Fiancé Visa vs Spouse Visa UK: Which One Suits Your Situation?

A Fiancé Visa lets you stay in the UK for six months to marry your British or settled partner but does not allow work. A Spouse Visa, valid for 2.5 years (30 months), lets you live and work in the UK, leading to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and citizenship. Unlike a Fiancé Visa, a Spouse Visa requires you to be already married or in a civil partnership.

You’re ready to start your life in the UK with your partner, but there’s one big question holding you back—Should you apply for a Fiancé Visa or a Spouse Visa UK? Choosing the wrong one could mean delays, extra costs, or even visa rejection.

Both visas allow you to reunite with your loved one in the UK. However, they come with different rules, timelines, and financial requirements. Pick the wrong path, and you might face months of uncertainty.

You can join your partner or spouse in the UK using one of several different types of visas, such as the UK Spouse, Fiancé, or Unmarried Partner visas. All of these visas are considered family visas, but they seem very similar. So it might be confusing to figure out which one is best for you. However, they differ significantly. The purpose of this blog article is to provide some guidance on Fiancé Visa vs. Spouse Visa UK. Let’s break it down.

What is a UK Fiancé Visa?

Just as a spouse or partner visa lets you live in the UK with your long-term partner, a fiancé visa lets you live in the UK with your future spouse so you can get married and settle down. You are required to tie the knot or form a civil partnership during the six months of the visa’s validity.

Though it does not directly result in ILR, a fiancé visa can pave the way to eventual citizenship. In the UK, you can apply for a 2.5-year spouse visa after marriage. An additional 2.5 years can be added to this. For permanent residency, you need to be in the UK for five years before you may apply. Your five-year stay in the UK will not be counted if you were here on a fiancé visa. To apply for British citizenship, you must hold ILR for a minimum of twelve months.

Fiancé Visa vs. Spouse Visa UK

Spouse and partner visa applicants must be married or have lived together for at least two years in a committed relationship. You can avoid the cohabitation requirement with a fiancé visa. But you still need to show that your relationship is serious.

Other important differences exist between the two.

• You can only stay for six months on a fiancé visa. But two years and nine months on a spouse visa. 
• The immigration health surcharge (IHS) is not applicable to the fiancé visa application. Nevertheless, you will be required to pay this amount when you apply for the spouse visa. 
• While spouse visas allow you to work in the UK without restriction, fiancé visas do not.

For professional advice, you can contact us today at 02033844389.

Who is Eligible for a Fiance Visa?

Like the spouse visa, the fiancé visa has similar qualifications. These include being in a committed relationship with a British citizen or permanent resident and earning a combined total of £29,000 per year.

Additional requirements include:

• You must prove your intent to marry or form a civil partnership in the UK.
• Displaying your proficiency in the English language
• Showing you intend to live together in the UK once you get married
• Ensuring that you and your partner will have adequate housing while you are in the UK
• An additional requirement is a negative tuberculosis test for citizens of specific nations. 

What are the Requirements for Spouse Visa UK?

If you believe that the Spouse visa is the right family visa for you, you’ll need to meet the appropriate conditions once more. The Home Office must be convinced that the relationship is genuine and not fraudulent. This makes obtaining a UK spouse visa challenging.

Obtaining a spouse visa to the UK typically involves the following:

• The Home Office requires you and your partner to demonstrate your relationship status by passing the “Genuine Relationship Test.”
• Your marriage must be legal.
• You and your spouse both need to be at least 18 years old.
• You must be married to or in a civil partnership with a UK citizen or permanent resident to apply.
• You and your spouse need to have been cohabitating for a minimum of two years before you may apply.
• You have the required funds and will not use any of the public’s money.
• You can provide evidence that you, your partner, and any dependents have a place to live in the UK.
• You must demonstrate that you have a solid grasp of the English language in order to fulfil the English language requirement.

Are You Eligible to Work in the UK on a Fiancé or Spouse Visa?

Fiancé visa holders are not allowed to work in the UK for the first six months of their visa validity, during which they must wait to marry. If you and your spouse are legally married or in a civil union, you can work freely in the country once you apply for a spouse visa.

Switching to a Spouse Visa After Entering the UK on a Fiancé Visa

In order to extend your Fiance visa, you must marry your partner in the UK within its six-month validity period, as indicated earlier. A spouse visa is a common changeover for those who initially enter the country on a fiancé visa.

With this change, you can extend your stay in the UK by up to two years and six months. The first step is to apply from within the UK as a spouse of a British citizen or as a permanent resident of the UK. After five years of stay in the UK, you are eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, which opens the door to settlement as well.

Any time spent in the UK as a fiance cannot be included in your five years of residency if you subsequently intend to apply for settlement.

The Spouse Visa application procedure can take up to 12 weeks but is typically much shorter, and you can complete it from within the UK.

If you are planning to immigrate to the UK with your spouse or partner, contact UK Immigration Solicitors for expert assistance. Call our friendly team now at 02033844389.

Why Opt for a Fiancé Visa Instead of a Spouse Visa?

Anytime you apply for a visa, it is based on your situation, your goals, and your needs.

You should apply for a spouse or partner visa if you are already married. There are two options available to you if you are single: one is to be married, and the other is to cohabitate for at least two years. In the former case, you may be able to apply for a spouse or partner visa instead. A fiancé visa may be an option for you if you are planning to get married or form a civil partnership but do not yet match this criteria.

In this case, though, the partner visa might still be the better choice if you can get married in your home country. You can apply for a spouse visa in this way, and your stay in the UK will contribute towards permanent resident status.

If getting married in the UK is absolutely essential to you, a fiancé visa could be a good option to consider. Another scenario is when you’re in a relationship with someone of the same sex but cannot legally marry them in your home country.

Need Assistance?

Now that you have a clear understanding of Fiancé Visa vs. Spouse Visa UK, it’s important to explore the different visa options available. Before submitting your application, ensure you choose the one that best aligns with your current circumstances and future goals. The visa application process may vary depending on your specific situation.

We always recommend seeking guidance from an immigration advisor first. After reviewing your situation, they will be able to recommend the best course of action. UK visas are expensive, and if you make a mistake on your application, you could have your visa turned down.

To increase your application’s chances of success, an immigration consultant can also assist you in gathering the necessary paperwork. He will submit your documents on your behalf, and review them thoroughly. Call us now at 02033844389.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What is the cost of a Fiancé Visa?

Ans. As of January 2025, the application fee for a UK fiancé visa is £1,846 when applying from outside the UK. This fee covers the Home Office’s processing of your application to enter the UK.

After your marriage, to remain in the UK, you’ll need to apply for a spouse visa. The in-country application fee for a spouse visa is £1,258. Additionally, there’s an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) of £1,035 per year, typically covering 2.5 years, totaling £2,587.50.

Therefore, the combined cost for both visas and the IHS amounts to approximately £5,691.50. In contrast, if you were to apply directly for a spouse visa from outside the UK, the fee would be £1,846. Plus the IHS would be £2,587.50, totaling £4,433.50. Opting for the fiancé visa route incurs additional costs of around £1,258.

Q2: What if you don’t marry within six months?

Ans. If the marriage does not happen within six months, you must provide a valid explanation. The Home Office will review your reason. If the Home Office accepts your reasoning, you get another six months to marry. They must see proof of the planned event.