Apply as a Spouse or Partner - 5 Years route or 10 Years Route

Partner visa route (also known as a Family Visa) is for those seeking to enter or remain in the UK on the basis of their family life with a person who is:

• a British Citizen,
• settled in the UK (holding ILR / settled status)
• in the UK with limited leave as a refugee or person granted humanitarian protection
• in the UK with limited leave under Appendix EU
• in the UK with limited leave as a worker or business person by virtue of either Appendix ECAA Extension of Stay or under the provisions of the relevant 1973 Immigration Rules (or Decision 1/80) that underpinned the European Community Association Agreement (ECAA) with Turkey prior to 1 January 2021
• in the UK with permission to stay as a stateless person. 

The partner visa includes applications for a spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, and same-sex partner of a UK partner. An unmarried partner or same-sex partner is someone who has been living with a UK partner in a relationship akin to a marriage or civil partnership for at least two years before the date of application. All applications for partner visas are made under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. There are two routes to settlement (ILR) under the partner visa route, which are:

• 5-year partner visa route (this route leads to ILR after 5 years)
• 10-year partner visa route (this route leads to ILR after 10 years)

Yes, you can apply for your partner visa entry clearance from outside the UK through Priority Service to get a decision on your application within 30 working days. For an in-country application, you can apply for your partner visa through Super Priority Service to get a decision on your application within 24 hours.

You will qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 5 years of continuously living in the UK under a partner visa 5 years route. Alternatively, you will qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 10 years of continuously living in the UK under a partner visa 10 years route.

According to Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules, “partner” means-

• the applicant’s spouse;
• the applicant’s civil partner;
• the applicant’s fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner; or
• a person who has been living with the applicant in a relationship akin to a marriage or civil partnership for at least two years before the date of application, unless a different meaning of partner applies elsewhere in Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules.

The requirements for a partner visa UK include the following:

Relationship requirement: The applicant must be either a spouse, civil partner, fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner, an unmarried or same-sex partner who has lived together with the UK sponsor for at least 2 years before the date of application. Applicant's relationship with the UK sponsor must be genuine and subsisting;

Age requirement: Both the applicant and the applicant's UK partner must be aged 18 or over at the date of application.

Financial requirement: The applicant must meet the financial requirement of £29,000 gross per year. In in-country applications, the income of both the applicant and the UK sponsor can be combined, but in entry clearance applications from outside the UK, the income of the UK sponsor only can be counted to meet the financial requirements.

Accommodation requirement: There should be adequate accommodation for the applicant and the UK sponsor to stay in the UK residential premises, which should not be overcrowded as a result of the applicant and the UK sponsor living in the property.

English language requirement: The applicant must meet the required English language level: level A1 for an initial application, level A2 for an extension application, and level B1 for an ILR application.

Suitability requirements: The applicant's partner visa application should not be refused under the suitability requirements set out in Appendix Suitability of the Immigration Rules.

Tuberculosis Test Certificate: For partner visa entry clearance, applicants must provide a tuberculosis test certificate if they are a national of a country listed in Appendix Tuberculosis of the Immigration Rules.

The initial partner visa is granted for the following periods:

• 6 months if you apply as a fiance or proposed civil partner from outside the UK;
• 33 months if you apply for entry clearance as a spouse, civil partner, same-sex partner or unmarried partner from outside the UK;
• 30 months if you apply for leave to remain as a spouse, civil partner, same-sex partner or unmarried partner from inside the UK.

The main differences between the partner visa 5 years route and 10 years route include the following:

Qualifying period for ILR

Under the partner visa 5 years route, you can apply for ILR once you have spent 5 years in the UK under the partner visa 5 years route. Under the partner visa 10 years route, you can apply for ILR when you have completed 10 years in the UK under the partner visa 10 years route, including any time spent previously under the partner visa 5 years route. Any time spent under the 5-year route can be combined with the 10-year route when calculating a period of 10 years to qualify for ILR under the 10-year route.

Financial Requirement

The partner visa 5-year route requires the applicant to meet the financial requirement of earning £29,000 gross per year, but there is no financial requirement or even adequate maintenance requirement for an application under the partner visa 10-year route.

