My Immigration Services

Spouses / Unmarried Partners Under the Five-Year Route

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FIXED FEE

£550

Includes VAT

What does this service cover?

If one individual in a relationship is from the UK, or perhaps you both have decided that this is the country for you, you will need to apply for a spouse or partner visa. The process can be complex if you do not meet the strict criteria developed further by the government over recent years.

These visas are eligible to be applied for by long-term partners, Fiancé(e), Spouses, and Civil Partners. If approved, these visas make it possible for non-UK residents to travel to get married in the UK and switch to a married visa after this time. As of 2021, the UK government had granted more than 110,000 family visas, including married and spouse applications.

Approved visas can last for up to 33 months, with the option to apply for an extension. Some people use this additional time to apply for new visas relevant to their current marital status.

What are the requirements for applying?

The first stage of application is ensuring that you meet the criteria outlined by the UK government for a partner or spouse application which is the following:

To apply as a partner, you, and your partner both need to be 18 or over. Your partner must also either:

  • be a British or Irish citizen
  • have settled in the UK – for example, they have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence
  • 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

You will also need to prove certain pieces of information about your relationship and current residential status to be eligible for this application. These are one of the following:

  • you’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK
  • you’ve been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply
  • you are a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner and will marry or enter a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of arriving

As with other visa applications, your wider lifestyle, and reasons for being in the UK are also assessed for suitability purposes. You will need to prove that you have good written and spoken English knowledge. This is because you should be prepared to work and incorporate yourself into various communities within the UK, which are two significant components linked to a visa application. Your financial situation will also be assessed as you will need to prove that you are financially independent and will not reply to the government’s support once you are in the UK.

Relationships will also need to be proved, which is something that, as an Immigration agency, we have lots of experience in. The UK government will need to see the following evidence as proof of your marriage and current living arrangements. This includes information for those in the UK already and those who wish to make the most. You will need to prove your relationship by providing evidence that comes from:

  • the government, a bank, landlord, utility provider, or a medical professional
  • confirms your relationship with your partner

If you do not have any evidence that meets these criteria, don’t panic as there are other pieces of documentation that can be provided such as:

  • a one-off bill like vet’s fees or home repair costs
  • letters confirming you and your partner are on the voting register for the same address
  • student finance paperwork confirming that you live at the same address

This can seem like an overwhelming task but not when you have My Immigration Services by your side.

How to apply for a Spouse or Partner Visa UK?

This application will need to be submitted online, which we can do if we have all your evidence and documents. Our team will guide you through the process and keep you up to date with your application status.

The application process for a spouse visa is complicated, and we would advise making contact with us to discuss your options. Please call us, or use WhatsApp to connect with us. You may find our FAQ for Spouse visas helpful also.

Why should I choose My Immigration Services to support me?

At a time when you want to be united with your loved ones, we understand that visa issues are far from ideal. Our service has been created to bring together families and help those who wish to be in the UK, understand the best visa option for them. Our team of experienced specialists will be by your side through every stage of your spouse or unmarried partner applications.

When you choose to have My Immigration Services by your side, the benefits include the following:

  • We provide a fixed price for our services based on your bespoke needs meaning you don’t have to worry about escalating costs. Proving a relationship requires lots of additional documentation which we can provide help you gather to result in a strong case.
  • Our experience and knowledge bring with them our own checklist of requirements which give your application the best chance of being approved.
  • You will not have to complete any paperwork or forms, as we will manage this. If you are concerned about getting the form right or if English is not your first language, we take the worry away from you.
  • We will manage your entire process and follow up with The Home Office should any delays be experienced. You simply need to provide us with certain pieces of information, and we will do the rest for you. Applying for a visa can be a stressful task, which is why we have developed our comprehensive service to take the worry away from the process for you. 
  • Our friendly team is incredibly experienced with all aspects of immigration law and UK citizenship. We are also registered with and regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA).

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I make my UK Spouse visa application from?

Individuals already in the UK with leave granted for more than six months, excluding visitors, can apply for leave to remain as a spouse from within the UK.

However, those granted leave for six months or less, such as visitors, must leave the UK and apply for entry clearance as a spouse.

Applicants for a spouse visa from outside the UK should submit their application in the country where they reside.

Spouse visa applications are submitted using an online form, with different forms depending on whether you’re applying from within the UK or abroad. It’s advisable to consult with us. We are immigration agents and can ensure you’re using the correct application form for your specific situation.

While preparing your spouse visa application form, you should also gather your supporting documents, as certain documents need to be dated before submitting your online application. The current process allows you to upload scanned copies of your supporting documents for the Home Office to review. However, you should verify the specific procedure for the country where you intend to apply, as the Home Office may update this system periodically, or please check with us. You can use WhatsApp.

To make a successful UK spouse visa application you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:

  • Your partner is British or holds leave in one of the above categories;
  • You are both over the age of 18;
  • You have met in person and are legally married or in a civil partnership;
  • Your relationship is genuine and you intend to live together permanently;
  • Any previous relationships have broken down permanently;
  • You will be adequately maintained in the UK without recourse to public funds;
  • There is adequate accommodation for you and any dependents;
  • You speak and understand English to the required level.


To demonstrate that you can be adequately maintained in the UK without recourse to public funds, you will need to satisfy a financial requirement. To meet the financial requirement, you will need to have income of at least £29,000; plus additional funds if you have children who are not British or settled.

The financial requirement for a spouse visa can be satisfied through various sources, such as employment, self-employment, rental income, pension income, savings, and more. In certain situations, you may combine different types of income to meet this requirement. If you intend to fulfil the financial requirement through savings alone, the amount you need will need to be calculated, but is around £88,500 plus additional funds for any dependent children. We would advise speaking with us directly so we can help you navigate the spouse visa requirements and process. Connect with us on WhatsApp now.

