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A UK Spouse Visa Extension allows you to remain in the UK with your husband, wife, or civil partner after your initial 30-month visa period. To qualify, you must continue to meet the relationship, financial, accommodation, and English language requirements set by the Home Office.Extending a Spouse Visa is a critical step on the five-year route to settlement. Errors, missed deadlines, or incorrect evidence can lead to refusal and loss of lawful status. Recent changes to financial thresholds mean many applicants now face increased scrutiny.
Our UK immigration solicitors advise on eligibility, prepare Spouse Visa Extension applications, and support clients with complex cases, refusals, and settlement planning. Applications are handled remotely with clear advice, compliant documentation, and fixed legal fees.
Speak to a UK Spouse Visa expert at 020 3384 4389 for immediate, personalised assistance.
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A spouse is defined as a husband or wife, considered in relation to their partner. If you are currently living in the UK on a Spouse or Civil Partner Visa, after 30 months, you can apply for a spouse visa extension UK. For the spouse visa extension, you must show that you have been in a real relationship with your husband or partner and plan to continue living together in the UK. These requirements are the same as for the original husband’s Visa.
Applicants will also usually need to show proof that they and their spouse or partner make at least £29,000 a year as of 2025. Check out the information below to learn everything you need to know about renewing your spouse’s visa after 2.5 years.
UK Spouse Visa Extension – Quick Facts
What is a UK Spouse Visa Extension?
A UK Spouse Visa Extension allows you to stay in the UK for a further 30 months after your initial spouse or civil partner visa expires.
When should you apply for an extension?
You must apply before your current visa expires, usually at the end of the first 30-month period on the spouse route.
Who is eligible to extend a Spouse Visa?
You must still be in a genuine relationship with your partner, be living together in the UK, and intend to continue your life together.
What is the financial requirement for extension?
Most applicants must meet the £29,000 minimum income requirement, unless an exemption or alternative financial route applies.
Yes. Most applicants must meet the CEFR A2 English language requirement, unless an exemption applies.
Applications are usually decided within eight weeks, with faster decisions available through priority services.
You can continue to live, work, and study in the UK without restrictions during the extended visa period.
Yes. After completing five years on the spouse route, you may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Expert Guidance
You don’t need to go through the stress alone. Our immigration lawyers are here to simplify the process and give you the best chance of success.
Benefits
Extending a UK Spouse Visa is a time-sensitive application where errors can lead to refusal or loss of lawful status. Our immigration solicitors specialise in spouse visa extensions and understand how UK Visas and Immigration assess ongoing relationships, finances, and compliance. Before you apply, we review your eligibility, check financial evidence, and confirm English language and accommodation requirements. This helps identify risks early and ensures your extension application is prepared correctly the first time.
We regularly assist clients with complex extension cases, including income changes, self-employment, previous refusals, and applications affected by updated financial thresholds. Each case is handled individually with clear legal advice. Our service covers the full extension process, from preparation to submission, with remote case handling, clear communication, and fixed legal fees agreed in advance.
97.37%
Success Rate
37,573
Applications Approved
93.7%
Immigration Appeal Win Rate
4.9/5
Average Rating
From Consultation to Visa Approval
Our immigration specialists streamline your application process by clearly identifying which evidence and strategies will strengthen your case.
By aligning your unique circumstances with Home Office requirements, we help you focus on high-impact preparations while addressing any potential weaknesses in your application.
Maximising Your Approval Chances
Our goal is to maximise the chances of your visa being approved the first time. By carefully reviewing your circumstances, identifying potential weaknesses, and preparing strong supporting evidence, we significantly reduce the risk of refusals. Every application is checked by senior immigration solicitors who apply their expertise to make your case as clear, accurate, and persuasive as possible. This attention to detail is what improves success rates and helps our clients move forward with confidence.
Success Rate Optimisation
We carefully analyse every detail of your application to maximise the chances of approval. By addressing weaknesses, strengthening supporting evidence, and ensuring full compliance with Home Office rules, we optimise your case for success. This thorough approach significantly improves approval rates and gives you confidence throughout the process.
Risk Mitigation Strategies
We identify potential risks in your application early and put safeguards in place to address them. By preparing strong evidence, clarifying complex points, and anticipating Home Office concerns, we minimise the chance of delays or refusals.
