United Kingdom · Family
Family visas: apply, extend or switch — Apply as a partner or spouse
Family visas: apply, extend or switch — Apply as a partner or spouse is issued by UK Visas and Immigration. VisaAI tracks 25 official requirements for it, each traced to the government page that states it.
Last verified against the official source on .
VisaAI is not a government body and does not issue visas. It cannot decide, predict or guarantee the outcome of an application, and this page is not legal or immigration advice.
Requirements change. Confirm every item on UK Visas and Immigration’s own page before you apply.
Each requirement below is written in plain English by VisaAI. The indented text beneath it is quoted from UK Visas and Immigration’s own page, so you can check what we say against what they say. Where a quotation shows “ ... ”, text has been left out.
Conditions you must meet
- You and your partner must both be 18 or over
To apply as a partner, you and your partner both need to be 18 or over.
- Your partner must hold a qualifying status in the UKGOV.UK lists: a British or Irish citizen; settled in the UK (for example indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence); from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein with pre-settled status having started living in the UK before 1 January 2021; a Turkish Businessperson or Turkish Worker visa holder; protection status (refugee or humanitarian protection); or permission to stay as a stateless person granted before you became their partner.
Your partner must also either: be a British or Irish citizen
- You and your partner must intend to live together permanently in the UK
You and your partner must intend to live together permanently in the UK after you apply.
- Prove a qualifying relationship with your partnerGOV.UK accepts any one of: a civil partnership or marriage recognised in the UK; living together in a relationship for at least 2 years at the time you apply; being a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner who will marry or form a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of arriving; or a relationship of at least 2 years where you cannot live together, for example because of work, study or culture.
You must be able to prove one of the following: you’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK
- Have a good knowledge of English
You also need to prove you: have a good knowledge of English
- Meet the financial requirementsGOV.UK bases this on your income, the income of the family member you are joining, or both. It publishes the threshold figure on a sub-page that is not a registered source, so no amount is recorded here. The registered documents page does state that cash savings above GBP 16,000 count as income, and that self-employed income is based on the last 6 months or more counting back from the day you apply.
meet the financial requirements
- Fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner: marry within 6 months of arriving and show previous marriages have endedGOV.UK also states you cannot work or study in the UK during your engagement, and that you must apply to extend your stay after you marry or form the civil partnership.
You must prove that: you plan to marry or become civil partners within 6 months of arriving in the UK ... any previous marriages or civil partnerships have ended
Documents you must provide
- Your current passport or other valid travel ID
You’ll need to provide: all your names ... your date of birth ... your current passport or other valid travel ID
- Copies of the photo page and any visa or entry stamps in your previous passports
copies of the photo page and any visa or entry stamps in your previous passports
- Details of any previous immigration applications you have made
details of any previous immigration applications you’ve made
- Details of any criminal convictions
details of any criminal convictions
- Your National Insurance number, if you have one
your national insurance number, if you have one
- Your parents' date of birth and nationality, if applying from outside the UK
your parents’ date of birth and nationality if you’re applying from outside the UK
- Tuberculosis test results, if you are from a country where the test is required
your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test
- Certified translation of any document not in English or Welsh
a certified translation of any document that is not in English or Welsh
- Online proof of your immigration status (eVisa share code) or your biometric residence permitGOV.UK states a BRP can be used for 24 months after the expiry date printed on the card, or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first.
You’ll also need to provide either: online proof of your immigration status if you have an eVisa - you’ll need to get a share code ... your biometric residence permit (BRP) - you can use it for 24 months after the expiry date printed on your card or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first
- Evidence confirming your relationship with your partnerGOV.UK requires evidence that comes from the government, a bank, landlord, utility provider or a medical professional, confirms the relationship, and is less than 4 years old. It names marriage or civil partnership certificates, tenancy agreements, utility or council tax bills, joint bank statements, and letters from a doctor or dentist confirming a shared address. Where none of those exist it accepts a one-off bill such as vet's fees or home repairs, voting register letters, or student finance paperwork showing a shared address.
Send evidence that: comes from the government, a bank, landlord, utility provider, or a medical professional ... confirms your relationship with your partner - for example, that you live together, share expenses or are married or in a civil partnership ... is less than 4 years old
- Proof of the income you rely on for the financial requirementFor employed income GOV.UK names bank statements showing the income, 6 months of payslips counting back from the day you apply, and a dated employer's letter on headed paper confirming employment, job title, length of service, contract type, pre-tax pay, how long that salary has been paid, and that the payslips are genuine.
You’ll need to provide proof of the income with your application.
- Your partner's details and historyGOV.UK asks for your partner's name, date of birth, nationality, passport and right to be in the UK, plus details of anyone your partner was previously married to, in a civil partnership with or had children with, evidence of marriages ending such as a divorce certificate, and anyone your partner supports financially.
If you have a partner, you’ll be asked about their: name ... date of birth ... nationality ... passport ... right to be in the UK, for example they’re a British citizen
- Details of your children, including children who are not applyingGOV.UK asks for each child's name, nationality, date of birth and passport details, who the child normally lives with, others with parental responsibility, your involvement in their daily life, contact arrangements, the child's extended family, and any countries the child has visited or lived in.
You’ll need to give details of your children (and your partner’s children if you have one). You’ll be asked about all children, even if they’re not applying.
- Details of your life outside the UK
You’ll need to give details of: countries outside the UK you’ve lived in and visited ... family and friends in the countries where you were born or have nationality
Steps in the process
- Apply onlineThe UK publishes no application form number for this route — the application exists only as an online service, with separate services for applying from outside the UK and from inside it. GOV.UK also offers assisted digital help with the online form for people applying in the UK who lack confidence with, or access to, a computer; that service cannot give immigration advice.
Outside the UK You must apply online from outside the UK. In the UK You must apply online in the UK.
- Have an email address for the online application
You’ll need an email address to make an online application.
Government fees
- Family visa application fee (joining a partner)GBP 2,064 applying from outside the UK, GBP 1,407 applying from inside the UK. Each dependant added to the application pays the same amount again. GOV.UK also states an optional super priority service costs an extra GBP 1,000 when applying from the UK, and that a fee waiver may be available if you cannot afford a place to live or your essential living costs, or if paying would harm your child's wellbeing. Neither the optional service nor the waiver is listed as a fee here because neither is required.
Apply outside the UK Apply in the UK Cost if joining your partner, parent or child £2,064 £1,407 Cost for each dependant added to your application £2,064 each person £1,407 each person
- Immigration healthcare surchargeAdults (18 or older) pay GBP 2,587.50 for 2 years and 6 months, GBP 3,105 for 2 years and 9 months, or GBP 5,175 for 5 years. Children (under 18) pay GBP 1,940, GBP 2,328 and GBP 3,880 for the same periods.
For each adult (18 or older) it costs: £2,587.50 if you’re staying for 2 years and 6 months ... £3,105 if you’re staying for 2 years and 9 months ... £5,175 if you’re staying for 5 years ... For each child (under 18), it costs: £1,940 if you’re staying for 2 years and 6 months ... £2,328 if you’re staying for 2 years and 9 months ... £3,880 if you’re staying for 5 years
Official sources
- Eligibility — Eligibility, UK Visas and Immigration
- Official page — Official page, UK Visas and Immigration
- Fees — Fees, UK Visas and Immigration
- Document checklist — Document checklist, UK Visas and Immigration