Extend your stay in the UK with your partner through a UK Partner Visa Extension. Learn about the UK Partner visa extension application process, eligibility requirements and other details. Contact Visa and Migration today for a hassle-free application.
A UK Partner Visa allows a person to come to or stay with their partner (spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner) who is a British citizen or an individual with settled status (Indefinite Leave to Remain) in the UK for an initial period of 33 months or 30 months.
Suppose a person currently with Partner Visa wants to continue living in the UK with their partner. In that case, they will need to make an application for a UK Partner Visa extension before their current visa expires, and if their application is approved, they will be granted leave for a further 30 months.
The applicant, in order to extend their Partner Visa, must still be in a genuine and subsisting relationship with their sponsor, and continue to be eligible for the partner visa route.
The UK Partner Visa Extension visa allows a person with a Partner Visa in the UK to continue their life here without disruption.
For UK Partner visas, the British citizen or settled partner is considered the "sponsor". The sponsor must provide evidence of their ability to support the applicant as part of their partner visa extension application.
Meeting the suitability requirements means that the applicant must not fall for visa refusal under the Appendix FM - Suitability Requirements. These suitability criteria for refusal usually include:
Criminal convictions
Deception, false representations, or fraud
Debt to the NHS (National Health Service) or unpaid litigation costs
Threats to national security
Conduct is considered not conducive to the public good
Although the applicant may have met the suitability requirements in their initial application for a UK partner visa, there are questions on the visa extension application form relating to their current suitability. Therefore, it is important for the applicant to keep evidence of any matters that may arise during the intervening period. They should retain evidence of how they addressed a suitability issue previously, as it might be necessary to address it again.
So far, suitability rules were different for applications under Appendix FM as opposed to Part 9 – Grounds for Refusals, which applied to other UK immigration routes.
However, effective from 11 November 2025, a new section called ‘Part Suitability’ is going to replace Part 9 - Grounds for Refusal, which serves as the central reference point for all suitability-based visa refusal and cancellation grounds.
The provisions of Part Suitability will now also apply to Appendix FM.
After the change, Paragraph 39E of Appendix FM, which sets out exceptions for individuals overstaying their visa, has now been moved into Part Suitability under a dedicated section titled “Exceptions for overstayers”. This ensures that overstaying exceptions for applications under the Appendix will be considered within the wider suitability framework.
A person, when applying for a UK Partner Visa Extension, needs to meet specific eligibility criteria.
The applicant must demonstrate to the UKVI that they are still in a genuine and ongoing relationship with the same UK partner. For example, the applicant and their partner have been or are now living together and financial responsibilities.
The applicant must have been living together with their partner in the UK throughout the duration of the initial partner visa. This requirement emphasises proving the authenticity of the relationship.
They must further intend to live together permanently in the UK. However, if the couple cannot live together because of study or work, or for cultural reasons, they will need to prove that they have an ongoing commitment to each other.
From 11 April 2024, the general minimum annual income threshold increased to £29,000 (regardless of the number of dependent children being included) for those applying for their first UK Partner Visa and Partner Visa Extension subsequently.
However, if a person applied for an initial partner visa before this date and is now applying for a visa extension, they need to meet the older threshold of £18,600 per annum plus £3,800 per year for the first dependent child and £2,400 per year for each dependent child thereafter. However, if the total amount exceeds £29,000 due to the number of children in the application, the applicant will only be required to provide proof of a gross annual income of £29,000.
An applicant might not need to prove they have extra money if their children are citizens of the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Norway, and they do not have pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme or are not permanently settled in the UK.
Please note that, at the time of visa extension, the income of both the applicant and the sponsor can be combined. The applicant may also rely on combined cash savings, employment income, self-employment income, non-employment income (such as rental income or dividend income), or a combination of these financial resources to meet this requirement.
The applicant will usually be exempt from meeting the minimum income threshold if their partner is receiving a specified benefit or allowance in the UK, such as Disability Living Allowance or Carer’s Allowance.
The applicant will be required to pass a higher level on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) when applying to extend their partner visa. What they need to do depends on what level of the CEFR they passed for their first visa.
If they passed:
Level A1 on the CEFR, they will need to pass at least level A2 in speaking and listening
Level A2, B1, B2, C1, or C2 on the CEFR, they can use the test result again for their application for extension, as long as their test provider has not withdrawn their test certificate
If the applicant was given an exemption in their first application, they will need to pass a test at level A1.
The Immigration White Paper released on 12 May 2025 proposes increasing the English language CEFR level threshold across several UK visa routes. However, no confirmed changes have yet been made by the Home Office in relation to increasing the English language CEFR level requirement for a UK Partner Visa Extension. Level A2, as of date, remains the minimum required level, although this may be subject to change in the future.
To successfully apply to extend a partner visa, applicants must submit the following key documents:
Evidence of personal details, such as a current passport or another valid travel ID. If the applicant has any old passports, they should provide a photocopy of the photo page and any pages that contain a visa stamp. They will also need to provide documents related to their partner and any children they are applying for.
Evidence of meeting financial requirements, such as payslips, bank statements, and tax returns.