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Evidence-based case preparation
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Home Office compliance checks
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Success rate optimisation
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Risk mitigation strategies
From Consultation to Visa Approval
Our immigration specialists streamline your application process by clearly identifying which evidence and strategies will strengthen your case.
By aligning your unique circumstances with Home Office requirements, we help you focus on high-impact preparations while addressing any potential weaknesses in your application.
Maximising Your Approval Chances
Our goal is to maximise the chances of your visa being approved the first time. By carefully reviewing your circumstances, identifying potential weaknesses, and preparing strong supporting evidence, we significantly reduce the risk of refusals. Every application is checked by senior immigration solicitors who apply their expertise to make your case as clear, accurate, and persuasive as possible. This attention to detail is what improves success rates and helps our clients move forward with confidence.
Success Rate Optimisation
We carefully analyse every detail of your application to maximise the chances of approval. By addressing weaknesses, strengthening supporting evidence, and ensuring full compliance with Home Office rules, we optimise your case for success. This thorough approach significantly improves approval rates and gives you confidence throughout the process.
Risk Mitigation Strategies
We identify potential risks in your application early and put safeguards in place to address them. By preparing strong evidence, clarifying complex points, and anticipating Home Office concerns, we minimise the chance of delays or refusals.
Work With Trusted, SRA-Regulated UK Immigration Experts
Your immigration journey is too important to risk on unqualified or unregulated help. Every case we handle is prepared by SRA-regulated solicitors who apply structured legal reasoning, precise documentation checks and full compliance with Home Office and UKVI rules.
Our accreditations are your assurance that you are working with a reputable, experienced and highly trained legal team. We combine decades of immigration expertise with strict professional standards to give you clarity, confidence and complete peace of mind — no matter which visa or application route you are pursuing.
What are the UK Spouse Visa Extension Requirements?
In order to be eligible for an extension spouse visa UK, you will need to ensure that you still meet the same requirements that you met when you were granted your original Spouse Visa.
In addition to meeting the UK spouse extension requirements, you would have to satisfy the Home Office that you;
- Have a genuine subsisting relationship with your partner (demonstrated by specified evidence)
- Continue to meet the financial requirements
- Can pass a CEFR A2 English test
- Getting things right the first time is imperative to avoid your existing visa expiring.
- Furthermore, failure to maintain continued residence is likely to cause significant issues when attempting to achieve Indefinite Leave to Remain
Our specialist team is able to help you navigate the pitfalls of the UKVI requirements and ensure that your spouse visa UK extension application is correctly prepared to promote the right outcome the first time around.
How do I Understand the Relationship Requirement?
If you want to extend your Spouse Visa UK, you will have to show proof that you are truly in a relationship. Applicants must include a civil partnership or marriage licence that is valid in the UK with their application. If the person is not married or in a civil partnership with their partner, they will need to show proof that they have been dating their partner for a long time.
Furthermore, applicants will need to show more proof to show that they have been living with their partner throughout their time in the UK.
You can show proof of your connection by showing letters sent to both the applicant and the spouse at the same address.
The Home Office may want to see things like utility bills, bank statements, and council tax bills. Any proof you give must be in its original form, be signed, dated, and written on letterhead.
Finally, you must be able to show that you have been living with your partner while you have been living in the UK and that you plan to continue living with your partner in the UK during the extension time and possibly after that as well.
What are the Spouse Visa Extension Financial Requirements?
Most of the time, Spouse visa users who want to renew their visa will need to give information about how much money they and their partner have.
Here are the most important financial conditions for an extension:
- The person applying and their British citizen or settled partner must make at least £29,000 a year as of April 11, 2024. By early 2025, that amount will rise to £38,700.
- As of April 11, 2025, the amount of money needed for children goes up to £3,800 for the first child and £2,400 for each additional child.
A “child” is someone under 18 years old who is not from an EEA country and depends on you or your partner.
Several options are available to meet the financial need, such as:
The extra money you and your partner make from jobs or businesses you run together
- Savings of £16,000 must add up to at least £29,000 over the 2.5-year grant term. If you only have cash savings, you need to show that you have £88,500 saved (£29,000 x 2.5 + £16,000 = £88,500)
- State meetings and private ones
- Maternity benefits
- Benefits for grieving
Kindly keep in mind that income from some other sources might be okay. The best thing to do is to talk to an immigration expert. Moreover, they can help you figure out what kinds of income will be accepted to meet the requirements.
