How to Get Spouse Visa Extension?
If you’re in the UK on a spouse visa and your current leave is nearing expiry, you’ll need to apply for a spouse visa extension to continue living with your partner legally in the UK.
Once granted, a spouse visa extension provides an additional 30 months of leave. After five years of continuous residence under the spouse visa route, you may become eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
Spouse Visa Extension Fee
Here’s a breakdown of the costs associated with your Spouse Visa Extension application:
- UKVI Application Fee: £1,321 per applicant
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £1,035 per year for adults (e.g., £2,587.50 for a 2.5-year extension)
- Biometrics Appointment Fee: £0 to £250+ (for premium appointments)
- Priority Service Fee (Optional): £500 per applicant
- Super Priority Service Fee (Optional): £1,000 per applicant
- English Language Requirement Test Fee (if applicable): £150 to £250+
- Translation Costs (if applicable): £30 to £100+ per document
- Copy of Title Deeds (if applicable): Approximately £7
- Postal or Courier Charges (if applicable): Varies
Remember that these are approximate values and the official fee is subject to continuous increase by the UK government. For exact amounts, contact our experts at Axis Solicitors.
Who Needs to Apply for a Spouse Visa Extension?
As a foreign national in the UK on a Spouse Visa, you will need to apply for an extension before your initial visa expires if you wish to remain in the UK with your British citizen or settled partner. This applies to those who are:
- Married to a British or Irish citizen (by birth or naturalisation).
- In a civil partnership with a British or Irish citizen.
- In a long-term relationship with a British citizen or a settled person in the UK (with Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), permanent residence, or EU Settled Status) and were granted leave under the partner route.
- Partners of those holding refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK.
- Partners of those possessing a Turkish Businessperson visa or Turkish Worker visa.
Continuing to meet the fundamental requirements of a genuine and subsisting relationship and the intention to live together permanently in the UK remains crucial for a spouse visa extension.
How to Apply for a UK Spouse Visa Extension?
Applying for a UK Spouse Visa Extension involves a structured process that Axis Solicitors guides you through with expertise and care. Here are the key steps:
- Assess Your Eligibility: The first step is to thoroughly assess whether you meet all the current requirements for a Spouse Visa Extension under either the 5-year or 10-year route. Axis Solicitors will conduct a detailed review of your circumstances to determine the most appropriate route and ensure you are eligible.
- Gather Required Documents: Once eligibility is confirmed, the next crucial step is to gather all the necessary supporting documents. Axis Solicitors provides a comprehensive checklist tailored to your situation and assists you in compiling a strong and compliant evidence portfolio.
- Complete the Online Application Form: The application for a Spouse Visa Extension (FLR(M) or FLR(FP)) is typically made online via the UKVI website. Axis Solicitors will assist you in accurately completing the online form, ensuring all information is correct and consistent with your supporting documents.
- Pay the Application Fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): You will need to pay the relevant application fee and the IHS as part of the online application. Axis Solicitors will advise you on the current fees and guide you through the payment process.
- Upload Supporting Documents: After completing the online form and paying the fees, you will need to upload electronic copies of all your supporting documents through the UKVI portal. Axis Solicitors ensures that all documents are correctly formatted, clearly labelled, and uploaded in a timely manner.
- Attend a Biometrics Appointment: Once your online application is submitted, you will receive instructions on how to book and attend a biometrics appointment at a UKVCAS centre. At this appointment, your fingerprints and photograph will be taken. Axis Solicitors will ensure you are prepared for this step.
- Submit Your Application: After attending your biometrics appointment, your application is officially submitted.
- Wait for a Decision: The processing time for Spouse Visa Extension applications can vary. Axis Solicitors will keep you informed of any updates and communicate the decision to you as soon as it is received.
Throughout this process, Axis Solicitors provides continuous support, answers your questions, and addresses any concerns you may have, ensuring a smooth and stress-free UK Spouse Visa Extension application.
Applying for FLR(M): Spouse Visa Extension After Initial Grant
Before your initial Spouse Visa expires, you must apply to extend your leave for a further 30 months under the Further Leave to Remain (Partner) – FLR(M) category. To be eligible for this spouse visa extension, you must continue to meet the core requirements outlined above, with particular emphasis on:
- The financial requirement, which will be a minimum income threshold of £29,000 if your extension application is made on or after April 11, 2024, and is expected to increase to a higher threshold in April 2025.
- The English language requirement at A2 CEFR level or higher, unless you are exempt.
