UK partner and spouse family visa in 2026

The UK family route can allow an eligible spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner to live with a qualifying family member in the UK. It is not the same as joining someone as a dependant on their work or study visa.

The controlling starting points are the GOV.UK family visa overview and the partner or spouse guidance. The Immigration Rules contain additional detail, so always check the live rules for the application date.

Who can qualify as a partner

Both partners must generally be at least 18. The UK-based partner must hold a qualifying status, such as British or Irish citizenship, settlement, certain pre-settled status, specified protection status, or another status listed by GOV.UK.

Applicants must also show that the relationship is genuine and subsisting and that the couple intend to live together permanently in the UK. For an unmarried partner, the relationship rules include a durable-relationship test. Evidence can include shared residence, finances, communication, travel and other proof of an ongoing relationship.

The usual financial requirement is £29,000

For a new partner or spouse application under the current framework, the couple will usually need to show combined qualifying income of at least £29,000 a year. GOV.UK calls this the minimum income requirement.

The rules are evidence-heavy. Depending on the circumstances, permitted sources can include employment or self-employment income, pension or non-employment income and qualifying cash savings. The evidence rules vary by income category, so the headline threshold alone is not enough.

See the current GOV.UK financial-requirement guidance before relying on a particular income source.

Important financial exceptions and transitional rules

The £29,000 figure is not universal.

  • If the sponsoring partner receives certain disability or carer-related benefits, the minimum income requirement does not apply in the normal way. The application instead uses an adequate-maintenance assessment.
  • If the applicant first entered the partner route before 11 April 2024 and is extending with the same partner, transitional rules can preserve the older £18,600 framework, with child additions where applicable and a cap described by GOV.UK.
  • In some cases involving a qualifying child or human-rights considerations, an application may still be possible even where the normal financial requirement is not met. That can affect the route and the settlement timetable.

This is why a page that states only “£29,000” without the exceptions can be misleading.

English, accommodation and other requirements

Partner applications can also involve an English-language requirement, suitable accommodation and detailed suitability requirements. Fiancé, fiancée and proposed civil partner applications have different timing and post-marriage steps from spouse or partner applications.

The exact document list depends on where the applicant is applying, the sponsor's status, the relationship type and the financial category being used.

How long permission lasts

For a partner or spouse applying under the standard family route, GOV.UK currently describes an initial grant of up to 2 years and 9 months. An extension can normally be for up to 2 years and 6 months.

A fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner normally receives a shorter period of up to 6 months, after which a further application is required following the marriage or civil partnership.

Settlement

A person who continues to meet the rules on the standard partner route can generally apply for settlement after 5 continuous years on the family visa as a partner. Time as a fiancé or fiancée does not count toward that five-year partner period.

Where an application succeeds under family-life exceptions instead of the normal five-year requirements, a 10-year settlement route can apply. Do not assume every successful family application follows the same settlement timetable.

Related UK routes

If the UK-based person is in the UK on a work or study route rather than as a qualifying family-route sponsor, the correct option may be a dependant route instead of this family visa.

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Return to the United Kingdom immigration hub.

Editorial note: This page summarizes public immigration information and is not regulated UK immigration advice. Family-route cases can turn on detailed personal facts, evidence rules and transitional provisions.

Official and supporting sources

Related routes in United Kingdom