Exemptions from Financial Requirements
The financial standards are an important aspect of most Spouse visa applications, but some people who want to stay in the UK will not have to meet them.
You will not have to satisfy the cash requirement if your partner (sponsor) gets one of the following benefits:
- Allowance to Live on Disability
- Allowance for Serious Disabilities
- Carer’s Allowance
- Allowance for Attendance
- Payment for Personal Independence
- Injuries at Work
- Disability payments
- Police Pensions for injuries
- Payment for living on your own or a guarantee of income under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
- Allowance for Constant Attendance, Mobility Supplement, or War Disablement Pension under the War Pensions Scheme
What are the Criteria for Character Suitability?
People who want to extend extend UK spouse visa will have to meet character suitability conditions, which are also known as the “good character requirement.” The Home Office will look at both your past immigration background and how you have behaved while you have been in the UK.
You won’t meet the character suitability standard if you have broken the law or any rules that came with your UK residency. The Home Office will also look at whether you owe money to the NHS, a court, or another organisation.
You should meet the character suitability requirement if you have lived legally in the UK and have usually been responsible.
What is the English test for the Spouse Visa Extension?
The Home Office changed the English language test for all candidates in 2017.
Because of these changes, people who want to apply for a Spouse Visa will generally have to show proof that they speak and understand English at the A2 level, which the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages sets.
If someone didn’t have to take the English test when they first applied for their Spouse Visa, they might have to when they ask for an extension.
There are several places in the UK where you can take the test. Please be aware that the exam can only be administered at centres that have been certified as Secure English Language Testing (SELT) Providers.
If you don’t take the test at a recognised location, your certificate won’t be accepted, and your claim for an extension will be turned down.
Exemptions from the English Language Test
Some candidates will not have to take the English test.
Among these are:
- An English-speaking country citizen
- A person under 18 years old or over 65 years old who has a degree or higher from a UK NARIC-recognised school where they were taught or studied in English
- Further, a person who has a long-term mental or physical illness
What is the Spouse Visa Extension Form?
The FLR(M) form is what you need to fill out if you want to extend your spouse’s visa after 2.5 years. The application is long, and you need to send in a lot of different kinds of material and documents. You must fill out the FLR(M) form completely and properly. Any mistake, no matter how small, will lead to a refusal.
You have to go to a face-to-face interview if the Home Office thinks you haven’t given them enough proof.
Spouse Visa Extension Documents
For an extension visa UK spouse, you typically need to provide the following documents:
- Application Form: Complete and sign the application form for a spouse visa extension.
- Passport: Your current passport or travel document.
- Biometric Residence Permit (BRP): If you were issued a BRP for your initial visa, include it.
- Proof of Relationship: Evidence of your ongoing relationship with your partner, such as a marriage certificate, civil partnership certificate, or evidence of cohabitation.
- Financial Documents: Documents to demonstrate that you meet the financial requirement, including payslips, bank statements, tax returns, employment contracts, and/or evidence of savings.
- Accommodation Details: Evidence of suitable accommodation for you and your partner, such as a tenancy agreement or mortgage statement.
- English Language Requirement: If applicable, proof of meeting the English language requirement, such as passing an approved English language test.
- Tuberculosis Test Results: If you’re from a country where a tuberculosis test is required.
- Other Supporting Documents: Any additional documents requested by the Home Office or that you believe strengthen your application, such as photographs, travel records, or letters of support.
UK Spouse Visa Extension Fees
The usual fee to apply for a spouse visa extension is £1,048. However, other fees might need to be thought about.
Any files or papers that are written in a language besides English or Welsh will need to be translated by a professional. Something else to think about is the cost of taking the English language test if you have to.
An extra £19.20 will be charged for a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), which is part of the filing process. Moreover, the BRP gets your fingerprints, a picture of your face, and your name, date of birth, and place of birth.
UK Spouse Visa Extension Processing Time
The UK spouse visa extension processing time usually takes 8 to 12 weeks from the date of your biometric appointment under the standard service. Applicants who require a faster decision can opt for the super priority service, which provides a response within 1 working day for an additional fee. Processing times may vary based on case complexity, document verification, and seasonal demand. To prevent delays, ensure your application is complete and all supporting documents meet UKVI requirements.
