UK Spouse Visa Requirements 2025

The Home Office is increasingly updating its rules on visa requirements for entry clearance to the UK and extensions, and therefore, it is increasingly important that eligible applicants ensure they are up-to-date with the requirements and the developments.

For the Spouse Visa requirements, there has been little change to the overall process, however, there are important points to note which will aid when uploading evidence in support of your application. In this guide, the Immigration Team at Richard Nelson LLP, together with Rita Kotecha, will walk you through the essential steps and provide clarity on the key documents needed to ensure a smooth application process.

If you’re interested in a particular section, use the links below to navigate straight to it:

• What is a UK Spouse Visa?
• Who can apply for a UK Spouse Visa?
• UK Spouse Visa requirements 2025
• UK Spouse Visa required documents checklist
• How to apply for a UK Spouse Visa
• UK Spouse Visa fee/cost in 2025
• UK Spouse Visa processing time
• How long does a UK Spouse Visa last?
• What happens if my Spouse Visa application is refused?
• What if the relationship ends after the visa is granted?
• Switching to a Spouse Visa in the UK
• How we can help

Need help with a UK Spouse Visa application? Contact our Spouse Visa solicitors today for expert guidance and support to navigate the process successfully.

What is a UK Spouse Visa?

A UK Spouse Visa enables an eligible foreign national to join and live with their partner in the UK if they are a British citizen or settled person (e.g. a person with Indefinite Leave to Remain or EU Settled Status).

Marriage to a British citizen does not automatically grant the right to live in the UK. To reside in the UK with your partner, you must apply for a Spouse Visa. Eligible applicants can be married, in a civil partnership, or unmarried, provided they meet the specific eligibility criteria outlined below.

Who can apply for a UK Spouse Visa?

As a foreign national, you can apply for a UK partner and Spouse Visa as long as you are both 18 and over. Your partner must also either:

• Be a British or Irish citizen (either by birth or naturalisation)
• Have settled in the UK and has Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), permanent residence, or EU Settled Status
• be from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and have pre-settled status – they must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021
• Have refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK
• Have a Turkish Businessperson visa or a Turkish Worker visa
• have permission to stay as a stateless person

You must intend to live together in the UK after you move here (if you’re not here already), and you will also need to provide evidence of your genuine and subsisting relationship.

UK Spouse Visa requirements 2025

To successfully apply for a UK Spouse Visa, several essential requirements exist. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of each aspect, featuring the latest information for making a Spouse Visa application in 2025.

Genuine relationship requirements

You will need to show that you are in an eligible relationship, either by being in a marriage or civil partnership legally recognised in the UK, having been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years, or planning to get married within 6 months of arriving in the UK.

The Home Office is aware of the potential for “sham” marriages, which could be used for false visa applications. As a result, you will need to provide detailed evidence to demonstrate that your relationship is genuine and subsisting. This is crucial to your application and must be presented clearly.

Financial requirements

Since April 2024, significant changes have been made to the financial requirements for a UK Spouse Visa. The minimum income threshold has increased from £18,600 to £29,000 per year for new applicants.

Unlike before, there is no longer an additional income requirement if you have dependent children. However, if your sponsoring partner receives certain state benefits, you may be exempt from the standard threshold and will instead need to show that they can ‘adequately maintain and accommodate’ you.

You must meet the financial requirement at every stage of the visa process, when applying for entry, when extending your visa, and when applying for indefinite leave to remain. If you applied before April 2024 and are now applying to extend your visa, the previous threshold of £18,600 still applies.

There may be future increases or changes to the financial requirement. A proposal to raise the threshold further in 2025 is currently paused, but you should review the latest guidance carefully when submitting your application, in case any updates have been implemented.

English language requirements 

As a Spouse Visa applicant, you will need to show that you have sufficient knowledge of the English language. This can be done in one of three ways:

• Passing an English Language test at a minimum of level A1 in speaking and writing. If you’re applying for an extension, you’ll need to pass at least level A2 to show continuing improvement.
• Having a degree or academic qualification that was taught in English. However, you must check that your qualification is accepted by the Home Office.

However, there are exemptions to this rule. For example, if you are over the age of 65, come from a country recognised as predominantly English-speaking by the Home Office, or if the applicant has a physical or mental condition that prevents them from meeting the requirements. These exemptions are subject to review and confirmation by the Home Office.

Accommodation requirements

You must also show that you have suitable accommodation to live in when you arrive in the UK. The accommodation must be owned or occupied exclusively by you and your family, have sufficient living space to avoid overcrowding, and meet public health requirements.

Typically, the best way to prove where you will be living is by providing an accommodation declaration, along with a tenancy or mortgage agreement. If you own the house, you should also include the register of title.

UK Spouse Visa required documents checklist

One of the most common reasons for a UK Spouse Visa refusal is insufficient documentary evidence. The Immigration Rules set strict requirements for the documents applicants must submit, and every case is unique, meaning the exact documents needed will vary depending on individual circumstances.

When applying for a UK Spouse Visa, you’ll typically need to provide:

• Completed application form and payment of the application fee
• Valid passport
• Previous passports, if applicable
• Evidence of a genuine and ongoing relationship (e.g., shared bills, photos, messages, or correspondence)
• Proof of meeting the English language requirement (e.g., CEFR exam certificate)
• Two passport-sized colour photos that meet UK specifications
• Evidence of meeting financial requirements (e.g., bank statements, pay slips, savings records)
• Information about any previous immigration applications, if applicable
• Details of any criminal convictions
• Your National Insurance number (if applicable)
• Proof of accommodation in the UK
• Biometric data (fingerprints and a digital photograph)
• Tuberculosis test results, if required, from your home country

While document checklists can be useful, relying on generic lists may not account for your specific situation. Missing, incorrect, or improperly translated documents can lead to delays or even visa refusal. To avoid these issues, seeking guidance from an immigration solicitor can help ensure you submit the correct documents in the proper format and that your application meets UKVI’s strict requirements.

