Family visa: partner or spouse
A family visa for someone whose partner is British, Irish, settled or has certain other status in the UK. Applicants must show a genuine relationship, meet a financial requirement (usually £29,000 combined income) and show basic English. It is a 5-year route to settlement, granted in stages.
Life in United Kingdom
Money
3
Currency
British Pound
GBP
British Pound
Cost of living
92
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
20–45%
Income tax (national)
VAT 20% · social security 8%
Personal allowance GBP 12,570 (tapered away above GBP 100,000); 40% from GBP 50,271 and 45% above GBP 125,140. Scotland sets different bands and rates.
Living
1
Happiness
#27 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Spouses, civil partners, unmarried partners (2+ years living together) and fiancé(e)s or proposed civil partners of British or Irish citizens, settled people and some other UK residents.
Eligibility
Age
You and your partner must both be 18 or over.
Official wording
You and your partner must both be 18 or over.
Partner's status
Your partner must be a British or Irish citizen, have settled or pre-settled status, protection status, or certain other permissions listed by GOV.UK.
Relationship
Show you are married or in a civil partnership, have lived together for 2 years, or are engaged and plan to marry.
- Marriage or civil partnership must be recognised in the UK
- Living together: at least 2 years
- Engaged: plan to marry within 6 months of arrival
Official wording
You must be married or in a civil partnership recognised in the UK, have lived together for at least 2 years, or be engaged and plan to marry within 6 months of arrival.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirementLiving apart
- Document checklistValid passport
- FeesApplication fee, from outside the UK
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 6 more requirements
- 9 documents
- 6 fees
- 7 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Places to visit in United Kingdom
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Finding places for you…
Official sources
Other routes to United Kingdom
- Visit & tourismStandard Visitor visa
- StudyStudent visa
- Work permitsGraduate visa
- Skilled migrationGlobal Talent visa
- Asylum & protectionClaim asylum in the UK
- CitizenshipBritish citizenship by naturalisation
