UK Spouse Visa Extension (FLR(M)) 2026: Requirements & Application

A UK Spouse Visa extension allows a partner to remain in the UK for a further two and a half years, taking them to the five years of leave needed to apply for settlement. It is applied for inside the UK on form FLR(M) before the first visa expires, and the applicant and sponsor must still continue to meet the requirements relating to their relationship, income, accommodation and English language proficiency. Each requirement has to be evidenced afresh for the period since the last grant of leave, and an application that does not may be refused. This guide provides an overview of the requirements, evidence and application process for a UK Spouse Visa extension.

What is a Spouse Visa extension (FLR(M))?

A Spouse Visa extension is a further grant of leave to remain as a partner, made inside the UK to continue a stay that began on an initial Spouse Visa. It is applied for on form FLR(M), the Home Office form to extend stay as the partner, or dependent child, of a person who is British, settled in the UK, a refugee or under humanitarian protection.

The initial Spouse Visa is granted for two years and nine months when applied for from outside the UK, or two and a half years when applied for inside. The extension is made after two and a half years (2.5 years) on that first visa, and adds a further two and a half years, which takes the partner to the five years of continuous leave needed to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. It is the second stage of the five-year partner route, and continues the same grant rather than starting again.

When should I apply to extend?

The extension is applied for before the initial Spouse Visa expires, while the applicant is still in the UK with valid leave. An application made in time keeps the applicant's existing leave and conditions in force while the decision is pending, under section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971.

The first step is to confirm the date the current leave ends. Biometric residence permits were issued with an expiry date of 31 December 2024, whatever the actual length of leave granted, so the card no longer shows when leave ends. The date is confirmed on the applicant's online immigration status, and is checked there before an application is prepared.

An application for further leave to remain as a partner is made no more than 28 days before the current leave expires, or no more than 28 days before the applicant completes 30 months in the UK on that leave. An application made inside that window is treated as meeting the 30-month continuous residence period. Where the applicant already holds leave as a partner under Appendix FM, up to 28 days of that unused leave is added to the new grant, which is why an extension often runs slightly beyond two and a half years.

Applying before that window carries a settlement cost. Leave granted more than 28 days early may not count towards the 60 or 120 months of continuous residence that settlement requires, which can make a further grant of limited leave necessary before indefinite leave to remain is available.

There is no fixed limit on absences from the UK on the partner route. The Home Office asks for a record of absences since the last grant, and extended or repeated periods apart invite scrutiny of whether the couple intend to live together permanently in the UK. Travel records, booking confirmations and an explanation for any long absence are kept with the relationship evidence.

Who can apply to extend?

A Spouse Visa extension is applied for by a partner already in the UK on leave as the partner of a British citizen, a person settled in the UK, or a person with protection status, who continues to meet the partner requirements. In the Rules this is leave to remain as a partner, set out in Section R-LTRP of Appendix FM.

The applicant must not be in the UK in breach of immigration laws, must not be here as a visitor or with leave granted for six months or less, and must not be in the UK on immigration bail, subject to the limited exceptions in the Rules. These immigration status conditions are set out at E-LTRP.2.1 and E-LTRP.2.2 of Appendix FM. The sponsor must remain a British citizen, settled in the UK, or a person with protection status, and the couple must still be married or civil partners intending to live together permanently.

What are the requirements for a Spouse Visa extension?

An applicant must meet all of the eligibility requirements for leave to remain as a partner, set out in Appendix FM. At the extension these are:

• the applicant must hold valid leave and must not be in the UK in breach of immigration laws
• the relationship must still be genuine and subsisting, and the couple must still intend to live together permanently in the UK
• the financial requirement must be met, currently a gross income of £29,000 a year (as of July 2026)
• the English language requirement must be met at CEFR level A2
• there must be adequate accommodation for the family, without recourse to public funds

The applicant must also meet the suitability requirements, set out in Section S-LTR of Appendix FM: the good-character and conduct grounds that can bar a grant. A previous immigration breach or a criminal record does not automatically prevent an extension, but it is assessed against those grounds.

What is different at the extension?

Two aspects of the initial application fall away at the extension. There is no tuberculosis (TB) test, because the TB test applies only where an applicant applies from a listed country outside the UK. The couple also do not need to prove that they have met in person, because that was established at the first application; the focus moves to the relationship continuing since the last grant.

The English language requirement rises rather than repeats. An applicant who met it at CEFR level A1 for the first visa meets it at level A2 for the extension, and later at B1 for settlement. The financial and accommodation requirements otherwise carry the same threshold and the same evidence rules as the first application.

The financial requirement at the extension

The financial requirement at the extension is the same minimum income requirement as the first application: the level of income or savings the sponsor must show. It is set out at E-LTRP.3.1 of Appendix FM, with the evidence rules at Appendix FM-SE, and is a gross annual income of £29,000 (as of July 2026). It can be met through employment, self-employment, non-employment income, pension income, qualifying cash savings, or a permitted combination of these.

The income is evidenced for the period leading up to the extension, in the same specified form the Rules require, under the same Categories A to G. The category the sponsor relies on is set by how the income is earned, so a change of job or income type since the first visa can change the category and the documents needed.