How to apply for a UK Spouse Visa

The application process for a UK partner and Spouse Visa is completed online (on the Home Office website). The application steps are as follows:

1. Check your eligibility for a partner and Spouse Visa
2. Prepare the documents you will need to prove your eligibility
3. Complete the online Spouse Visa application form
4. Pay the application fee (see below)
5. Upload any documents required to support your application
6. Arrange a biometric appointment to have your fingerprints and photo taken
7. Attend an interview if invited.

UK Spouse Visa fees/cost in 2025

The UK Spouse Visa fee as of 9 April 2025 is £1,938 if applying from outside the UK and £1,321 if applying from within the UK.

These fees cover the standard Home Office fee required to process your application.

If you are applying with dependent children, the fee is charged per applicant. 

Additionally, you will need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) unless already done so.

UK Spouse Visa processing time

It currently takes 12 weeks for a standard entry clearance Spouse Visa to receive a decision. However, if you are applying from inside the UK, it will take around 8 weeks to receive a decision. However, if the Home Office needs to raise any further queries or request additional information, processing times may be longer.

How long does a UK Spouse Visa last?

If your UK Spouse Visa application is successful, your visa will initially be granted for 33 months. If you are applying as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner, you can stay in the UK for 6 months.

Before your initial visa expires, you will need to apply for an extension. If approved, the extension will be valid for another 30 months. After spending 5 years in the UK as a spouse, you will be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), which grants permanent residency.

UK Spouse Visa to ILR

Once you have resided in the UK for 5 years on your partner and Spouse Visa, you will be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). This will mean you can remain permanently in the UK and will no longer be subject to immigration control. To gain ILR, you will need to:

• Have lived in the UK for 5 years on a family visa as a partner
• Have lived with your partner since you last renewed your visa
• Be in a genuine and subsisting relationship with your partner
• Intend to continue your relationship after you apply for ILR
• Meet the English language and Life in the UK requirements
• Prove you have suitable accommodation
• Continue to meet the financial requirements

If you make an application for indefinite leave to remain as a spouse but do not satisfy the above requirements, UK Visas and Immigration will go on to consider if you meet the requirements for a further extension of stay as a spouse.

What happens if my Spouse Visa application is refused?

If your Spouse Visa is refused, your next steps will depend on the reasons for the refusal and your individual circumstances. It is highly recommended to seek advice from an experienced UK visa solicitor, even though this is not mandatory. A solicitor can assess your case thoroughly, guide you through the appeal process, and handle the pressure of responding to the Home Office.

In some cases, your solicitor may suggest:

• Submitting a new application: If errors were made or additional supporting evidence is required, a new application can be submitted.
• Appealing the decision: If appealing, you’ll need to robustly challenge the refusal and provide sufficient evidence to prove your eligibility.

Why your UK Spouse Visa might be refused

A Spouse Visa application can be refused for several reasons, including:

• The Home Office determines that your exclusion from the UK is in the public interest.
• You are subject to a deportation order at the time of application.
• Your conduct, character, or associations have led to a decision that your presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good.
• You failed to attend a required interview, provide requested information, undergo a medical examination, or report when asked, without a reasonable excuse.
• Your application is deemed undesirable on medical grounds.
• The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) or other mandatory fees were not paid or processed successfully.
• You have not provided sufficient evidence of financial support and accommodation.

What if the relationship ends after the visa is granted?

While this guide focuses on helping you apply for a UK spouse visa, it’s understandable that some people may question what happens if the relationship breaks down later on. A spouse visa is granted on the basis of a genuine and ongoing relationship, so separation or divorce can affect your immigration status, especially if you’re still within the initial 30-33-month period.

If you’re concerned about this, it’s worth understanding your rights and obligations early on. In many cases, you must inform the Home Office, and your right to remain in the UK may depend on factors like whether you have children or are eligible for another visa route.

For a full explanation, read our article on what happens to a spouse visa after separation or divorce, where we cover what to expect, how to stay compliant, and what support might be available.

Switching to a Spouse Visa in the UK 

If you are in the UK on a different visa and want to switch to a Spouse Visa, there are specific rules and restrictions you need to be aware of.

You cannot switch to a Spouse Visa if your partner is in the UK on a temporary work or student visa. In this case, they do not have the necessary immigration status for you to qualify. Instead, you would need to apply for a dependent visa to stay in the UK as their dependent until they obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

Similarly, you cannot switch to a Spouse Visa if you are in the UK on a visit visa, or have permission to stay for six months or less, except in limited cases. In most cases, you will need to leave the UK and apply for a Spouse Visa from outside the country through an entry clearance application.

However, there are exceptions – you may be able to apply from within the UK if you are here as a fiancé(e) or if you were granted leave pending the outcome of family court or divorce proceedings.

How we can help

Our Spouse Visa solicitors are well-versed in working with couples and individuals both in the UK and abroad who wish to settle here permanently. We provide expert guidance to ensure you meet all requirements and avoid common pitfalls.

A successful Spouse Visa application requires key documents to prove your relationship is genuine. Our specialist team will advise you on exactly what’s needed and where to obtain them, giving your application the greatest chance of success. If your partner qualifies for a different visa, such as a work or student visa, we can guide you through alternative options.

Should your application be unfairly rejected by the Home Office, our solicitors can support you through the appeal process at the Immigration Tribunal. Get in touch today to discuss your situation and take the next step towards securing your Spouse Visa.