK spouse visa application fee, you will also need to pay a healthcare surcharge of £624 per year. This means that the healthcare surcharge for up to three years is £1,560. It is important to ensure that this is paid in full as part of your application. If it is not, you will receive an email prompting you to pay within ten working days if you are in the UK or within seven working days if you are outside of the UK. If you miss this deadline, your visa application will be turned down.

Please be advised the fee when applying from outside the UK may vary as the fee is converted to the local currency rate of the Country and may be higher or lower depending on the conversion rates at the time

Biometric Residence Permit Fee

Providing your biometric information to accompany your visa application can be done from a visa application centre either within the UK or outside of the UK. You will have a digital photo taken of your face and provide your fingerprints. The cost at a UK centre is usually £125-150, this is dependant upon which visa centre the appointment is made in at the time of submission. If you apply from outside of the UK, the cost will be included in your application fee.

Fee For A Faster Decision

If you apply for a spouse visa from outside of the UK, the authorities will aim to provide you with a decision within twelve weeks. If you apply from within the UK, you should receive a decision within eight weeks.

If you need a faster decision, you can apply for a priority service. This will cost an additional £500 and you should receive a decision within five working days from the date of your appointment at a UK Visa and Citizen Application Services appointment centre or, if you use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app, from the working day after you have uploaded all of the required documents.

You may be able to ask for a super priority service, which will mean you have a decision by the end of the following working day. This is not available if you are using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app. The super priority service costs an extra £800.

Please be advised the priority services are not always available and we will be able to advise at the time if this service is available

Our UK Spouse Visa Application Service

Obtaining a spouse visa is not always straightforward and it can require a substantial amount of accompanying paperwork by way of supporting evidence. Our immigration team can put together a spouse visa application on your behalf, using their extensive understanding of the requirements to ensure that you have the best possible chance of success.

We can also talk through the financial element of your application, to include the minimum income requirement that you will need and how you will need to prove this.
For more information, see How to apply for a spouse visa.

Contact Us

At Halliday Reeves we specialise in immigration, meaning we have in-depth understanding and experience of this complex area of law. If you are seeking a spouse visa and you have any questions, such as how much does a spouse visa cost UK, please feel free to give us a call.

We offer a free 15-minute enquiry service to discuss your requirements, issues such as how much is a spouse visa UK and to ensure you have chosen the best immigration options for your circumstances.

We have offices in Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Wakefield and Nottingham. To speak to one of our expert immigration lawyers, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

The UK Spouse visa permits the partner of a British citizen or of someone with indefinite leave to remain in the country to live with their spouse in the UK.

We take a look at how to apply for a spouse visa and what documents you will need to send with your application.

To speak to one of our expert immigration lawyers, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

Requirements For A UK Spouse Visa

To apply for a spousal visa, you need to be married to or in a civil partnership with a British or Irish citizen or someone with indefinite leave to remain or settled status in the UK, a UK refugee or someone with humanitarian protection in the UK.

You will need to be able to prove the following to UK Visas and Immigration:

• That your relationship is genuine
• You intend to live permanently together
• You can support yourself financially, which means you and your spouse have a combined income of at least £18,600 a year. Additional income is needed if you will be bringing your children with you, in the sum of £3,800 for your first child and £2,400 each for any subsequent children. Alternatively, if you have savings, they may be sufficient to satisfy the financial requirements.
• You may be exempt from showing financial support and will only be required to provide proof of adequate maintenance if you are in receipt of a qualifying benefit
• Your knowledge of the English language is at the required level

How To Apply For Spouse Visa UK

Application for a UK spouse visa needs to be made online and you will need to pay the application fee.

In submitting your application for a UK spouse visa, you will need to provide proof of your eligibility by including the right documents in support.
This will generally include the following:

• Marriage certificate showing you are in a marriage that is recognised in the UK or a civil partnership certificate
• Photos and other evidence of any Ceremony
• Evidence of contact eg social media, plane tickets, cards etc
• Bank statements showing the necessary level of income for you and your spouse
• Financial documents to satisfy the financial requirements
• Evidence that you have the necessary level of English, which could either be:
  • By providing a copy of a degree from a UK university or a degree taught in English from an overseas university together with a certificate from Ecctis confirming your degree is of the required level and that it was taught in English; or
  • By passing an approved English language test

You will also need to provide the following information and evidence needed for a UK visa application:

• Your full name and date of birth
• Your current passport or other valid travel identity document
• A copy of the photo page and visa stamps in any expired passports
• Biometric identity details
• Details of any previous immigration applications you have made
• Details of any criminal convictions
• Your national insurance number, if you have one
• Your parents’ dates of birth and nationality, if you are applying from outside of the UK
• Tuberculosis test results if you are from a country where this is required
• Certified translations of any documents that are not in English or Welsh

Your passport should have a blank page available for the visa to be added.

Making a spousal visa application is not always straightforward and applications are often rejected if the right documentary evidence is not included.

Our team of experts will:

• Assess your eligibility
• Go through the documents you have available and ensure that you provide the right supporting paperwork to give you the best possible chance of success.
• Prepare any Statements required
• Obtain translations of supporting documents
• Liaise with the Home Office during your application
• Accurately complete your application
• Prepare a detailed Letter of Representation to support your application

Contact Us

At Halliday Reeves we specialise solely in immigration, meaning we have in-depth knowledge and experience of this complex area of law. If you have any questions about how to apply for spouse visa in UK, please give us a call. We offer a free 15-minute enquiry service to discuss your needs and advise you on the best immigration options for your circumstances.

We have offices in Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Leeds, Wakefield and Nottingham. To speak to one of our expert immigration lawyers, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.