Transitional cases and the £18,600 threshold

An applicant who first applied for a partner visa before 11 April 2024 extends on the £18,600 threshold that applied then, rather than the £29,000 that applies to new applicants (as of July 2026). This transitional protection continues for as long as the applicant remains on the same five-year partner route, through the extension and on to settlement.

The protection applies whether the first application was made as a partner, a fiancé, a fiancée or a proposed civil partner. An applicant who first applied on or after 11 April 2024 meets the £29,000 requirement at the extension.

Proving the relationship is continuing

The relationship requirement at the extension asks the couple to show that their relationship remains genuine and subsisting, and that they still intend to live together permanently in the UK. These conditions are set out at E-LTRP.1.7 and E-LTRP.1.10 of Appendix FM, and the evidence must cover the period since the last grant of leave, rather than the start of the relationship.

The strongest evidence spans the two and a half years since the first visa. Documents in both partners' names, correspondence to a shared address, joint financial commitments and records of life together across that period show the relationship is continuing. Where the couple have spent time apart during the leave, evidence of contact and visits across that time helps complete the picture.

The English language requirement (A2)

The English language requirement at the extension is met at CEFR level A2 in speaking and listening, a step up from the A1 level required for the first Spouse Visa. It is set out at E-LTRP.4.1A of Appendix FM, and applies to applicants who are nationals of a country where English is not a majority language.

The requirement is met by passing an approved Secure English Language Test at A2 or above, by holding a degree that was taught in English, or by being a national of a majority English-speaking country. Applicants aged 65 or over, and those with a long-term physical or mental condition that prevents them meeting it, are exempt under E-LTRP.4.2. The level rises again to B1 at settlement.

The adequate accommodation requirement

The couple must show they will have adequate accommodation for the family in the UK, including any others who live in the same household, which they own or occupy exclusively, without recourse to public funds. This is the accommodation requirement, set out at E-LTRP.3.4 of Appendix FM. Accommodation is not regarded as adequate where it is, or will become, overcrowded, or where it contravenes public health regulations. Overcrowding is measured against the standard in the Housing Act 1985, by the number of rooms against the number of occupants.

Can I include my children in the extension?

A child granted leave as a dependant on the initial Spouse Visa extends alongside the parent, on their own FLR(M) application made inside the UK at the same time. The child must not be leading an independent life, and must not be married or in a civil partnership.

The family shows adequate accommodation and maintenance for the additional dependants. The income the family must show reflects which financial threshold applies. The £29,000 requirement covers the partner and any children, and no additional amount is required for a child. A transitional £18,600 case adds £3,800 a year for the first child and £2,400 a year for each additional child, subject to a cap: where the amount the children would add takes the total above £29,000, the applicant shows £29,000 rather than the higher figure (as of July 2026). Each dependent child included pays their own application fee and health surcharge.

A child who has since turned 18 can still extend as a dependant where they were last granted leave as a child and have not formed an independent family unit.

What documents do I need for a Spouse Visa extension?

Appendix FM of the immigration rules is elaborate, and the documents required in any application will depend on the applicant's circumstances. Typically, these will include:

• the applicant's current passport or travel document, and the sponsor's passport or proof of British citizenship or settled status
• evidence of the applicant's existing leave, such as a biometric residence permit or an eVisa
• financial evidence for the relevant income category, covering the period before the application
• relationship evidence covering the period since the last grant of leave
• an English language test certificate at CEFR level A2, or evidence of an exemption
• evidence of adequate accommodation for the family

Documents that are not in English

Any document that is not in English or Welsh must be submitted with a full certified translation. The translation must be made by a qualified translator, and must confirm the translator's name and credentials, that it is an accurate translation of the original, and the date of translation. The original document is provided alongside the translation.

How do I apply on form FLR(M)?

A Spouse Visa extension is applied for online on form FLR(M), the Home Office application form for further leave to remain as a partner under Appendix FM. The application is made inside the UK, and there is no entry-clearance route for an extension. Form FLR(M) is completed on the Home Office online application service, and is not downloaded and posted.

1. Confirm eligibility. Check the income category, relationship evidence and English level that apply at the extension.
2. Prepare the evidence. Assemble the specified documents covering the period since the last grant of leave.
3. Apply online before your leave expires. Complete form FLR(M) and pay the fee and the health surcharge.
4. Enrol biometrics. Attend the biometric appointment and upload the supporting documents.
5. Await the decision. The Home Office decides and, where the application succeeds, grants a further two and a half years.

An application is valid only where the form is completed, the fee and the health surcharge are paid, and biometrics are provided as required. An application that fails those requirements may be rejected as invalid. An invalid application does not attract section 3C leave, so an applicant can be left without status even though they applied before their visa expired.

At the appointment, fingerprints and a photograph are recorded and the supporting documents are uploaded, either at the appointment or through the online account beforehand. The applicant keeps their existing leave and conditions, including the right to work, while the application is pending.

The applicant remains in the UK while the application is pending. Travelling outside the Common Travel Area before a decision is treated as withdrawing the application.

