Spouse & Partner Visa
A Spouse Visa or Partner Visa (also known as a Family of a Settled Person visa), enables a national from outside the EEA & Switzerland who is married, cohabiting or in a civil partnership with a British national or someone who is settled in the UK, to enter or remain in the UK with their partner.
In order to qualify for this route, you and your partner must both be over 18 and in a genuine relationship. You must be able to prove that you are either:
- married
- in a civil partnership
- been living together in a relationship for 2 years
You and your partner must intend to continue your relationship after you apply. Furthermore, all previous relationships must have broken down permanently.
The route you choose affects how soon you can apply to settle permanently in the UK – the routes include a 2-year route, a 5-year route and a 10-year route.
The eligibility for each criteria include:
Partner visa (2-year route):
You can only extend your ‘family of a settled person visa’ in this route if you:
- applied as a partner before 9 July 2012
- are not eligible to settle
- have kept to the terms of your visa
- you must meet the eligibility requirements for the partner routes and you must also prove that:
- you and your partner have enough money to adequately support and accommodate yourselves and any dependants without relying on public funds
- you have good knowledge of English
Partner (5-year route):
You may apply under this 5 years’ route towards settlement if:
- you’re 18 or over
- you must prove that you have a good knowledge of English (CEFR level A1 or A2)
- you must also meet the financial requirement of:
- £18,600 per year if you’re applying only for yourself
- £22,400 per year for you and one child
- £2,400 per year for each additional child
Family life as a partner (10-year route)
- You may apply under the 10 years’ Partner Route if there are exceptional circumstances:
- there are serious reasons you and your partner can’t live together as a couple in another country (high threshold) *
- you are unable to meet the Financial Requirement or the English Language Requirement
- you have a child in the UK who is a British citizen or has lived in the UK for 7 years, and it would not be in their best interests to leave the UK with you
Link to the Home Office website
Guidance for the 2 and 5 year route: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-to-extend-stay-in-the-uk-as-a-partner-form-flrm
Guidance for the 5 and 10-year routes: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/chapter-8-appendix-fm-family-members
Guidance for other routes: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-to-extend-stay-in-the-uk-form-flrfp
Whilst the Home Office published processing time up to 6 months, we find that a well-presented case enables the Home Office to make a decision much quicker. Please contact us if you would like to discuss the most suitable route for you.