TRW & Co · UK immigration
UK Spouse Visa: Requirements, Financial Threshold and Process
A spouse visa UK application lets the husband, wife or partner of a British or settled person live in the UK. Couples usually need £29,000 combined income or qualifying savings, a recognised relationship, adequate accommodation and A1 English. This guide explains each requirement, the evidence rules, fees, timings and the five-year route to settlement.
Key pointMost partner refusals are about evidence, not earnings: Appendix FM-SE dictates which documents prove each income category and over what period. At entry clearance, the overseas applicant's own earnings do not count towards the £29,000.
At a glance
£29,000 income rule
Couples usually need combined gross income of £29,000 a year; partners extending a pre-11 April 2024 grant can still rely on £18,600 plus child amounts.
Savings alternative
Cash savings above £16,000, held for six months, can cover a shortfall at 2.5 times the gap at entry clearance, or £88,500 with no income.
English in stages
Applicants need A1 for the first visa and A2 to extend; settlement currently needs B1, rising to B2 for applications from 26 March 2027.
Grant and timing
Entry clearance lasts up to two years and nine months; GOV.UK says overseas applications are usually decided within 12 weeks.
Route to settlement
Partners can usually apply for indefinite leave to remain after five continuous years on the route, under the rules in force in October 2026.
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The short answer: what a UK spouse visa requires
A spouse visa UK application lets the husband, wife or civil partner of a British or settled person live in the UK. The couple must show a genuine relationship and a marriage recognised in UK law, a combined income of at least £29,000 a year or enough savings, adequate accommodation, and English at level A1 or above. Unmarried partners who have lived together for two years can apply on the same route.
A first grant from abroad lasts up to two years and nine months. After one extension, the partner can usually apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years' continuous residence on the route, under the rules in force in October 2026. GOV.UK says applications from outside the UK are usually decided within 12 weeks.
Most spouse visa UK refusals are not about whether the couple earns enough. They turn on whether the evidence matches the precise categories and periods that the rules specify.
The legal framework for the partner route
The rules for spouses, civil partners, unmarried partners and fiancé(e)s are in Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules. The documents that prove income and savings are prescribed separately in Appendix FM-SE, which is why form matters as much as substance. Both are made under the Immigration Act 1971 and amended by Statements of Changes.
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) decides applications. Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, given effect by the Human Rights Act 1998, protects family life, and Appendix FM contains exceptions for couples who cannot meet every requirement but would face insurmountable obstacles to family life abroad. Because a refusal of a partner application is usually treated as a refusal of a human rights claim, it normally carries a right of appeal to the First-tier Tribunal.
Who can sponsor
GOV.UK states that the UK-based partner must be a British or Irish citizen, settled in the UK, an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen with pre-settled status who began living in the UK before 1 January 2021, or hold certain other statuses including refugee or humanitarian protection. Both partners must be 18 or over and intend to live together permanently in the UK. Partners of people on work or study visas apply as dependants on those routes instead.
The relationship requirement
The couple must prove one of the following: a marriage or civil partnership recognised in the UK; at least two years living together in a relationship akin to marriage; or, for fiancé(e)s, an intention to marry in the UK within six months of arrival. GOV.UK also recognises couples who have been together for two years but cannot live together, for example because of work, study or cultural reasons, if they can show an ongoing commitment.
The relationship must be genuine and subsisting, and any previous marriage or civil partnership of either partner must have ended. Evidence of a lawful divorce is critical where either partner was previously married abroad. Our guide to whether a Bangladeshi marriage is recognised in the UK explains the validity questions that arise in one common corridor.
GOV.UK suggests evidence from government bodies, banks, landlords, utility providers or medical professionals that is less than four years old, such as joint tenancy agreements, council tax bills and joint bank statements.
The financial requirement: £29,000 and the alternatives
GOV.UK states that the couple usually needs a combined gross income of at least £29,000 a year. This is the minimum income requirement, raised from £18,600 in April 2024. Couples where the partner first applied before 11 April 2024 and is extending with the same partner can still rely on £18,600, plus £3,800 for the first non-exempt child and £2,400 for each additional child, capped at £29,000.
| Source | Key rule | Common pitfall |
|---|---|---|
| Salaried employment | Gross pay from specified employment, usually evidenced by six months of payslips, matching bank statements and an employer letter | Applying before six months with the current employer without using the 12-month alternative |
| Self-employment or director income | Based on tax returns and accounts for the relevant financial year(s) | Missing company accounts or a mismatch with HMRC records |
| Cash savings | £16,000 plus 2.5 times any income shortfall at entry clearance, held for six months | Funds moved between accounts without a clear audit trail |
| Pension and non-work income | Specified pension, rental or investment income of either partner | Rental income not supported by tenancy and bank evidence |
| Partner receives listed disability or carer's benefits | No minimum income; adequate maintenance must be shown instead | Assuming no financial evidence is needed at all |
For spouse visa UK applicants, the source rules differ by location. At entry clearance, Appendix FM counts the UK partner's employment or self-employment, which can include overseas work where the partner is returning to the UK with the applicant, but not the overseas applicant's own earnings. Inside the UK, the applicant's lawful UK earnings can be combined with the partner's.