How much does a Spouse Visa extension cost?

A Spouse Visa extension is applied for on form FLR(M) from inside the UK, and the Home Office application fee is £1,407 (as of July 2026). The Immigration Health Surcharge is charged on top, for the full length of the extension, at £1,035 per year of leave, which comes to £2,587.50 for the two and a half years granted. Both are paid online when the application is submitted.

There is no separate fee for biometric enrolment. The appointment at which fingerprints and a photograph are taken is covered by the application fee. Optional appointment upgrades offered at the service point, such as an out-of-hours or a same-day slot, are charged separately and are not required for a valid application.

A dependent child included in the application pays their own application fee, and their own health surcharge at the lower rate of £776 per year of leave that applies to a child under 18.

An optional priority service is available for a faster decision. The priority service is £500, for a decision usually within five working days, and the super priority service is £1,000, for a decision usually by the end of the next working day (as of July 2026). Each is paid in addition to the application fee and the health surcharge, and neither affects the outcome of the application.

How long does a Spouse Visa extension take?

A Spouse Visa extension is usually decided within eight weeks, as an in-country application, with a priority service available at extra cost for a faster decision. The applicant keeps their existing leave and conditions while the application is pending, provided it was made before the previous leave expired.

After the extension: settlement (ILR)

At the end of the extension, a partner who has completed five years of continuous leave on the partner route can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain on form SET(M). Settlement adds two requirements to those met at the extension: the English language requirement rises to CEFR level B1, and the applicant must pass the Life in the UK Test.

Indefinite Leave to Remain removes the time limit on the applicant's stay. British citizenship can then be applied for, immediately where the applicant is married to a British citizen, or twelve months after settlement in other cases.

What happens if the extension is refused?

Where a Spouse Visa extension is refused, a fresh application that corrects the reason for refusal is usually the most direct route to a grant. A refusal usually results from a single evidential point, and a fresh application that presents the evidence in the exact form the Rules require puts the case on a stronger footing.

The most common reasons an extension is refused are:

• financial evidence that does not match the chosen Appendix FM-SE category, or is dated outside the required window
• relationship evidence that does not cover the period since the last grant of leave
• an English language test certificate below CEFR level A2, or a missing specified document
• suitability grounds under Section S-LTR, arising from a previous immigration breach or criminal record

Relationship evidence that does not run continuously is the most common evidential failure. Evidence clustered around the date of application, with a gap covering the middle of the two and a half years, does not show a relationship that has continued throughout. Documents are gathered across the whole period since the last grant, addressed to both partners where possible.

Financial evidence that meets the threshold but not the Rules is the second. The income may be sufficient while the documents fall outside the specified form, the required period or the chosen Appendix FM-SE category. The specified evidence for that category governs, and income that cannot be evidenced in the required form does not count towards the requirement.

A change in circumstances during the two and a half years alters the evidence required. A change of employer, a move into self-employment, a period without work or the birth of a child each affects the category that applies, and the position is assessed afresh at the extension rather than carried over from the initial grant.

A refusal on suitability grounds under Section S-LTR is treated differently from an evidential refusal, because it goes to the applicant's immigration or criminal history rather than to the documents. Advice is taken on the specific ground before any further application is made.

A refusal also brings section 3C leave to an end. An applicant whose extension is refused after their original leave expired no longer holds lawful status while they decide what to do, which is why a fresh application is prepared promptly.

Spouse Visa extension applications in practice

Four worked examples show how the financial requirement can be met at the extension, with the calculation each one uses.

Salary alone. A sponsor who first applied in 2025 is on a fixed annual salary of £30,500 at the extension. Because that salary is above the £29,000 threshold (as of July 2026), the requirement is met on income alone, under Category A. No savings are needed.

Pension income. A sponsor who has retired receives an occupational pension of £31,000 a year, which became payable more than 28 days before the application. Pension income counts under Category E, evidenced by the pension provider's documentation and bank statements showing the payments received. Because £31,000 is above the £29,000 threshold, the requirement is met on pension income alone.

Transitional case on the £18,600 threshold. A couple who first applied in January 2024 extend on the £18,600 threshold that applied then. The sponsor earns £21,000, which is above £18,600, so the requirement is met on salary alone, under Category A.

Salary and savings combined. A sponsor earns £24,000, which is £5,000 below the £29,000 threshold. Cash savings can cover a shortfall using the formula £16,000 + (2.5 × the shortfall). Here that is £16,000 + (2.5 × £5,000) = £28,500. The couple hold £30,000, which is above the £28,500 needed, so the requirement is met.

Upcoming changes to the Spouse Visa extension

The minimum income requirement rose on 11 April 2024, from £18,600 to £29,000, with transitional protection for partners already on the route. A further planned increase, towards £38,700 to align with the skilled worker threshold, was paused in September 2024, when the government asked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the financial requirements of the family immigration rules. No change to the income requirement is being made while that review is considered, so the £29,000 threshold continues to apply (as of July 2026).

Separately, the 2025 Immigration White Paper proposed a longer standard qualifying period for settlement. These proposals are not yet in force, and any change is expected to come with transitional arrangements for applicants already on the route.