UK Spouse Visa Guide

People move to the UK for different reasons, for a better job, education, or quality of life. While seeking greener pastures abroad sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, they have to make difficult life adjustments during the process. One such adjustment is leaving their partner behind.

Being separated by borders from your partner is a painful experience. Long-term separation from a partner can cause increased anxiety, depression and other psychological problems. Of course, your spouse can apply for a visa to move to the UK. But, the immigration process can be daunting and costly. Coupled with the many rules and procedures, visa application fees have increased as well.

Spouse visa 101

If you are already settled in the UK, your spouse can join you on the spouse visa or marriage visa. Spouse includes wife, husband or civil partner. Your spouse is known as a dependant, while you are the sponsor.

The visa is for married partners of UK citizens only. Your spouse can immigrate to the UK because you are ‘settled’ in the UK. In other words, there are no immigration restrictions on you; you can stay in the UK as long as you want.

Once the visa is granted, your spouse can work or study in the country. Keep in mind, it is granted for 30 months after which the spouse is required to extend the visa for further 30 months. If your spouse wants to visit the country for less than 6 months, they will need to apply for a visit visa. Moreover, they will need to apply for the visa outside the UK.

What are the visa requirements? 

In order to qualify for a UK spouse or marriage visa, the applicant (spouse) and their partner (British citizen) must meet these requirements:

• They must be 18 years old or over.
• They must be legally married.
• They must intend to live together permanently in the UK.
• They must have enough financial resources to support yourselves as well as their dependents (if applicable) in the UK.
• The sponsor must earn more than £18,600 per year to sponsor their partner. If they don’t have enough earnings, they must have adequate savings to sponsor their spouse. If dependent children are involved, the sponsoring cost increases.
• The sponsor must have proper accommodation in the UK.
• Both the sponsor and dependant must satisfy the English language requirements.

How long does the visa application take?

Generally, the average visa processing time is 2 to 12 weeks. However, this depends on the country your spouse is applying from.

The visa is initially issued for 33 months. Thereafter, your spouse will have to renew their visa from the UK.

How should you apply for a spouse visa?

You can apply for a spouse visa from overseas online. From spouse to student visa to work visa, our professional solicitors are specialised to deal with different types of UK immigration visas.

Get in touch with us for all your UK immigration needs.