The documents required for a spouse visa application will depend on your specific circumstances. All applicants must provide proof of marriage and evidence that the relationship is genuine. The English language requirement can be satisfied in various ways, and the necessary evidence will depend on how you meet this requirement. For instance, if you hold a degree obtained in the UK, only the degree certificate is needed. However, if your degree was taught in English but awarded outside the UK, you’ll also need a confirmation from UK ECCTIS (formerly UK NARIC). It’s important to exercise caution when using generic document checklists for spouse applications. Consulting an immigration lawyer can ensure that the documents you prepare are suitable for your particular situation.

As of Spring 2024, the minimum income requirement has indeed increased as follows:

  1. Minimum Income Requirement:
  • Base Requirement: The UK-based partner (sponsor) must now demonstrate a minimum gross annual income of £29,000.
  • With Dependents:
  • For one dependent child: the required income increases further (the exact figure can vary, but it’s likely to be proportional to the base increase).
  • Additional income increments per child will apply similarly to the previous structure but based on the new base requirement.
  1. Progressive Increases:
  • This new threshold of £29,000 is part of a series of planned increases. The requirement is expected to rise further in the future, with projected thresholds reaching £34,500 and eventually £38,700 annually.
  1. Savings Requirement:
  • If the sponsor’s income does not meet the new higher threshold, they can still rely on savings. The calculation for the savings threshold would also likely adjust according to the new income requirements.

As of August 2024, the fees for a UK Spouse Visa and an Unmarried Partner Visa are as follows:

Spouse Visa:

  • Outside the UK: The application fee is £1,846.
  • Inside the UK: The application fee is £1,258.
  • Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £3,105 if applying from outside the UK and £2,587.50 if applying from inside the UK. This surcharge is paid upfront for the entire duration of the visa.


Unmarried Partner Visa:

  • The fees are generally aligned with those of the Spouse Visa, as it falls under the same visa category:
  • Outside the UK: £1,846.
  • Inside the UK: £1,258.
  • Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): The same fees apply as for the Spouse Visa: £3,105 for out-of-country applications and £2,587.50 for in-country applications.


Additionally, there are potential extra costs such as document translation, priority service (if you want faster processing), and English language testing, depending on your specific circumstances.

These fees can be significant, and they are subject to periodic changes, so it’s advisable to check the latest information or consult with our immigration advisors before applying.

The Home Office will recognise a marriage or civil partnership which has taken place overseas where:

  • The type of marriage or civil partnership is recognised in the country in which it took place
  • The marriage or civil partnership was properly conducted to satisfy the requirements of the law of the country in which it took place
  • There is nothing in the laws of either person’s country of domicile at the time of the marriage or civil partnership which prevents the marriage or civil partnership being recognised
  • Any previous marriages or civil partnerships of the couple have broken down permanently

Some additional requirements apply about age and prohibited degrees of relationship and previous divorces, but generally if the country in which your marriage took place will recognise you as married then so will the UK.

The Home Office states that for applications made outside of the UK it decides 95% of settlement applications (this includes Spouse visas and some other categories under Appendix FM) within 12 weeks (3 months) of the application date and 100% within 24 weeks (6 months) of the application date.

Some application centres have priority services for Spouse visa applicants available which allow a faster processing time.

For those applying in the UK, there is a 24 hour service available. Priority services incur an additional cost.

Yes. If you are granted leave in the Spouse category, you have a full right to work in the UK.

You must meet the financial requirement when you first enter the UK, when you apply to extend your stay as a spouse, and when you apply for indefinite leave to remain as a spouse. You may have relied on your sponsor’s income to meet this requirement in a previous application. However, once your leave is granted, changes in your circumstances won’t affect your status, so long as you can still meet the financial requirement when applying for an extension.

Yes. The Immigration Rules require that you will have ‘adequate accommodation, without recourse to public funds, for the family, including other family members who are not included in the application but who live in the same household’. As long as you have permission to live in the property from whoever owns it and living in the property won’t cause it to be overcrowded, this should not be a problem. The evidence that you need to prove this will vary depending on your circumstances.  You can consult us by phone or WhatsApp if you need clarification or further information.

When you first enter the spouse visa category, you will be granted a stay of two and a half years, with an additional three months if applying for Entry Clearance. Before this period expires, you will need to apply for an extension, which will grant you an additional two and a half years.

Most people in the Spouse visa category are on a five-year route to settlement. This means that after two grants of 30 months, they are eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Some people are on a ten-year route to settlement, and they will need to have four grants of leave. If, after you enter the UK you switch from the five year route to the ten year route, then you can count both grants of leave towards the period you need for the ten year route.

Once you have obtained Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK, if you are married to a British national you can immediately apply to naturalise as a British Citizen. If you are not married to a British national, you will need to wait a period of 12 months before you can apply.

If your application is refused, you will typically have the right to appeal, as a spouse application is automatically considered a human rights claim.

The appeal will be heard by the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) in the UK. If you are in the UK, both you and your spouse can attend the hearing and provide evidence before the Judge.

If you are outside the UK, your spouse can attend, and you can submit a written statement and supporting evidence for the Tribunal to review. In some cases, arrangements can be made for you to give evidence remotely if appropriate. We strongly recommend seeking legal advice from us before appealing a spouse visa refusal decision.

Are you ready to start your spouse or unmarried partner application process with our excellent immigration agency?

Please call 0161 527 3123 or email our enquiries team today to start your journey with My Immigration Services.