If you are planning to move to the UK to be with your other half, you will need to apply for a Spouse visa. You may be wondering, how much does a spouse visa cost?
In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the cost of a spousal visa in the United Kingdom. For example, a standard Visa costs less than £95 per person. There is a separate fee of £95.00 for each family members (dependants) applying at the same time.
There are also certain additional costs associated with applying for a spouse visa, which include the appointment booking fee or scanning of documents and biometric information fee.
What is a UK Spouse Visa?
A Spouse visa is for partners of British citizens, persons with indefinite leave to remain in the UK or limited leave to remain under Appendix EU or Appendix ECAA, who wish to join, or stay with, their husband or wife in the UK. You can also apply for a UK Spouse visa if your Spouse is outside the UK, but intending to return to the UK with you.
It is different from a Marriage visitor visa as the latter allows the holder to stay for up to 6 months only and has no intention of settling in the UK after the civil partnership or marriage. If the applicant is already in the UK under a fiancé visa, skilled worker visa or student visa with over 6 months validity, applying for a spouse visa is permitted.
What are the legal requirements for a UK Spouse visa application?
In order to qualify for a UK Spouse visa you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that you meet the following requirements:
- Your partner is British, holds indefinite leave to remain, limited leave to remain under Appendix EU or limited leave to remain under Appendix ECAA;
- You are both over the age of 18
- You have met in person and are legally in a married or in a civil partnership;
- Your relationship is genuine and you intend to live together permanently;
- Any previous relationships have broken down permanently;
- You will be adequately maintained in the UK without recourse to public funds;
- There is adequate accommodation for you and any dependents;
- You speak and understand English to the required level to meet the English language requirement
- You have a valid TB certificate if applicable and
- You can meet the minimum income threshold financial requirement of £29,000 to demonstrate you will not have recourse to public funds.
Get in touch on 02037 324 736 or use our online contact form to speak to our immigration lawyers team about your Civil Partnership Visa application. One of our expert immigration lawyers would be happy to assist with advice and visa application process and procedure, or appeal service for an successful outcome.
How to Apply for a UK Spouse Visa?
To apply for a UK spouse visa, several considerations must be met to satisfy the Immigration rules. The application is usually made in their home country at a visa application centre. The applicant is required to seek prior entry clearance before he/she can join their partner in the UK. The partner must be at least 18 years old and a British or Irish citizen.
If neither a British nor Irish citizen, he or she must fulfil any of the following:
- Have settled in the UK with either having an indefinite leave to remain (ILR), settled status, or permanent residence proof.
- Be from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein and have a pre-settled status. A pre-settled status means that the duration of continuous stay in the UK is at least a year, or before January 1, 2021, whichever comes first. Should the partner comply with a settled or pre-settled status, there is also an option to apply for EU Settlement Scheme.
- Have a Turkish Worker Visa or Turkish Businessperson Visa.
- Have refugee status.
On the other hand, the foreign applicant must be 18 years old or above and can prove just one of the below:
- Is in a civil partnership or marriage acknowledged in the UK.
- Has lived together for at least 2 years when or before the actual application (unmarried partner)
- Within 6 months of arriving in the UK, the applicant and future spouse will marry or enter into a civil partnership.
Aside from the aforementioned, the foreign partner must also prove to have good knowledge of English (English language requirements) and be able to financially support him/herself and his/her dependents (financial requirement). You may also be able to meet the financial requirement by way of cash savings. To find out more, how you can meet the financial requirements of the Immigration rules, get in touch today.
Notwithstanding the conditions, the UK recognizes that it would be a basic human rights violation to make the applicant leave the country or prevent him/her from coming into the country.
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UK Spouse Visa Application Process:
Once the application is in process, this means that the couple intends to permanently live in the UK.
It is important to complete all eligibility requirements that can prove the authenticity of the relationship. Proof can be a marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate; bills or tenancy agreements that show proof of the couple living together at the same address; joint account bank statements; or a letter from a medical professional, such as a dentist or doctor who can attest to the living arrangements.
