The UK partner route lets a British or settled person bring a wife or husband to live with them in the United Kingdom. As the partner already in the UK, you are the sponsor, and much of the application rests on your circumstances rather than your partner's. You will...
Spouse Visa Guides and Insights
The UK Spouse Visa lets the husband, wife or civil partner of a British or settled person live in the UK, on a five-year route to settlement, subject to a financial requirement of £29,000 a year (as of July 2026). These guides cover the financial and relationship requirements, accommodation, switching, extensions and the route to settlement. Start with the guides, or browse the full list of insights below.
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Complete guide
UK Spouse Visa: requirements, costs & how to apply
The full guide to the route, from eligibility to settlement.
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The money rule
Financial requirement: £29,000 explained
The central requirement and the ways it can be met.
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Timelines
UK Spouse Visa processing time
How long a decision takes, in and out of country.
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All Spouse Visa guides
How Much Does a UK Spouse Visa Cost in Total? (2026)
A UK Spouse Visa applied for from outside the UK costs £5,169 in Home Office charges up front, made up of a £2,064 application fee and a £3,105 Immigration Health Surcharge (as of June 2026). The total is lower for an application made inside the UK, and smaller costs...
Are WhatsApp chats enough for my spouse visa application?
A long WhatsApp history feels like strong proof of a relationship, but it is only one part of what a UK Spouse Visa application must show. The relationship between an applicant and their partner must be genuine and subsisting under the Immigration Rules and that is...
UK Spouse Visa cash savings declaration format
A UK Spouse Visa application that relies on savings must include a signed declaration of where those savings came from. The declaration is a short letter from the account holder, required by Appendix FM-SE alongside six months of bank statements. An application that...
Which financial requirement route is right for your UK Partner Visa?
The financial requirement is the most common ground on which a UK Partner Visa application is refused. It sets a minimum level of income or savings that a couple must show under Appendix FM, and it can be met in more than one way. The right way depends on where the...
Bringing your children on a spouse or partner visa
A child can come to the UK as the dependant of a parent who is applying for, or already holds, a spouse or partner visa. The child applies under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules, and must meet rules on age, parental responsibility, finances and accommodation. An...
Property rental income and the partner visa financial requirement
A couple who own a rental property can often use the rent toward the partner visa financial requirement. Rental income is assessed under Category C of Appendix FM-SE, the non-employment income category, and it follows specific conditions on ownership, timing and...
How long does it take to get a UK Fiancé Visa?
A couple planning to marry in the UK often need to know how long the Fiancé Visa will take before they can set a date. The Fiancé Visa is an entry clearance application made from outside the UK, and the Home Office decides it against a published service standard. A...
Can you work in the UK on a fiancé visa?
A fiancé visa lets a person enter the UK to marry, not to take a job. The route is granted for a short period so the couple can marry or form a civil partnership, after which the applicant switches to the partner route. Employment is not permitted during the fiancé...
What are the requirements for a UK dependant visa?
A dependant visa lets the partner or child of a main visa holder live in the UK alongside them. The requirements are not the same for every route, because a dependant of a work visa holder is assessed differently from a child joining the family route. What stays...
Common questions about the Spouse Visa route
How long is a UK Spouse Visa granted for?
A Spouse Visa granted on an application made from outside the UK lasts 33 months, or 30 months where the application is made inside the UK. It is then extended for a further period before the holder becomes eligible to apply for settlement after five years.
Can a Spouse Visa holder work in the UK?
Yes. A Spouse Visa carries no restriction on employment, and the holder may work for an employer, be self-employed, or study. There is no minimum salary the visa holder must earn, since the financial requirement is assessed on the sponsor and the couple's combined position.
What is the minimum income for a Spouse Visa?
The minimum income requirement is £29,000 a year (as of July 2026). It can be met through the sponsor's employment or self-employment income, certain non-employment income, pension income, qualifying cash savings, or a combination of these.
How Whytecroft Ford can help
The Spouse Visa financial requirement and the relationship evidence are where most of the work sits, and a shortfall in either is a common reason applications are returned. The Whytecroft Ford immigration team prepares Spouse Visa applications end to end, from confirming the right income category to assembling the relationship and accommodation evidence.
To discuss a Spouse Visa application with our team, call 0208 757 5751 or use the contact form.
The material in this article is provided for guidance and general information only and is not intended to constitute legal or other professional advice upon which you should rely. In particular, the information should not be used as a substitute for a full and proper consultation with a suitably qualified professional. UK Immigration Rules are subject to change. Please do contact the Whytecroft Ford team if you require further advice.