United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland · family · Leads to settlement
Family visa (partner/spouse)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Visa for partners of British citizens, settled persons, or certain other qualifying sponsors.
- Processing time
- Typically 8–12 weeks from outside the UK.
- Government fees
- Application fee plus IHS £1,035/year per applicant. See GOV.UK.
- Typical duration
- Initial 2.5 years then extension to 5 years total; leads to settlement.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Overview
The Family route allows partners and children of British citizens, settled persons (ILR/EUSS settled status), and certain work-route holders to live in the UK. The financial minimum income requirement was raised to £29,000 in April 2024, with further increases previously planned.
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
Indian applicants
Indian spouse-visa applications are the largest single national cohort. Indian marriage certificates from civil registra…
Nigerian applicants
Nigerian spouse-visa applications face heightened scrutiny on bona-fide-marriage evidence and source-of-funds for the in…
Filipino applicants
Filipino spouse-visa applicants are a substantial cohort, often joining UK-based Filipino healthcare and care-worker spo…
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Genuine and subsisting relationship with a qualifying sponsor.
- ✓Minimum income requirement (£29,000 from April 2024) or qualifying savings, unless exempt.
- ✓Adequate accommodation in the UK.
- ✓English at CEFR A1 at entry, A2 at extension, B1 at settlement.
Common blockers
- !Income falls below the minimum threshold and no qualifying savings route applies.
- !Relationship evidence insufficient to show genuine and subsisting.
Typical evidence
- ·Marriage or civil partnership certificate, or evidence of cohabitation for 2+ years.
- ·Payslips, employment contracts, or other income evidence.
- ·English-language test or exemption.
Application pathway
Verify sponsor eligibility
Confirm sponsor's status (British citizen, settled, or qualifying other) and ability to meet income or savings requirement.
Gather relationship evidence
Assemble evidence of a genuine relationship — messages, photos, joint finances, cohabitation records.
Submit application from abroad
Apply for entry clearance from outside the UK; pay fees and attend biometrics.
Arrive and extend at 2.5 years
After 2.5 years, extend for a further 2.5 years. At 5 years, apply for settlement if all requirements met.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- ApplyApplicantApply as a partner or spouse ↗
Use this GOV.UK page to start the partner or spouse family visa application and confirm route-specific evidence.
UK Home Office · verified
- ChecklistApplicant + sponsorCheck family visa evidence ↗
Applicant and sponsor use this checklist to prepare relationship, income and accommodation documents.
UK Home Office · verified
Fees and processing time
Indicative government fees: Application fee plus IHS £1,035/year per applicant. See GOV.UK.. A decision then typically takes 3 months – 6 months. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum income for a UK spouse visa?+
As of April 2024, the minimum income requirement is £29,000 per year. The government had announced further increases but has reviewed the trajectory. Always check GOV.UK for the current figure.
Does the sponsor need to be a British citizen?+
No. Sponsors can be British citizens, those with Indefinite Leave to Remain, EUSS settled status holders, and (in some cases) people on specific work-route visas where dependant rights apply.
Can my sister or another relative sponsor me for a UK family visa?+
The Family (partner/spouse) route is for partners and spouses of British citizens or settled persons, partners of certain qualifying work or study route holders, and parents of British or settled children. A sibling is not listed among the qualifying sponsors for this route. Check the full list of who can sponsor on GOV.UK.
How long does it take to get settlement (ILR) on the UK spouse visa?+
The Family (partner/spouse) route runs as an initial 2.5 years, then an extension to 5 years total, after which you can apply for settlement if all requirements are met. Your English level must rise from CEFR A1 at entry to A2 at extension and B1 at settlement. Verify the current requirements on GOV.UK.
What counts as proof of a genuine relationship for a UK spouse visa?+
You typically provide a marriage or civil partnership certificate, or evidence of cohabitation for two or more years, alongside supporting evidence such as messages, photos, joint finances and cohabitation records. The application must show a genuine and subsisting relationship with a qualifying sponsor. See GOV.UK for the document checklist.
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