Relying on savings alone at entry clearance therefore requires £16,000 plus 2.5 times the full £29,000, or £88,500. Savings must have been held for at least six months and must be under the couple's control, and their source must be explained.
Accommodation and English language
The couple must show adequate accommodation, without recourse to public funds, which they own or occupy exclusively. Accommodation is not adequate if it is or will be overcrowded or breaches public health rules. A property inspection report is often useful where the family will share with relatives.
For a first application, the applicant must pass an approved test at CEFR level A1 or above, or rely on a degree taught in English or an exempt nationality. To extend after two and a half years, someone who passed A1 must pass at least A2 in speaking and listening. Settlement currently needs B1, but the Statement of Changes HC 1691 raises the requirement in Appendix KoLL to B2 for applications made on or after 26 March 2027.
The applicant must not use time as a visitor to switch into the partner route: GOV.UK says visitors and people with six months' permission or less usually have to leave and apply from abroad. Couples who marry in the UK on a Marriage Visitor visa should plan an overseas application, not a switch.
The spouse visa UK application process, step by step
- Check eligibility and route. Confirm the sponsor's status, that the marriage is valid in UK law and that any earlier marriages have ended.
- Choose the financial category. Decide which income or savings categories to rely on and when the evidence period will be complete.
- Prepare English and health evidence. Book an approved test or confirm an exemption. Applicants from listed countries, including Bangladesh, need a tuberculosis test certificate.
- Assemble documents. Collect passports, relationship evidence, financial evidence in the specified form, accommodation evidence and certified translations.
- Apply online and pay. GOV.UK lists the fee at £2,064 from outside the UK or £1,407 from inside, plus the immigration health surcharge, which for an adult is £3,105 for two years and nine months.
- Prove identity. Attend a biometrics appointment or use the identity app, as directed.
- Decision and eVisa. GOV.UK says decisions usually take 12 weeks from outside the UK and 8 weeks inside, where the financial and English requirements are met. Successful applicants receive an eVisa.
In-country applicants who cannot meet the financial or English requirements and rely on exceptional circumstances face much longer waits; GOV.UK says about 12 months.
From spouse visa to settlement and citizenship
GOV.UK states that the earliest a partner can apply for settlement is after five years continuously in the UK on a family visa as a partner. Time as a fiancé(e) or on any other visa does not count. Couples granted under the exceptions, without meeting the financial or English requirements, are on a longer path; GOV.UK says the earliest settlement is then after ten years.
Reform is pending. The government's earned settlement consultation proposed a ten-year baseline for most migrants, but stated that partners of British citizens who meet the core family requirements would receive a five-year reduction, and that this element was not subject to consultation. Partners of settled, non-British sponsors were not covered by that statement. As of October 2026, no Statement of Changes had implemented the model.
After settlement, spouses of British citizens can apply to naturalise straight away, rather than waiting 12 months. Our guides to indefinite leave to remain and British citizenship by naturalisation explain the next stages.
An illustrative scenario
This example is illustrative only; the parties are fictional.
A British citizen working in London as a pharmacist marries in Sylhet and wants her husband to join her. She earns £34,000 a year and has worked for her employer for nine months. He holds a degree from a Bangladeshi university taught in English.
Because she has been employed for more than six months, she can rely on six months of payslips and matching bank statements, with an employer letter confirming salary and contract type. Her husband obtains an Ecctis statement confirming his degree is equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree and was taught in English, covering the English requirement. He takes a tuberculosis test at an approved clinic.
The couple's marriage certificate is translated by a certified translator, and they include evidence of the wife's earlier divorce. Their tenancy agreement and a letter from the landlord show the flat is not overcrowded. The application is submitted with an indexed bundle that maps each document to the relevant paragraph of Appendix FM. This approach reduces the risk of refusal but cannot guarantee an outcome.
Risks and common mistakes
Right income, wrong evidence
Appendix FM-SE prescribes which documents prove each income category and over what period. Cash salary without matching bank credits, a missing payslip, an employer letter that omits the contract type, or company income without the specified accounts can all lead to refusal even when the couple clearly earns enough.
Pick the income category first, then build the evidence for that category alone. Do not mix categories without checking how the rules allow them to be combined.
Overlooking the validity of an overseas marriage
Whether a marriage abroad is recognised depends on the law of the country where it took place and each party’s capacity to marry. Religious-only ceremonies, marriages where a previous divorce was not legally completed, and polygamous marriages raise particular problems.
Where there is any doubt, take advice before applying, because a refusal on relationship grounds is difficult to repair. Our UK spouse visa from Bangladesh guide covers the common issues in that corridor.
Non-disclosure of previous refusals or overstays
The forms ask about previous refusals, immigration breaches and criminal convictions worldwide. Failing to disclose them can lead to refusal for deception, which may affect later applications for years.
Disclose fully and explain the context. A short covering letter, supported by documents, is usually the safest course.
