If you intend to remain in the UK with your partner (A British national or one with settled status in the UK) even after initial leave under a UK spouse visa, you need to apply for a UK spouse visa extension before your leave expires. If your extension application is successful, you will be granted leave to remain for another 30 months. After this on completing 5 years of continuous living in the UK, you should be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain provided you meet other eligibility requirements.

Eligibility Rules for UK Spouse Visa Extension

Rules for UK spouse visa extension is somewhat different from the rule for original UK spouse visa. You need to go through a similar process and continue to meet the same eligibility requirements.
If you are a foreign national and your spouse is one of the following you can apply for a UK spouse visa and UK spouse visa extension:

• Is a British or Irish citizen (either by birth or naturalization)
• Has settled status in the UK such as Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), permanent residence, or EU Settled Status
• Has refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK
• Has a Turkish Businessperson visa or Turkish Worker visa

You must meet the following other eligibility requirements to be able to apply for a UK spouse visa extension:

• You must continue to be married to or in a civil partnership with your spouse/partner and your marriage or partnership must be legally recognized in the UK
• Meet the financial requirements. You and your spouse/partner must have a combined income of £29,000 effective from 11 April 2024 as opposed to the previous threshold of £18,600
• Meet the English language requirements
• Not have breached any law or immigration conditions
• Be of good character and meet suitability requirement

Rule of Exceptional Circumstances

If you fail to meet the eligibility requirements for a UK spouse visa extension you may still be able to apply for it in the following circumstances:

• This would be significantly difficult for you and your partner to live outside the UK as a spouse or partner and those difficulties could not be overcome.
• You have a child in the UK who is a British citizen or has lived in the UK for 7 years and it would be unreasonable for them to leave the UK.
• It would breach your human rights if you were asked to leave the UK.

Rule of Documents 

You need to submit the following documents with your UK spouse visa extension application:

• Your valid passport or a valid travel document
• Proof such as a marriage certificate to show that your relationship is
• Evidence to prove that your relationship is subsisting
• Proof such as pay slips or income or bank statements as evidence of meeting the financial requirement.
• Proof of your knowledge of the English Language, if applicable, e.g. a degree certificate or an English language test certificate at CEFR level A2.

You may have to submit additional documents depending on your circumstances.

UK Spouse Visa Extension Fee

The fee for a UK Spouse Visa Extension application is £1,048 for each applicant. Other costs include a health surcharge fee of £624 per person per year and if the applicant is under 18 the health surcharge fee is £470 per person per year. From 6 February 2024 the IHS fee will be £1035 per year per person and for children 776 per person per year.

Rules on How to Apply

You should apply online for your UK spouse visa extension before your current visa expires. Generally, you can apply 28 days before your visa expires.
If you are looking to apply for a UK Spouse Visa Extension and need assistance and advice, please contact Visa and Migration Ltd on 02034111261 or email info@visaandmigration.com