Spouse Visa and Civil Partner Visa UK
for couples building their future together
A UK spouse visa or civil partner visa may allow an eligible
applicant to join or remain with a qualifying partner in the
United Kingdom. The application should address the relationship,
the partner’s status, finances, English-language evidence and
proposed accommodation.
Important dates, living arrangements, immigration
records and supporting documents should work together.
Route Overview
How the UK spouse visa and
civil partner visa route works
A spouse visa or civil partner visa may allow an eligible
applicant to live in the United Kingdom with a partner who
holds an accepted nationality or immigration status.
The application should establish the legal relationship,
confirm both partners’ immigration positions and explain how
the relationship developed and continues in practice.
The couple’s financial circumstances, English-language
evidence, UK accommodation, previous relationships and
immigration history may also need to be reviewed.
Confirm the applicant’s and partner’s current positions
Build a clear chronology of the relationship
Identify the evidence required for the circumstances
Dates, immigration records, living arrangements
and supporting documents should work together.
Route Snapshot
Core areas to establish
These areas provide an initial overview of the route.
The complete requirements and evidence will depend on
the application type, immigration history and individual
circumstances.
01
Age and identity
Both partners should be at least 18 and their
identity details should remain consistent across
the application records.
02
Partner’s UK position
The UK-based partner must hold a nationality or
immigration status accepted under the family route.
03
Recognised relationship
The marriage or civil partnership should be legally
recognised and the relationship should be genuine
and continuing.
04
Life together in the UK
The couple should intend to live together permanently
and explain their proposed UK living arrangements.
Important Route Check
Family visa or dependant application?
A spouse or civil partner family visa is not necessarily
the correct route where the UK-based partner holds
temporary permission under a work or study category.
In those circumstances, the relevant route may instead
be a dependant partner application connected to the
main visa holder.
Spouse visa and civil partner visa
eligibility requirements
Eligibility depends on both partners’ identities and ages,
the UK-based partner’s status, whether the marriage or civil
partnership is recognised, whether the relationship is genuine
and continuing, and the wider financial and practical requirements.
01
Age and identity
Both partners must be at least 18. Names, dates of
birth, nationality details and previous immigration
records should remain consistent throughout the
application.
Review passports and identity records
02
The partner’s UK status
The UK-based partner must hold a nationality or
immigration status accepted under the family route,
such as British or Irish citizenship or qualifying
settled permission.
Confirm the current status before applying
03
Recognised legal relationship
The marriage or civil partnership must be legally
recognised in the United Kingdom. Any earlier
marriages or civil partnerships should have ended
before the current relationship began.
Check certificates and previous relationships
04
Intention to live together
The couple must intend to live together permanently
in the United Kingdom. Current living arrangements,
periods apart and future accommodation should be
explained clearly.
Present clear plans for life in the UK
Main Requirements
Spouse visa and civil partner visa
requirements to consider together
A spouse visa or civil partner visa application should present
a consistent account of the relationship, financial position,
English-language evidence and intended UK accommodation.
The precise assessment depends on the application date,
immigration history, evidence relied on and whether any
transitional or alternative provisions apply.
01
Relationship
The marriage or civil partnership should be
recognised, and the relationship should be genuine,
continuing and supported by a clear shared history.
Review
Legal relationship, shared life and periods apart
02
Financial position
The permitted income, savings or alternative basis
relied on should be identified before collecting
the corresponding financial documents.
Review
Income source, evidence period and calculations
03
English language
Most new partner applications usually require the applicant
and partner to demonstrate qualifying combined annual income
of at least £29,000. The correct financial category, evidence
period, calculations and any applicable transitional or
alternative provisions should be identified before documents
are collected.
Review
Correct level, approved evidence or exemption
04
UK living arrangements
The application should explain where the couple
intends to live and show that the proposed
accommodation is available.
Review
Property, household members and availability
The applicable assessment can vary
Previous applications, the date the family route began,
personal circumstances and any permitted exemption can
affect how an individual requirement is considered.
Supporting Evidence
Spouse visa and civil partner visa evidence
for one consistent application
Documents should confirm both partners’ identities and immigration
positions, establish the marriage or civil partnership, explain
the continuing relationship and support the financial,
English-language and accommodation requirements.
Check consistency before submission
Names, dates, addresses and financial information
should agree across the evidence.
Evidence Groups
Organise documents by purpose
The documents required will depend on the application and
circumstances. These groups provide a practical starting
structure.
01
Identity and immigration position
Confirm who each partner is and the immigration
position relied on for the route.
Current passports and relevant travel records
Evidence of the partner’s UK status
Relevant previous applications or decisions
02
Marriage and relationship history
Explain the legal relationship and how the couple’s
shared life has developed.
Marriage or civil partnership certificate
Shared residence or responsibility records
Evidence explaining relevant periods apart
03
Financial evidence
The documents should correspond to the particular
financial basis used in the application.
Employment or income evidence
Bank statements for the relevant period
Supporting records for the income category
04
English and UK accommodation
Confirm the basis used for English and the couple’s
intended UK living arrangements.
Accepted English evidence or exemption
Evidence that accommodation is available
Property and household information
Review translations and document quality
Evidence should be complete and readable. Documents
not in English or Welsh may require an appropriate
certified translation.
Application Process
Spouse visa and civil partner visa
application process
A structured process helps keep the selected route, online
application, identity information, relationship history and
supporting evidence consistent from preparation through to
the final decision.
Review the relationship, partner’s UK status,
applicant’s current immigration position and
whether the application should be made from
inside or outside the UK.
02
Preparation
Complete the form and organise the evidence
Prepare the online application using information
that agrees with the identity, relationship,
financial, English-language and accommodation
documents.
03
Online Submission
Submit the application and required payments
Check the declarations and final answers before
submitting the online application and completing
the payments requested for the application.
04
Identity Stage
Upload documents and complete identity checks
Follow the instructions provided after submission,
including uploading supporting evidence and
attending an appointment for biometric information
where required.
05
Decision
Keep the application record and review the outcome
Retain copies of the form, submitted evidence and
correspondence. When a decision is received, review its
terms carefully. Where the application is unsuccessful,
consider the available
appeal and refusal options
before taking further action.
Follow the instructions issued for the individual application
Identity checks, document-upload arrangements and
any further requests can depend on where and how
the application is made.
Common Questions
Spouse visa and civil partner visa
frequently asked questions
General answers about legal relationships, supporting evidence,
applications from inside the UK, dependant routes, translations
and the stages following submission.
Individual Circumstances
Need a more specific review?
Prepare a short summary of the relationship, immigration
status, application history and intended application date.
Both can fall within the family partner
route. The application must identify the
precise legal relationship and provide
the corresponding marriage or civil
partnership evidence.
The certificate confirms the legal
relationship, but the application may
also need evidence showing that the
relationship is genuine, continuing and
consistent with the couple’s account.
That depends on the applicant’s existing
immigration permission and how they
entered the UK. The switching position
should be checked before an application
is started.
A family spouse visa may not be the
appropriate route. Depending on the main
visa category, the applicant may need to
consider a dependant partner application.
Documents not written in English or Welsh
may need an appropriate certified
translation. Both the original document
and translation should be kept together.
The applicant should follow the identity,
biometric and document instructions issued
for the application. Any later request for
information should be reviewed carefully
and answered within the stated period.
Review Your Circumstances
Discuss your spouse visa or civil partner visa application
before deciding how to proceed
Discuss the legal relationship, both partners’ immigration
positions, relationship history, financial circumstances,
English-language evidence, accommodation and intended
application location before moving forward.
