The UK spouse and partner visa (formally "entry clearance under Appendix FM") is one of the most document-heavy and emotionally stressful applications in the UK immigration system. Refusals are common, the financial threshold is high and the evidence rules are precise. This guide cuts through the complexity and shows you exactly what you need, in what format, and what the Home Office actually checks at each stage.
Who can apply under this route
The spouse and partner visa covers:
- Married spouses — legal marriage recognised in UK law
- Civil partners — UK or overseas civil partnership
- Unmarried partners — cohabiting for 2 years or more in a "relationship akin to marriage"
- Fiancé(e)s — intending to marry in the UK within 6 months (different visa, shorter, no right to work initially)
You cannot use this route if you're in a same-sex relationship that the Home Office does not recognise as a civil partnership (rare in 2026 given the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act). You also cannot use this route if either party holds a visitor visa or is applying as an asylum seeker.
The sponsor's role
In UK immigration law, the person already in the UK (British citizen, settled person, or person with leave that permits family formation) is the sponsor. Their income, accommodation and status determine whether the application succeeds.
Sponsor eligibility requirements:
- British citizen, holder, person with refugee leave, or person with other qualifying leave that includes the right to bring in family
- Meets the financial requirement (£29,000 income or savings equivalent)
- Adequate accommodation for all family members (not overcrowded under Housing Act standards)
- Not subject to a deportation order or exclusion
The financial requirement in detail
The £29,000 threshold applies to the sponsor's gross income. See our dedicated Family visa income guide for the full breakdown by income category. Key points:
- Only the sponsor's income counts, not the applicant's overseas earnings
- Income must come from qualifying categories (employment, self-employment, savings, pension, rental)
- Savings of £88,500+ (held 6+ months) can replace income entirely
Relationship evidence — what "genuine and subsisting" means
The Home Office must be satisfied that the relationship is real and ongoing. This is a subjective test, but the evidence types they expect are well-established:
Tier 1 — strongest evidence:
- Joint mortgage or tenancy agreement
- Joint bank account with regular shared transactions
- Joint utility bills or council tax in both names
- Photos together at specific events spanning years (with dates in metadata)
- Evidence of visits to each other's country (boarding passes, stamps, hotel receipts)
Tier 2 — supporting evidence:
- WhatsApp, email, or letter correspondence (printed, showing ongoing communication)
- Evidence of families knowing each other (wedding attendance, holiday photos)
- Engagement/wedding rings, marriage certificate (for married couples)
- Evidence of children of the relationship
Tier 3 — context evidence:
- Explanation letter from both parties if you met online, have an age gap, or have a short relationship history
- Cultural context where appropriate (arranged marriages have specific supporting letter conventions)
Refusal on "genuine relationship" grounds is common when the couple has short shared history, no cohabitation, limited financial links, and no clear explanation for how the relationship developed. Front-load your evidence with the strongest tier.
Accommodation requirement
Your accommodation in the UK must not be "overcrowded" per the Housing Act 1985 standard. UKVI uses:
- 1 room for every 2 adults
- Children under 10 share an adult's "slot"
- Children aged 10+ count as adults for room purposes
A couple moving into a studio flat satisfies the requirement. A couple and 2 children moving into a 1-bed may not, depending on the children's ages.
Provide: tenancy agreement or mortgage statement, and a letter from the landlord or property owner if you're staying with family.
Step-by-step application process
Gather documents
Collect sponsor's income evidence (6 months payslips + bank statements), relationship evidence (photos, comms, cohabitation proof), accommodation evidence and both passports. Allow 2–4 weeks.
Complete the online application
Go to gov.uk/apply-to-come-to-the-uk, select "Family (spouse/partner)." You'll need the sponsor's details and the applicant's travel history.
Pay fees
Application fee £1,846 + IHS upfront. IHS for 30 months = 3 × £1,035 = £3,105. Total at application: £4,951.
Book biometrics appointment
Overseas applicants book at VFS or TLS centre. Lead times in high-demand countries: 2–4 weeks. Attend with originals of all documents uploaded.
Wait for decision
Standard: 12 weeks from biometrics. Priority: 30 working days. No super priority available for Family route. Track on UKVI account.
Receive eVisa
If approved, eVisa is issued (from Jan 2025 no BRP). Applicant creates UKVI account and links passport before travelling to UK.
Travel to UK
No restrictions on when after grant. Visa is valid 30 months from the date of entry clearance issue (not arrival).
Costs summary 2026
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee (overseas) | £1,846 |
| IHS (30 months = 3 years rate) | £3,105 |
| Priority service (optional) | £500 |
| TB test (if required) | £80–£200 |
| Document translations | £50–£300 |
| Minimum total | £4,951 |
The 5-year route to ILR
The spouse visa route to settlement follows a prescribed timeline:
| Stage | Duration | Leave granted |
|---|---|---|
| Initial entry clearance | 30 months | Spouse visa |
| First extension (in-country) | 30 months | Extended leave |
| ILR application | After 5 years total | Indefinite leave |
| Naturalisation (citizenship) | 1 year after ILR | British citizenship |
At each stage (initial, extension, ), you must re-demonstrate the relationship is genuine and subsisting, and the sponsor still meets the financial requirement. Couples who separate during the 5-year period can lose their route to settlement.
The ILR application (form SET(M)) requires a Life in the UK test pass and English evidence. Application fee: £3,226 (2026).
Common refusal reasons and how to avoid them
- Insufficient financial evidence — Missing payslips, bank statements that don't show salary deposits, self-employment with no SA302.
- Thin relationship evidence — Photos only with no financial links or communication history.
- Accommodation doesn't meet Housing Act standard — Overcrowded under the formula.
- Immigration history not disclosed — Previous refusals in any country.
- Sponsor's leave doesn't permit family formation — Some leave types don't allow you to sponsor under Appendix FM (check your sponsor's / conditions).
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Yes — if your partner holds a Skilled Worker visa (or other qualifying leave), they can sponsor you. Their leave must include "no restriction on family formation." Check their visa vignette or eVisa conditions.
Yes — no restriction on work. You can work full-time, part-time, or be self-employed. The only restriction is on accessing certain public funds during the probationary period.
Generally yes if the marriage was legally valid in the country where it took place, both parties had legal capacity to marry, and neither was already married. Proxy marriages and some religious-only marriages have specific rules — check with a solicitor if uncertain.
Yes. Most family visa refusals carry a right of appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber). The appeal process takes 8–14 months. Consider whether the grounds for refusal are fixable (e.g. missing document) — in which case a new application may be faster than an appeal.