Recent updates to the UK spouse visa rules in 2024 have introduced significant changes, particularly in the financial and eligibility criteria.
To apply for a UK spouse visa, the Home Office has outlined several detailed requirements under categories such as eligibility, finances, accommodation, and language proficiency. Here’s a comprehensive guide:
Eligibility Requirements
Age and Relationship:
- Both the applicant and their UK-based partner (sponsor) must be 18 or older.
- The relationship must be genuine, ongoing, and either a legal marriage, civil partnership, or a durable relationship equivalent to marriage.
- Applicants must intend to live together permanently in the UK .
Legal Status of Relationship:
- If married, the marriage must be legally recognized in the UK.
- Previous marriages or relationships must have permanently ended .
Financial Requirements
Income Threshold:
The UK-based partner must have a gross annual income of at least £29,000 (as of 2024), up from £18,600 previously. The new threshold
Exemptions:
If the sponsor receives certain benefits (e.g., disability-related allowances), they are exempt from the income threshold but must show they can adequately support their partner .
Sources of Income:
- Employment or self-employment.
- Pension or cash savings (must be £62,500 if no income is being used).
- Certain non-employment income like rental earnings .
Accommodation Requirements
The couple must demonstrate they have adequate accommodation in the UK without relying on public funds.
Housing must not be overcrowded and meet health and safety standards .
English Language Proficiency
The applicant must meet the A1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) when applying, progressing to A2 for visa extensions.
- Proof can be provided by:
- Passing an approved English language test (e.g., IELTS for UKVI).
- Having a degree taught in English.
- Being a national of a majority English-speaking country .
- Exemptions apply for applicants over 65, those with medical conditions preventing them from meeting the requirement, or from specific English-speaking countries .