New rules for UK Spouse Visa: the minimum salary requirement has increased to £29,000 on 11 April 2024. The Spouse Visa UK, part of the UK family visa category, allows eligible foreign nationals to join and live with their partner in the UK, provided their partner is a British citizen or has settled status.
The standard spouse visa UK processing time in 2024 is currently 2-3 months (on average) if you are making the application from outside the UK and 6-8 weeks (on average) if you are making the application from inside the UK.
For new applications made from April 2024, a couple will need to demonstrate that they hold savings of at least £88,500 and that such savings have been held for at least six months.
The UK government had planned to implement the changes to the minimum income requirement in stages. The threshold was increased to £29,000 for applications made on or after 11 April 2024. The change in threshold applies to first-time spouse visa applications from 11 April 2024.
The spouse/partner visa minimum income rose to £29,000 on 11 April 2024. The Conservative government had planned to increase it further, to £38,700 by early 2025, but the Labour government is not doing that and instead commissioned a review expected in June 2025.
These are the documents you will need to send to the Home Office to get the right to remain in the UK: Your original marriage or civil partnership certificate. Proof that you and your partner have been living together for at least the past two years. A valid passport to get leave to remain in the UK.
Applying from outside the UK You can apply for a family visa to live with your: spouse or partner. fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner. child.
If you wish to apply for a Spouse visa when you're in the UK on a Visitor visa, you will have to first leave the UK. Once you've done so, you can then apply for a Spouse visa to enable you to return to the UK under UK immigration rules, provided that you meet all the mandatory eligibility criteria.
In order to apply in the UK you will need to obtain formal confirmation from your current university confirming that you have completed all the taught elements of your course and that you are highly likely to complete your current course successfully together with the date on which the degree is expected to be awarded.
An application for leave to remain as a spouse can be made from within the UK, unless you are in the UK as a visitor or, with few exceptions, with valid leave granted for a period of 6 months or less.