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
- You have adequate UK accomodation
If you do not satisfy these 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
To sponsor a partner under the UK Spouse Visa route, the UK-based sponsor must meet a minimum income threshold. This requirement ensures that the couple can support themselves without needing to rely on public funds. In some circumstances, such as where the sponsor is receiving certain benefits, an exemption from the financial requirement may apply.
If you have children who are not British or Irish citizens, do not hold pre-settled status, or are not permanently settled in the UK, you will need to meet a higher income threshold to show that you can support them as well.
Applicants can meet the financial requirement using:
- Employment or self-employment income
- Income from company directorships or pensions
- Dividends, rental income, or other acceptable sources of funds
You will need to provide supporting documents, such as:
- Payslips
- Bank statements
- A letter from your employer confirming details of your job (e.g. salary, job title, type of contract, and duration of current earnings)
UK spouse visa requirements – fees
When applying for a UK Spouse Visa, you must pay an application fee. The amount varies depending on whether you apply from within or outside the UK.
In addition to the visa fee, there is also a mandatory healthcare surcharge, which covers access to the National Health Service (NHS) for the duration of your visa.
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 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.
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.
