Family / Spouse visa in the UK
Family visa is for people whose partner / spouse is already in the UK with the right to live (British citizen, ILR holder, refugee, settled). Minimum sponsor income from April 2024 — £29,000/year. English A1 when you apply, B1 when you extend and apply for ILR. Route to ILR — 5 years (2.5 + 2.5). No agents needed.
Choose your stage
Family visa subtypes — which one is yoursSpouse, Unmarried, Fiancé, Parent, Adult dependent5 types
The Family route in the UK is an umbrella of several subtypes. All of them follow Appendix FM Immigration Rules and have similar financial and language requirements, but they differ in the evidence you need.
Spouse / Civil Partner visa
The most common case: you are officially married to a British citizen or ILR holder. The marriage must be «genuine and subsisting» — real, not fake. The Home Office checks: photos together, messages, joint trips, shared bills, statements from friends and family.
Unmarried Partner visa
If you have lived together as a couple for at least 2 years and can prove it (shared tenancy, bills for both, joint bank account). The rights are the same as Spouse — same 30+30 months → ILR.
Fiancé(e) visa
A visa for 6 months to come to the UK and get married. You cannot work. After the marriage you switch to a Spouse visa from inside the UK (separate application, separate fee). The financial threshold is the same £29,000.
Parent visa
For cases where your child is a UK citizen or ILR holder, and you are not in a relationship with the other parent. You need sole/shared parental responsibility and regular contact with the child. Documents: birth certificate, court orders, school letters.
Adult Dependent Relative
The hardest category — almost impossible. For elderly parents who need personal care that they cannot get in their home country. Approval rate <10%. You need medical evidence.
EU / EEA citizen? If your sponsor is an EU citizen with pre-settled or settled status (under the EU Settlement Scheme), you have a different route — EUSS family permit, not a Family visa. The conditions are easier, no £29,000.
Financial requirement — how to prove it£29,000 income / £88,500 savings / combination£29,000
From 11 April 2024 the minimum sponsor income (or joint income in the UK) is £29,000/year gross. Before that it was £18,600. The government planned to raise it to £38,700, but the new government froze the increase at the current level.
Income categories (Appendix FM-SE)
| Category | What you need |
|---|---|
| Cat A — salaried 6+ months | Payslips for 6 months, bank statements, employer letter. The easiest way. |
| Cat B — salaried <6 months | Current salary + total income from the last tax year £29,000+ |
| Cat D — savings | £88,500 in your account for 6 months continuously. Formula: £16,000 + (£29,000 × 2.5) |
| Cat F/G — self-employed | SA302 for the last tax year (or 2 years for averaging). Strict format. |
| Cat E — pension | State or private pension — counts without the 6-month test |
Formula for combination
If your salary is less than £29,000, you can add savings. Formula:
Required savings = £16,000 + (£29,000 − annual income) × 2.5
Example: salary £20,000. Shortfall = £9,000. Savings = £16,000 + £9,000 × 2.5 = £38,500.
Whose money counts
- From abroad: only the sponsor's income in the UK counts (your salary at home does NOT count)
- From the UK (extension): both partners' incomes add together
- Savings: can be in the sponsor's account, the applicant's account, or a joint account — the main thing is 6 months continuously
- You cannot borrow: gifted/borrowed money must be in the account for 6+ months to count
The most common reason for refusal. Documents do not match the required format. Bank statements must be official, with a bank stamp or a PDF from online banking with metadata. Payslips must match bank deposits exactly. Any difference → refusal.
English language — A1, B1, testsSELT exams, exemptions, where to take themSELT
Requirements by stage
| Stage | Level | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Apply from abroad | A1 Speaking + Listening | SELT certificate |
| Extension after 2.5 years | A2 Speaking + Listening | SELT certificate |
| ILR after 5 years | B1 Speaking + Listening | SELT + Life in the UK test |
Who takes SELT
Secure English Language Test — the only type the Home Office accepts. Only tests from 4 providers are accepted: IELTS for UKVI, Trinity College London, LanguageCert, PSI Pearson. A normal academic IELTS does NOT work — it must be «for UKVI».
Where to take it in CIS countries
- Kazakhstan: IELTS for UKVI — Almaty, Astana (British Council)
- Uzbekistan: Tashkent (British Council) — IELTS for UKVI
- Ukraine: Kyiv, Lviv — British Council
- Russia: since 2022 IELTS for UKVI is closed. Alternative — travel to Kazakhstan, Turkey, Georgia
Exemptions
- Over 65 years old
- Citizen of a «majority English-speaking country»: USA, Canada, Australia, NZ, Ireland, Bahamas etc.
- A degree from a university taught in English (you need an ENIC certificate to confirm)
- Physical or mental disability that prevents you from taking the test (with a medical certificate)
Application — Appendix FM step by stepDocuments, form, biometrics, evidence7 steps
- Collect evidence of a genuine relationship. 30–50 photos on different dates and in different places, messages (WhatsApp/Telegram screenshots with dates for 1–2 years), scans of tickets and boarding passes from your meetings, joint bookings (hotels, AirBnB), shared bills or transfers between you.