It is important to provide strong evidence that can verify the relationship and can improve the applicant’s chances of visa approval.
In the case of spouse visa dependents, children under the age of 18 can enter the UK with the applicant. Aside from sufficient income from the foreign spouse, the sponsoring spouse must also be able to show proof of income as required by the existing minimum income requirements.
Waiting Times:
If the application is filed outside of the UK at the appropriate visa test centre and the application forms have been completed correctly, the decision would normally come after about 12 weeks. If the application is filed within the UK, a decision would usually be received after 8 weeks.
Should the applicant choose to use a service provider for his/her application, the waiting time would depend on the country where the application was made. The application may also take a much longer time, depending on the specific circumstances.
As an example, delays take place if the applicant cannot prove good English knowledge, has insufficient income, or has personal issues or criminal convictions that may need further review.
To fast-track the application process, an extra payment of about £800 for a super-priority service can be availed.
Related: How long does the Spouse visa take UK?
Approval Process:
Once the application is approved, the spouse visa is initially valid for 30 months. The applicant can then apply for an additional 30 months extension. This means that after completing 5 years the applicant is eligible for applying for an indefinite leave to remain visa.
To be approved for ILR, the couple must still be married and living together, aside from continuously meeting the requirements. If the ILR is approved, the final application is to be a naturalized British citizen.
On another note, if the married couple decides to separate during the probationary period before the foreign spouse can live in the UK permanently, a written notification should be sent to the UKVI (Home Office).In this case, the Home Office decides whether the former spouse can stay or leave the UK. The decision of the Home Office will usually rely on the qualifications of the former spouse to stay in the UK as well as the circumstances as to why it may be inappropriate to let them leave the country.
The applicant may still be able to rely on different grounds to remain in the UK, in particular based upon domestic violence and/or if there are children in the marriage and/or as a primary carer for the child or children.
If you need help getting your Spouse visa approved or to apply on the basis of domestic violence or a Parent of a child, we are here at My Legal Services are always here to help. For assistance call us on 02037324736.
How Much Does a Spouse Visa Cost?
The table below shows how much a spouse visa costs in the UK in 2024:
| Details | Applications outside the UK | Applications within the UK |
| UK Spouse visa fee (cost) in 2024 | £1,846 | £1,048 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | £2,587.50 (2.5 years) | £2,587.50 (2.5 years) |
Potential Costs from Other Required Documents:
Aside from the visa application fee, the applicant would also need to prepare for other potential costs and government fees during the application process. For instance, you will need to pay the mandatory NHS charge, known as the Immigration Health Surcharge. If the applicant has required documents that are not in English or Welsh, these papers must be translated. These documents would normally be marriage, divorce, school, or death certificates. Translation services cost vary depending on the translator’s fees and the number of documents to be translated.
Another additional document required is a copy of the applicant’s bank statements.
Additional Potential Costs:
Applicants outside the UK also need to undergo a tuberculosis test and potentially a medical examination. Depending on the country, the cost of a TB test usually ranges from £65-110. The UK Home Office has approved clinics for testing.
Another potential cost is the IELTS Life Skills Test which costs about £150. If the country of origin is a majority English-speaking country, then the test is not necessary. If the applicant fails the test, retaking it will incur another £150 additional fee.
Related: Which documents do I need for a Spouse Visa Extension?
Conclusion:
The cost of a spouse visa in the UK can be expensive, with numerous fees that must be paid to complete the process. It is important to be prepared for these costs and have enough money saved up to cover them.
Planning early and budgeting appropriately is a good idea when you’ve made the decision to go to the UK on a spouse visa. Immigration lawyers like My Legal Services can help assist you with your concerns, should you feel overwhelmed with the application process or you simply are unsure of the visa process, procedure and how to apply. We are here to help every step of the way.
Need Assistance?
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We can help you every step of the way with your UK immigration and obtaining your UK spouse visa from start to finish, even with refusals and appeals.
Simply contact us here or give us a call at 02037 324 736 for a free consultation or to speak to our team about your next step for starting your new life in the UK.