UK partner visa (family visa)
Who it's for: Married partners, civil partners, or couples who have lived together for at least 2 years, where one partner is a British citizen or settled in the UK.
Information, not immigration advice. This page summarises what the government publishes. Confirm every figure on the official page before you pay or apply.
Last checked 29 Oct 2026
Requirements at a glance
- Your partner is a British citizen or is settled in the UK
- Married, in a civil partnership, or living together for at least 2 years; you must have met in person
- Income of at least £29,000 a year, or cash savings above £16,000 plus 2.5 times any shortfall
- English at CEFR A1 in speaking and listening for the first visa
- Adequate housing in the UK that isn't overcrowded, without public funds
- Visa fee of £2,064 from outside the UK, plus the health surcharge of £3,105 for the first visa
Figures and costs
| Item | Amount | In your currency | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa fee, applying from outside the UK | £2,064 | — | gov.ukOfficial · 29 Oct 2026 |
| Visa fee, applying from inside the UK | £1,407 | — | gov.ukOfficial · 29 Oct 2026 |
| Health surcharge for the first visa (2 years 9 months) | £3,105 | — | gov.ukOfficial · 29 Oct 2026 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge, per year | £1,035 | — | gov.ukOfficial · 29 Oct 2026 |
| Income needed (couple, per year) | £29,000 | — | gov.ukOfficial · 29 Oct 2026 |
| Savings: base amount | £16,000 | — | gov.ukOfficial · 29 Oct 2026 |
| Savings: multiple of any income shortfall | 2.5 times the shortfall | gov.ukOfficial · 29 Oct 2026 | |
| Length of the first visa | 33 months | gov.ukOfficial · 29 Oct 2026 | |
| Length of each extension | 30 months | gov.ukOfficial · 29 Oct 2026 | |
| Years to settlement | 5 years | gov.ukOfficial · 29 Oct 2026 | |
| Usual decision time from outside the UK | 12 weeks | gov.ukOfficial · 29 Oct 2026 |
Figures marked check come from secondary sources or could not be confirmed on an official page.
Costs and local steps by country
Costs in your currency, plus what's specific to applying from there, such as the approved TB test clinics.
How the route works
You apply online from outside the UK, pay the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, and give your fingerprints and photo at a visa application centre. Your partner in the UK provides evidence of their status, their income or your savings, and the home you will live in.
The financial requirement
The gov.uk page states one minimum yearly income for the couple. Income from your partner’s job in the UK counts, and so can some other income and cash savings. If you can’t meet the financial requirement, gov.uk says the earliest you can settle is after 10 years rather than 5.
Relationship evidence
The published rules ask for evidence from official sources that confirms your relationship and is less than 4 years old: for example a marriage or civil partnership certificate, a tenancy agreement or utility bills in both names, a joint bank account, or a letter from a doctor. The decision on whether a relationship is genuine is made by the Home Office.
Common questions
Can savings replace income?
Yes. The Immigration Rules let cash savings make up a shortfall: £16,000 plus 2.5 times the gap between your income and the threshold. With no income at all, the formula gives a much larger amount. Savings must be held in cash and meet the evidence rules in Appendix FM-SE.
How long is the visa?
The first visa from outside the UK lasts up to 2 years and 9 months. You then extend for a further 2 years and 6 months, and can usually apply to settle after 5 years in total.
Are fiancé(e) visas covered?
No. This site covers partners who are already married, in a civil partnership or living together. The gov.uk family visa pages explain the fiancé(e) route.
The full Partner visa guide
Step-by-step process, every cost for you and your family, document checklist, money rules, common refusal reasons and official links. The same guide for every buyer, dated.
Other UK routes
Before you pay anyone
- Nobody can guarantee a visa. Only the government of the country you apply to decides.
- UK employers must not charge you for a Certificate of Sponsorship.
- German missions say you don't need an agent to get a visa appointment.
- Check any adviser or recruitment agent on an official register before you pay.