English Language Requirement

The partner visa 5-year route requires the applicant to meet the English language requirement in listening and speaking only, whereas the partner visa 10-year route does not (except for ILR applications)

Immigration Status Requirement

The partner visa 5 years route requires the applicant to meet the Immigration Status requirement by not being a visitor and by having leave to remain, which was granted for a period of longer than 6 months, whereas the partner visa 10 years route requires that the applicant can meet the immigration status through immigration bail. On an exceptional basis, even an overstayer can succeed in an application for a partner visa under the 10-year route, but you cannot succeed under the 5-year route without meeting the immigration status requirement.

Paragraph EX1 Of Appendix FM

An applicant for leave to remain under the partner visa 5 years route does not have to meet the requirements of paragraph EX1 of Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules, whereas a person applying for leave to remain as a spouse under the 10 years route must meet the requirements as set out in paragraph EX1 of Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules.

Yes, most applicants must pass an approved English language test at A1 level (or higher, depending on the stage of application), unless exempt due to nationality, age, or medical condition.

Switching is permitted in many cases (for example, from a Student Visa or Skilled Worker Visa), provided the applicant has lawful status. However, individuals on visit visas generally cannot switch from within the UK unless there are exceptional circumstances, e.g. where the best interests of British children are at stake.  

We assess eligibility before submission to minimise refusal risks.

Yes. Unmarried partners can apply if they have lived together in a relationship akin to marriage for at least two years. Strong evidence of cohabitation is essential.

In some cases, an unmarried applicant who has not lived together due to work, cultural, or religious reasons may also qualify for an unmarried partner visa if the applicant's relationship with the UK sponsor has been similar to marriage. 

You can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 5 years of continuous residence under the partner visa 5-year route.

Alternatively, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 10 years of continuous residence under the partner visa 10-year route. 

At Premium Solicitors Ltd is an SRA-regulated UK law, our experienced UK immigration solicitors provide:

• Specialist spouse and partner visa solicitors
• Detailed eligibility assessments
• Document checklists tailored to income category
• Document compliance under Appendix FM-SE
• Legal representation and structured submissions
• Fixed-fee services with transparent pricing
• Priority application assistance
• Remote representation nationwide and internationally
• Multilingual legal support

If you are planning to join your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner in the UK, our specialist immigration solicitors at Premium Solicitors can guide you through the entire Spouse/Partner Visa application process under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. We focus on minimising refusal risks and ensuring legally robust applications.

We are committed to delivering high-quality, client-focused immigration services 7 days a week.

If you are applying for a Spouse Visa UK, Partner Visa UK, or Family Visa, contact Premium Solicitors for:

• Free initial assessment for 5 minutes
• Fixed-fee quote
• Appointment booking (in-office or remote)

The documentary evidence required to establish the genuineness and subsistence of the relationship may vary depending on the personal circumstances of the applicant and the UK sponsor. The Home Office must be satisfied that the relationship is genuine and ongoing. Evidence typically includes:

• Marriage or civil partnership certificate
• Evidence of cohabitation
• Joint financial documents
• Communication history
• Photographs and travel records

Our spouse visa solicitors at Premium Solicitors prepare detailed legal representations to address the genuineness and subsistence requirements.

Yes. Spouse Visa holders can:

• Work full-time or part-time
• Be self-employed
• Study
• Access the NHS (after paying Immigration Health Surcharge)

There are no employment restrictions.

Yes. Dependent children may be included, but additional financial and documentary requirements apply.

Premium Solicitors provides comprehensive legal advice for family visa applications involving children.

The documents required to apply for a UK spouse visa may vary depending on the applicant's and the UK sponsor's personal circumstances. The common documents may include:

• Marriage certificate / civil partnership certificate
• Evidence of a genuine relationship (photos, communication records, travel history)
• Financial documents (payslips, bank statements, employer letters)
• Accommodation evidence
• English language certificate
• TB certificate (if required)
• Immigration history documents

Document errors frequently lead to refusals. Our fixed-fee service includes a detailed document checklist and compliance review.

Most applicants apply under the:

5-Year Route

Leads to ILR after 5 years if all requirements are continuously met.

10-Year Route

Applies where certain requirements (e.g. financial threshold) are not fully met but exceptional circumstances apply under Article 8 ECHR.

We carefully assess which route applies to your circumstances.