Certified English language test certificate or proof of degree taught in English
Evidence of the applicant's relationship with their UK partner, such as a marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate that’s recognized under UK law.
Evidence of cohabitation throughout the applicant’s residency in the UK, such as joint bills, bank statements, and rental agreements.
One must apply for an extension up to 28 days before their current visa expires.
The partner visa extension application process is largely the same as for the initial partner visa application. Applicant in the UK need to complete the correct application form online, prove their identity, and provide evidence along with their application to show that they continue to meet the eligibility criteria for this visa route.
Below are the key steps to apply for an extension:
Before starting the application, applicants need to ensure they fulfill all the eligibility criteria for the visa extension, including the genuine and subsisting relationship requirement, cohabitation, financial, and English language proficiency requirements.
To prove that all eligibility criteria are met, applicants need to gather supporting documents. This includes a valid passport, marriage certificate, proof of cohabitation, financial proof, and knowledge of the English language documentation.
A person applying for a partner visa extension needs to complete the application form FLR (M) online on the government’s official website gov.uk. All sections of the application must be filled out accurately and honestly (disclosing all the relevant information), as any discrepancies can lead to delayed processing.
The fee for extending a partner visa is £1,321. Applicants may also need to pay an IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) of £1,035 per year per adult or £2,587.50 per adult for an extension period of 30 months.
As part of the application process, applicants may need to prove their identity again. For this, they will need to book and attend a biometric appointment at a UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service) service point to enroll their biometric information (fingerprints and facial photograph). However, in some cases the UKVI may reuse the biometric of the applicant submitted in their initial partner visa application.
After completing the biometric appointment, the extension application will be submitted. Applicants need to ensure that all supporting documents are included, as any missing documents or information can lead to delays or refusal.
Attending an interview may be required only if the Home Office requests it to further assess the application. The applicant must be prepared to discuss their relationship with their partner and provide additional details if asked.
The Home Office will process the application and deliver its decision, usually within 8 weeks. However, this may take longer depending on the personal circumstances of the applicant.
The applicant may also choose to avail themselves of Priority service for an additional £500, enabling them to receive a decision within 5 working days, or Super Priority service for an additional £1,000 to receive a decision by the end of the next working day.
Until the Home Office decides on the application, the applicant can usually remain in the UK under Section 3C leave, even if their current permission as a partner expires during this period. However, the applicant must have applied for an extension before their existing visa expired.
After processing the application, the Home Office sends an email and/or letter to the applicant telling whether it has approved the application.
If a UK Partner Visa Extension Application is approved, the applicant will be granted further leave to remain in the UK for another 30 months.
The applicant will get an eVisas which is an online record of their immigration status.
If the Home Office refuses the partner visa extension application, the applicant may have the right to appeal or request an administrative review. If they choose to reapply, they should address any grounds for refusal given in the refusal letter and provide additional evidence if necessary.
If a person does not meet the requirements for a partner visa extension, they may still apply to extend their permission to further stay in the UK in the following circumstances:
There would be significant difficulties for both the applicant and their partner if they were to live together as a couple outside the UK, which could not be overcome.
The applicant has a child in the UK who is either a British citizen or has lived in the UK for 7 or more years, and it would be unreasonable for them to leave the UK.
Refusal of the partner visa extension application would breach the applicant's human rights if they are asked to leave the UK.
To extend a UK partner visa under the 10-year route, an extension application must be made every 30 months using the online FLR(FP) form. Applicant is not required to meet the standard financial and English language requirements for these extensions. However, they, per the criteria in paragraph EX1 of Appendix FM, will need to prove that it would be unreasonable for the child to leave the UK or that there are insurmountable obstacles to family life with a partner outside the UK.
If the partner of a person with a UK partner visa in the UK dies, the visa holder can directly apply (without the need to apply for extension) for settlement in the UK as soon as their partner dies. They do not need to wait until their current visa expires.
A person in the UK with a partner visa may be able to directly apply (without the need to apply for extension) for permission to settle (Indefinite Leave to Remain or Indefinite Leave to Enter) in the UK permanently if their relationship has broken down because of domestic abuse or violence.
UK partner visa extension is for those already in the UK with permission as a partner under Appendix FM, seeking further leave to remain in the UK with the same partner.
No, you must be in the UK when you apply for your partner visa extension.
On a single permission on a partner visa extension, you will be granted a leave of no more than 30 months in the UK.
Yes, a partner visa holder can live, work, and study in the UK without restrictions.
No, you cannot apply for your partner visa extension if your relationship breaks down.
Yes, you may be able to continue to stay in the UK by applying for a different visa, as a parent, under the Appendix FM, of a child who is a British citizen in the UK, settled here, or has lived in the UK for 7 or more years, based on your private life in the UK, or another type of visa.
Yes, in such a situation, you can apply for settlement in the UK without the need to apply for a partner visa extension.
Yes, you may solely rely on cash savings. If you applied for your partner visa before 11 April 2024 and are now seeking its extension, you must show combined cash savings of £62,500 or more.
Usually, the Home Office takes up to 8 weeks to process an application for a partner visa extension made from within the UK.
Yes, you can include dependent children in your application.
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