The ongoing genuine and subsisting relationship and accommodation requirements.
Spouse Visa Extension Form: FLR(M) and FLR(FP)
The primary forms for applying for a Spouse Visa Extension are the FLR(M) form for those on the 5-year route and the FLR(FP) form for those on the 10-year route (based on private and family life). Axis Solicitors has extensive experience in navigating these forms and will ensure they are completed accurately and comprehensively on your behalf.
What is FLR(M) Form?
This form is specifically for further leave to remain as a partner. It requires detailed information about your personal circumstances, your partner’s details, the history of your relationship, your financial situation, accommodation, and English language ability. Axis Solicitors will meticulously complete this form, ensuring all sections are filled correctly and consistently with your supporting evidence.
What is FLR(FP) Form?
This form is used for applications based on private and family life, which includes the 10-year partner route. While it covers similar areas to the FLR(M) form, it also includes sections to explain any exceptional circumstances or significant obstacles to living outside the UK, which are often relevant for those on the 10-year route. Axis Solicitors will ensure that this form accurately reflects your situation and presents a strong case for your Spouse Visa Extension.
Axis Solicitors understands the intricacies of both the FLR(M) and FLR(FP) forms and will guide you through the specific requirements of the form relevant to your Spouse Visa Extension application.
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) After Your Spouse Visa Extension
The successful completion of your Spouse Visa Extension brings you closer to the final goal of Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which can be applied for once you have completed a continuous five-year period of lawful residence in the UK under the Spouse Visa route (combining the initial leave and the extension). The requirements for ILR under this route include:
- Still being in a genuine and subsisting relationship with your sponsoring partner.
- Passing the Life in the UK Test, which assesses your knowledge of British life and culture.
- Meeting a higher standard of English language proficiency, typically Level B1 of the CEFR.
- Satisfying the financial requirement that is in place at the time of your ILR application.
- Demonstrating that you have not had any significant immigration breaches or criminal history during your five-year period of leave.
The Spouse Visa Extension is therefore not an end in itself but a vital stepping stone towards achieving permanent residency and long-term stability in the UK.
Required Documents for Spouse Visa Extension
When applying for a spouse visa extension, you need to provide documents proving you still meet the visa requirements. The exact documents depend on your situation.
- Proof of identity: current and previous passports, visas, or immigration documents.
- Partner’s UK status: evidence of British citizenship or indefinite leave to remain.
- Proof of relationship: marriage/civil partnership certificate and cohabitation evidence.
- Financial requirement: payslips, bank statements, or savings evidence.
- English ability & accommodation: valid English test and proof of living arrangements.
Ensure all documents are complete to avoid delays in your application.
Who is Eligible for Spouse Visa Extension?
Genuine and Subsisting Relationship
- Proof that your relationship is ongoing and genuine
- Evidence of intention to live together permanently
- Supporting documents such as joint bills or photos
Financial Requirement
- UK sponsor earning at least £29,000 per year (2024 threshold)
- Alternative financial evidence accepted where applicable
- Payslips, bank statements, or employment letters required
English Language Proficiency
- Approved English language test passed at required level
- UK degree or recognised equivalent taught in English
- A2 level English requirement for extension applications
Adequate Accommodation
- Suitable housing that meets UK living standards
- Property must not be overcrowded
- Tenancy agreement or property ownership documents needed
Tuberculosis Test (If Applicable)
- TB test certificate from an approved clinic
- Required only for applicants from listed countries
- Certificate must be valid at time of application
How to Navigate the Spouse Visa Extension Refusal?
1. Reviewing the Refusal Decision
- Analyse the UKVI refusal notice to understand specific concerns.
- Identify the exact grounds on which your application was rejected.
- Determine if any procedural errors affected the outcome.
2. Identifying Grounds for Appeal or Administrative Review
- Assess whether an appeal is possible based on refusal reasons.
- Determine if an administrative review is suitable for procedural errors.
- Advise on the most appropriate legal course of action.
3. Preparing and Submitting an Appeal or Administrative Review
- Compile all necessary supporting documents for your case.
- Draft a strong legal argument to address the refusal points.
- Submit the appeal or review application professionally and on time.
4. Considering Judicial Review
- Evaluate if judicial review is an option when other remedies fail.
- Identify legal errors in the original decision process.
- Prepare arguments for court consideration if applicable.
5. Exploring Alternative Options
- Assess other immigration routes based on your circumstances.
- Provide advice if an appeal or review is unlikely to succeed.
- Recommend practical steps to remain in the UK with your partner.
