British Spouse Visa Application – Full Requirement Checklist

If your partner is a British citizen or holds settled status, the Spouse visa is normally the route that lets you live with them in the UK long-term. It falls under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules.

Core Requirements

1. Genuine, subsisting relationship. You must be married, in a civil partnership, or have lived together for at least two years in a relationship "akin to marriage".
2. Financial requirement. Currently a minimum gross annual income of £29,000, though savings, self-employment income, and other categories can be combined.
3. Adequate accommodation. Suitable housing in the UK that won't be overcrowded.
4. English language. A1 at the first application, A2 at extension, B1 at ILR.
5. No suitability issues. No serious immigration breaches or relevant criminality.

The Genuine Relationship Test

This is where most refusals come from. Caseworkers want to see a story, not just a marriage certificate:

• Photographs together across time and locations.
• Joint bank statements, bills, or tenancy agreements.
• Travel records of visits and trips together.
• Communication history (messages, calls).
• Statements from family and friends who know you both.

Meeting the Financial Threshold

You can meet the £29,000 figure through:

• Employment income (with six months of payslips).
• Self-employment (with full tax year accounts).
• Savings of at least £88,500 held for six months.
• Pension or rental income.
• Combinations of the above.

What Happens Next

If granted, you receive a 2.5-year visa. After the first 2.5 years you extend, and after five years you can apply for ILR. After a further year, you may apply for British citizenship.

"Build your evidence as if you're telling the story of a real life — because you are."