The processing time for a UK spouse visa extension can vary depending on various factors such as the country you’re applying from, the volume of applications being processed, and any additional scrutiny your application might undergo.
Spouse Visa Extension Processing Time for all Stages
Extending a spouse visa typically involves different stages based on the length of time you’ve been in the country.
- Initial Spouse Visa: When you first apply for a spouse visa, you might receive permission to stay in the country for a certain period, often 2.5 years. This is usually a probationary period to ensure the relationship is genuine.
- Extension After 2.5 Years: Eligibility Criteria for the Spouse Visa Extension after 2.5 years. To be eligible for a Spouse Visa extension, you must meet certain requirements: You must still be in a genuine and subsisting relationship with your spouse. You must have sufficient accommodation for you and your dependents.
- Spouse Visa five-year Route Extension: After completing a total of five years in the country on a spouse visa (including both the initial 2.5 years and the subsequent extension), you may be eligible to apply for further leave to remain or settlement, depending on the immigration rules of the country. This could lead to permanent residency or settlement status.
What should I do next after getting an extension on my Spouse’s Visa?
You will be able to stay in the UK for another 30 months (or 2.5 years) if your application for a partner visa extension is approved. This means that you will have lived in the UK for five years by the time the extension runs out.
Next, you would need to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain status if you want to live in the UK forever. This is a type of lifelong residence that lets someone live and work in the UK without any trouble.
After living in the UK for a year with Indefinite Leave to Remain, a person can apply to become a British citizen. Also, they will be able to apply for a British visa.
Our offices are in London, Manchester, and Birmingham. If you need help with your Spouse Visa Extension, you can call us there or use our office finder to find the office closest to you.
Benefits of Choosing UK Immigration Solicitors
Navigating the complex and ever-changing immigration rules demands attention to detail and compliance. Failing to meet these stringent rules could lead to application rejection, causing emotional and financial strain for you and your family.
Additionally, our role is to stay fully informed on the latest immigration rules, policies, and procedures. We provide a clear strategy, outlining steps to achieve the desired outcome. Moreover, with our vast experience, we anticipate and address potential issues proactively.
Our fixed legal fees are agreed upon at the outset, ensuring transparency and control over costs. Unlike many online agencies, we are a fully regulated, multi-award-winning law firm specialising in immigration. With over 60 years of combined expertise and 8,000+ handled cases, our reputation speaks for itself.
Key Features of our Services:
- Free Detailed Assessment: Our immigration specialists assess your circumstances and needs.
- Senior Solicitor Review: A senior immigration solicitor with a minimum of 8 years of experience reviews your information and confirms your options.
- Agreed Fixed Fee: We provide a transparent quotation for handling your case until the initial conclusion.
- Personalised Legal Consultation: A senior immigration solicitor conducts a one-to-one consultation, advising on the best way to meet your objectives.
- Detailed Legal Advice: Written legal advice covers necessary steps, documents, and strategies for success.
- Document Review and Validation: We review and validate documents to meet UKVI evidence requirements.
- Legal Arguments and Representations: We prepare legal arguments and representations to support your application.
- Draft Application: A draft application is shared with you for review before submission.
- Application Submission: We apply securely as well as keep you updated on its progress.
- Decision and Implications: We secure a decision on your matter and guide any secondary applications if needed.
UK Spouse Visa Extension FAQs
Yes, in some cases. Alternative income sources, savings, or exemptions may be considered, depending on your circumstances and supporting evidence.
If you apply before your visa expires, you can usually remain in the UK legally while waiting for a decision, under the same conditions as your existing visa.
Yes. You must show that your relationship is still genuine and ongoing, usually through updated cohabitation evidence covering the most recent period.
No. Leaving the UK while your extension is under consideration will normally result in your application being treated as withdrawn.
Late applications can lead to serious immigration consequences. Urgent legal advice should be sought immediately to assess available options.
Most extensions are decided without an interview, but UKVI may request one if further clarification or evidence is needed.
Legal representation is not mandatory, but it can help reduce refusal risks, particularly where finances, documentation, or immigration history are complex.
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