What we help with

Spouse visawho qualifies, the £29,000 financial requirement, English test, documents, fees and timescales, and what to do if refused.

Spouse visa, 10-year routeThe ten-year partner route for couples who cannot meet the £29,000 income or English requirement but whose removal would breach family life.

Spouse entry clearancethe process, documents, the £29,000 financial requirement, TB tests, about 12 weeks, and priority options..

Financial requirement£29,000 income, how savings count, which income sources are allowed, exemptions for disability benefits, falling short..

Fiancé visacome to the UK to marry a British or settled partner within six months, then switch to a spouse visa.

Proposed civil partner visacome to the UK to register a civil partnership with a British or settled partner within six months, then switch to a partner visa..

Civil partner visajoin or stay with a British or settled civil partner.

Unmarried partner visaUK unmarried partner visa for couples who have lived together for two years, or been in a committed relationship that long.

Same-sex partner visaSame-sex couples use the UK's spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner and fiancé routes on the same terms.

Parent of a British childstay in or come to the UK as the parent of a British, Irish or settled child, or a child with seven years here.

Child route, seven yearswho qualifies, the 'reasonableness' test, evidence and what it leads to..

Adult dependent relativethe care test, evidence and fees..

If your partner, child or parent is in the UK and you want to join them, or you are already here and want to stay with them, you apply under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. The route depends on your relationship, where you are applying from, and whether you meet the financial and English requirements.

Which route applies

Spouse visa: you are married to a British or Irish citizen or a person settled in the UK. Civil partners use the civil partner visa.
Unmarried partner visa: you have lived together in a relationship like a marriage for at least two years, or have been in a committed relationship for two years but could not live together for work, study or cultural reasons.
Fiancé visa or proposed civil partner visa: you will marry or register a civil partnership in the UK within six months of arriving, then switch to the partner route.
Parent of a British child: your child is British, Irish or settled, and you have sole or shared parental responsibility or direct access.
Child route, seven years: your child has lived in the UK for seven continuous years and it would not be reasonable to expect them to leave.
Adult dependent relative: you need long-term personal care that a relative in the UK can provide and that is not available or affordable where you live.
Ten-year route: for partners and parents who cannot meet the financial or English requirements but whose removal would breach the right to family life.

Same-sex couples use the same routes as everyone else; see same-sex partner visa for the evidence points that come up.

What every partner application must show

A genuine relationship that is continuing and that you intend to live together permanently in the UK.
The financial requirement: a combined income of at least £29,000 a year, or savings, or a combination. Details and exemptions are on our financial requirement page.
English: CEFR level A1 on the first application, A2 at extension and B1 at settlement, unless exempt.
Adequate accommodation without recourse to public funds.
Suitability: no immigration history or conduct that bars you.

How long it takes and what it leads to

The first grant is two years and nine months; the extension is two years and six months. After five years on the partner route you can apply for indefinite leave to remain as a partner, and then for British citizenship. Time on the ten-year route takes ten years to settlement.

Decisions usually take 12 weeks from outside the UK and 8 weeks from inside the UK where the requirements are met; applications relying on exceptional circumstances currently take about 12 months. Priority services are available for a fee.

Rules that are changing

The government has announced a higher English level, B2, for settlement applications made on or after 26 March 2027 on most routes, and has proposed a new "earned settlement" system with a ten-year baseline. As at 13 October 2026 earned settlement is a proposal, not a rule, and the stated intention is that family members of British citizens keep the five-year route. We check the position on the day we advise you.

What we do

We tell you which route fits and whether you meet it before you spend anything. We then prepare the application, build the evidence bundle to the standard Appendix FM-SE requires, deal with any Home Office questions, and if you are refused we advise on appeal or judicial review. One solicitor runs your case from start to finish.

Fees and costs

Home Office figures correct on 13 October 2026; they change, usually in April, and we confirm them when we advise you.

Application fee: £2,064 from outside the UK, £1,407 from inside the UK.
Immigration health surcharge: £1,035 a year for an adult, paid for the whole period of the visa.
Our fixed fee: £1,500 for a spouse, partner or fiancé visa application for one applicant. This is our professional fee; the Home Office fee and health surcharge are paid on top, and where VAT applies it is charged on our fee. For additional applicants, such as children, we assess the case and can arrange a fixed fee. See our fees.

Ask a question

If you are not sure which route applies, ask a solicitor and we will reply by phone or email. For an open discussion with other applicants, see ukspousevisa.co.uk, our separate site about partner visas.

Partner and family visas