- The sponsor prepares financial documents. 6 months of payslips + 6 months of bank statements + an employer letter (on company letterhead, with job title, salary, type of contract, start date). All three documents must match perfectly.
- The sponsor prepares a housing letter. If you own the property — mortgage statement or Land Registry. If you rent — a copy of the tenancy + the landlord's agreement for you to move in. The housing must be «adequate» (not overcrowded under the UK Housing Act).
- Take the SELT (English A1). Register with the British Council, take Speaking + Listening, the certificate arrives in 1–2 weeks.
- Fill in the online application. gov.uk → «Apply for a family visa» → «Partner». Answer questions about your family, income, history of refusals. Be careful: lying = ban.
- Pay for the visa + IHS + biometrics. £1,938 (visa from abroad) + £1,035 × 2.5 = £2,587.50 IHS + £19.20 biometrics = ~£4,545.
- Give biometrics at VFS, wait for a decision. Standard time — 12 weeks from abroad (faster with priority service for £500 → 30 working days). After approval you get an eVisa in your UKVI account.
Cost of the first round
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Visa fee (entry clearance) | £1,938 |
| IHS £1,035 × 2.5 years | £2,587.50 |
| Biometrics | £19.20 |
| SELT (IELTS for UKVI) | ~£200 |
| TB test | ~£70 |
| Total first round | ~£4,815 |
Extension after 2.5 years — FLR(M)What changes, what documents, English A2FLR(M)
A Family visa is first given for 33 months (if from abroad) or 30 months (if switching inside the UK). Before it ends you apply for FLR(M) — an extension for another 30 months. After the extension you have 60 months in total = qualification for ILR.
What you need for the extension
- Financial requirement — again £29,000. Now you can add both partners' incomes (if both are in the UK)
- English A2 Speaking + Listening — a new SELT certificate
- Genuine relationship — prove again that you are together. Photos from the last 2.5 years, joint bills, shared tenancy
- Adequate housing — prove again
- You did not break visa conditions — no overstay, no illegal work, no public funds (NHS does not count)
Cost of the extension
FLR(M) application from inside the UK: £1,048 + IHS £1,035 × 2.5 = £2,587.50 + biometrics £19.20. Total ~£3,654.
Apply 28 days before your visa ends. Earlier — not allowed (they will reject it). Later — you could become an overstayer (catastrophic). UKVI recommends applying 28 days before, because receiving the application automatically extends your status (Section 3C leave) while they process it.
ILR after 5 years → citizenshipSET(M), Life in the UK test, B1 English5 years
Route year by year
- Year 0–2.5: first round Family visa
- Year 2.5: extension FLR(M) for another 2.5 years + English A2
- Year 5: apply for SET(M) — Settlement application. Financial requirement, B1 English, Life in the UK test (24 questions, 75% pass)
- Year 6: you can apply for British citizenship (one year after ILR). Citizenship ceremony, new passport ~3 months
SET(M) requirements
- 5 years on a Family visa, without long breaks
- Marriage / relationship still «genuine and subsisting»
- Financial requirement £29,000 (last 6 months for Cat A)
- English B1 Speaking + Listening (SELT)
- Life in the UK test pass (£50, 45 minutes, 24 questions)
- Absence from the UK no more than 180 days in any 12 months (softer than Skilled Worker, but still applies)
Cost of ILR
SET(M) fee — £3,029. IHS is NOT paid at this stage (ILR is permanent status). Biometrics £19.20. Life in the UK test £50. SELT B1 ~£200. Total ~£3,300.
If you divorce before ILR. Your Family visa is cancelled. You get curtailed leave for 60 days. You must either find another basis (Skilled Worker, Student) or leave. Exception — domestic violence concession (DDV): you can apply for ILR immediately without 5 years and without the financial requirement.
Frequently asked questions
Can the sponsor be a student or on a temporary visa?
No. The sponsor must be a British citizen, ILR holder, refugee/HP, or settled person. Students, Skilled Worker, Graduate Route — CANNOT sponsor a Family visa. They have their own category «dependant» (much weaker rights).
What if the sponsor's salary is in euros/dollars?
If the sponsor works abroad — it only counts if they are moving back to the UK by the time you arrive, and they have a confirmed job offer from a British company for £29,000+ with a start date in the UK.
Does my income from abroad count?
No. From abroad only the sponsor's income in the UK counts. Your income (even if large) does not help. After you move to the UK — yes, both incomes add together for the extension.
Can I work on a Family visa?
Yes, without restrictions. Any job, any company, any industry. Unlike a Student visa there is no 20-hour per week limit.
What if they refuse — appeal?
A Family visa has the right to appeal (unlike a visit visa). You have 28 days after the refusal letter to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal. Cost £80 (paper) or £140 (oral hearing). Alternative — Administrative Review (£80) if there was an error in applying the rules, or a new application with corrected documents.