Letting permission lapse between grants
An extension must be made before the current permission expires. A late application can break continuous residence and reset the clock towards settlement. Dependent children’s permission may end on a different date from the main applicant’s.
Diarise every family member’s expiry date and start preparing evidence at least three months before.
Applying from abroad: Bangladesh and other countries
Many spouse visa UK applications are made from South Asia, and the same practical issues recur. Bangladesh is on the GOV.UK list of countries whose applicants need a tuberculosis test certificate from an approved clinic. Marriage, birth and divorce documents must be accompanied by certified English translations, and inconsistencies in names or dates between documents, or with earlier applications, often prompt further enquiries.
Where the British partner has been living abroad with the applicant, the couple can rely on the partner's overseas employment if they are returning to the UK together, but the evidence must still follow the format that Appendix FM-SE specifies for that category, which includes requirements about the partner's employment after return. Couples with income spread between the UK and Bangladesh should map each source to its category early, because some sources cannot be combined.
Identity documents issued after a name change, or late registration of a marriage, are common causes of questions. Our team in London works with colleagues in Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet so that documents obtained in Bangladesh are checked before they are submitted with a spouse visa UK application.
What to do next: a spouse visa UK checklist
- Confirm the sponsor's status and that your marriage or partnership is recognised in the UK.
- Work out which income or savings category you will rely on and when its evidence period is complete.
- Arrange an approved English test or Ecctis statement, and a tuberculosis test where required.
- Collect accommodation evidence and check the property will not be overcrowded.
- Translate every non-English document through a certified translator.
- Plan the extension at two and a half years and the B2 English change for settlement from 26 March 2027.
TRW & Co's London office is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Our immigration solicitors prepare spouse visa UK applications from London and, through our offices in Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet, help families gather evidence in Bangladesh. Where family law questions arise, we work with our family law team. No adviser can guarantee a visa, but careful preparation makes a real difference. Contact us at info@trw.co or +880 1779 127165.
Frequently asked questions
01How much do you need to earn for a UK spouse visa?
GOV.UK states that you and your partner usually need a combined gross income of at least £29,000 a year. If you first applied as a partner before 11 April 2024 and are extending with the same partner, the figure is £18,600 plus £3,800 for the first child and £2,400 for each additional child who is not exempt. At entry clearance, the overseas applicant's own earnings do not count. Savings, pension and other specified income can be used, and the requirement does not apply if your partner receives certain disability or carer's benefits.
02Can we use savings instead of income?
Yes. Cash savings above £16,000 can be used. At entry clearance, the rules require £16,000 plus 2.5 times the shortfall between your income and £29,000, so with no income you would need £88,500. The savings must have been held for at least six months before the application and be under your control, and you must explain their source. Funds transferred from investments within that period are allowed only in specified circumstances.
03How long does a spouse visa take to process?
GOV.UK says applications from outside the UK are usually decided within 12 weeks. Applications from inside the UK that meet the financial and English requirements are usually decided within 8 weeks, but in-country applications that rely on exceptional circumstances currently take about 12 months. A super priority service may be available for some in-country applications for an extra £1,000. Time also needs to be allowed for identity appointments and, from Bangladesh, a tuberculosis test.
04What English level is needed for a spouse visa?
For the first application, you must pass an approved test at CEFR level A1 or above, unless you hold a degree taught in English or are a national of an exempt country. To extend after two and a half years, you need at least A2 if you originally passed at A1. For settlement, the requirement is currently B1, rising to B2 for applications made on or after 26 March 2027 under a Statement of Changes laid in March 2026.
05Can I switch to a spouse visa from a visitor visa?
Usually not. GOV.UK states that people in the UK as visitors, or with permission of six months or less, normally need to leave and apply for a family visa from abroad. The exceptions are narrow, such as a fiancé(e) visa holder who marries in the UK. If you are in the UK on another long-term visa, such as a Skilled Worker or Student visa, you may be able to switch, provided you meet all the partner requirements.
06When can a spouse apply for indefinite leave to remain?
Under current rules, a partner can apply after five years' continuous residence on the partner route, excluding time as a fiancé(e) or on other visas. Those granted under the exceptions without meeting the financial or English requirements usually face a ten-year route. The government's earned settlement proposals would keep a shorter path for partners of British citizens, but as of October 2026 they had not been written into the Immigration Rules.
Sources and official materials
- GOV.UK: Family visas – apply, extend or switch — Partner requirements, fees and timings
- GOV.UK: Financial requirements for partners — £29,000 and £18,600 income rules
- Immigration Rules: Appendix FM — Partner route rules and Article 8 exceptions
- Immigration Rules: Appendix FM-SE — Specified financial evidence
- Immigration Rules: Appendix KoLL — English and Life in the UK for settlement
- Home Office: Earned settlement consultation — Proposed changes to settlement
General information only, current as at 21 October 2026. It is not legal advice and does not create a solicitor–client relationship. It reflects the law of England and Wales unless stated otherwise; Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate legal systems, and the law changes frequently. Check current official sources and take advice on the facts of your matter.