The UK spouse and partner visa allows spouses, civil partners, and unmarried partners of British citizens or settled persons to join them in the UK. In 2026 the Minimum Income Requirement is £29,000. The application is made from outside the UK and grants 30 months of leave on entry, followed by a 30-month FLR(M) extension and then Indefinite Leave to Remain at five years. ClearVisa is IAA-regulated (F202536292) and prepares spouse visa applications on a fixed-fee basis.

Bringing Your Partner to the UK

The UK Spouse and Partner Visa is the main route for couples who want to live together in the United Kingdom. Whether you are a British citizen sponsoring a partner from abroad, or a person settled in the UK reuniting with your family, this is the route that applies to you.

It is also one of the most refused visa categories. Not because couples are ineligible, but because the income evidence is wrong, the relationship narrative is too thin, or the application is built against the wrong rules. The Minimum Income Requirement rose to £29,000 in April 2024. Applications still being prepared against the old £18,600 threshold are refused on submission.

Who This Route Covers

Spouse or Civil Partner

You are legally married or in a civil partnership recognised under UK law. This is the most straightforward partner route. The marriage or civil partnership certificate must be provided alongside evidence of the genuine and subsisting relationship.

Unmarried Partner

You have been in a genuine relationship akin to marriage and living together for at least two continuous years. Cohabitation throughout that period must be evidenced with documentation covering the full two years.

Fiancé(e) or Proposed Civil Partner

You intend to marry in the UK. You receive a six-month visa to marry here, after which you must switch to a full spouse visa to remain. The marriage must take place within the six-month period.

The Key Requirements

Minimum Income Requirement — £29,000

The sponsor must earn at least £29,000 gross per year from employment, self-employment, or a qualifying combination of sources. The income requirement is the most common reason applications fail — not because couples are below the threshold, but because the evidence is not presented in the format UKVI requires.

Funds parking is a direct refusal trigger. A large deposit appearing in the sponsor's bank account shortly before the application is treated with suspicion even if the funds are legitimate. UKVI wants six months of continuous statements showing genuine recurring income.

Genuine and Subsisting Relationship

The relationship evidence must cover how you met, the history of the relationship, how you maintain contact, time spent together, and your plans as a couple. It must be specific, dated, and corroborated. Generic applications are identified and refused.

Accommodation, English Language and No Recourse to Public Funds

Adequate accommodation in the UK must be evidenced. The applicant must demonstrate English at CEFR A1 level for initial entry, rising to A2 at FLR(M) and B1 at ILR. The visa is granted with a No Recourse to Public Funds condition which applies throughout the leave period.

The Route to British Citizenship

  • Stage 1 — Entry Clearance (30 months). Initial visa. Income, relationship and accommodation requirements apply from day one.
  • Stage 2 — FLR(M) Extension (30 months). Must be submitted before the first visa expires. All requirements re-demonstrated in full.
  • Stage 3 — Indefinite Leave to Remain. After five years on the partner route. Continuous residence, Life in the UK test, English at B1.
  • Stage 4 — British Citizenship. Naturalisation available one year after ILR is granted.

Why Spouse Visa Applications Are Refused

Income evidence does not meet the threshold

Gross income below £29,000 or payslips and bank statements not in the format UKVI requires. Employment gaps, self-employment income, and bonus payments each require different evidential treatment.

Relationship evidence is too thin

A few photographs and a general statement is not a relationship narrative. The application must tell a specific, dated, corroborated story. Caseworkers are trained to identify generic applications.

Previous refusal not disclosed

Any prior UK visa refusal in any category must be declared. An undisclosed refusal discovered by UKVI is treated as deception regardless of the underlying category.

English language certificate from non-approved provider

The SELT must come from a provider on UKVI's current approved list at the date of application. Certificates from providers removed from the list are not accepted.

FLR(M) submitted out of time

At the extension stage the application must be submitted before the current visa expires. One day late creates a permanent overstay on the immigration record, disclosed on every future application including ILR and naturalisation.

How ClearVisa Prepares Your Application

We prepare Spouse and Partner Visa applications to decision-ready standard. Our work covers income threshold calculation and evidence gap analysis, relationship evidence review and narrative structuring, financial statement review for funds parking risk, full document audit against current UKVI requirements, and a covering letter addressing caseworker concerns before they arise. Fixed-fee. IAA-regulated (F202536292).

Frequently Asked Questions

What documents do I need for a UK spouse visa application in 2026?
A UK spouse visa application requires: a valid passport, the sponsor's proof of British citizenship or settled status, proof of the genuine and subsisting relationship including marriage certificate and cohabitation evidence, evidence the sponsor meets the £29,000 Minimum Income Requirement, proof of adequate accommodation in the UK, and English language evidence unless exempt.
What is the £29,000 income requirement for a spouse visa?
The £29,000 Minimum Income Requirement must be met by the UK sponsor from qualifying sources including employment, self-employment, or pension. It is assessed at the date of application. Savings cannot top up income below £29,000 unless the shortfall threshold rules apply.
Can an unmarried partner apply for a UK visa?
Yes. Unmarried partners who have been in a relationship akin to marriage for at least two years can apply under the same Appendix FM rules as spouses. The relationship must be genuine and subsisting, and the same income and accommodation requirements apply.
How long is a UK spouse visa valid for?
An initial UK spouse visa entry clearance grants 30 months of leave. This is followed by a 30-month FLR(M) extension, after which the applicant can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain having completed five continuous years on the route.
What are the most common reasons for a UK spouse visa refusal?
The most common refusal reasons are: income evidence not meeting the £29,000 threshold, relationship evidence insufficient to satisfy the genuineness test, English language requirement not met, sponsor not holding the required immigration status, and accommodation not meeting the adequacy standard.

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