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Switching to a Spouse Visa UK (10-Year Route) - Specialist Spouse Visa Solicitors

: Written by: Arshad Mahmood; Last Updated: 24 June 2026

You can apply online to switch into a spouse visa (10-year route) from inside the UK if you do not meet the requirements for switching into a spouse visa (5-year route). An application to switch to a spouse visa under the 10-year route is usually made by applicants who cannot meet the financial, immigration status, or English language requirements. An application to switch to a spouse visa (10-year route) is made online using the FLR (FP) application form under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. You can apply to switch to a spouse visa (10-year route) through Super Priority Service to get a decision within 24 hours.

Premium Solicitors are specialist UK immigration solicitors, open 7 days a week, providing expert SRA-regulated visa and immigration services with 5-star Google Reviews from 99% of clients. Contact us for 5 minutes of Free Immigration Advice.

As a result of a successful application to switch to the spouse visa (10-year route), the applicant will be granted leave to remain for 30 months (2.5 years) under the spouse visa 10-year route.

Page Contents
Free Immigration Advice
Requirements for Switching
How to Apply?
Super Priority Service
Switching from Other Visas
Fee Waiver Application
Appeal Against the Refusal
How Our Solicitors Can Help
Why Choose Us?
Our Team of Immigration Solicitors
Book an Appointment
Our Fixed Fees
Get a Quote
Other Related Services
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Free Immigration Advice for Switching to a Spouse Visa (10-Year Route)

Our specialist team of spouse visa solicitors can provide free 5-minute immigration advice on your application to switch to a spouse visa under the 10-year route. Ask a question to our specialist team of spouse visa solicitors for free immigration advice online, or book an appointment online for detailed immigration advice with our specialist spouse visa solicitors.

Requirements for Switching to a Spouse Visa (10-year Route)

First and foremost, the applicant applying for a switch to a spouse visa (10-year route) must submit a valid application to switch to a spouse visa (10-year route) in accordance with the requirements set out in Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules.

The key requirements for switching to a spouse visa under the 10-year route from inside the UK include the following:

Immigration Status Requirement
Relationship Requirement
Age Requirement
Paragraph EX1 Requirement
Suitability Requirement

Immigration Status Requirement for Switching to a Spouse Visa 10-Year Route

The applicant must not be in the UK-

as a visitor; or
with valid leave granted for a period of 6 months or less, unless that leave is as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner, or was granted pending the outcome of family court or divorce proceedings

The applicant must not be in the UK –

on immigration bail, unless:
- the Secretary of State is satisfied that the applicant arrived in the UK more than 6 months prior to the date of application; and
- paragraph EX.1. applies; or
in breach of immigration laws (except that, where paragraph 39E of these Rules applies, any current period of overstaying will be disregarded), unless paragraph EX.1. applies.

Relationship Requirement

The applicant must be the spouse of a British Citizen, a person with ILR/settled status, an EU national with pre-settled status, a refugee / humanitarian protection status holder, a Turkish Businessperson visa holder, or a Turkish Worker visa holder. The applicant's relationship with the UK sponsor must be genuine and subsisting, and appropriate evidence of its genuineness and subsistence must be provided in support of the application to switch to a spouse visa.

Age Requirement

If you are applying to switch to a Spouse Visa (10-Year Route) from within the UK, one of the fundamental eligibility requirements is that both the applicant and their sponsoring partner must be at least 18 years old on the date of application. This requirement is set out in Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules and applies to all partner applications made under the 5-year route to settlement.

At Premium Solicitors, our specialist spouse visa solicitors can assess your eligibility and ensure that your application satisfies all the requirements of the Immigration Rules before submission.

Paragraph EX1 Requirement for Switching to a Spouse Visa (10 Years Route)

One key requirement for the applicant to succeed in an application to switch to a 10-year spouse visa is to meet the requirements of paragraph EX1 of the Immigration Rules.

The requirements of EX1 can be satisfied by showing that either:

The applicant has a parental relationship with a child under 18 who is in the UK and who is:
- British Citizen; or
- holding ILR; or
- has lived in the UK continuously for 7 years; and
It is unreasonable to expect such a child to leave the UK.

OR

The applicant has a genuine and subsisting relationship with the UK spouse who is either a British Citizen, a person with ILR / settled status, an EU national with pre-settled status, a refugee, a Turkish Businessperson visa holder or a Turkish Worker visa holder, and there are insurmountable obstacles to family life with that partner continuing outside the UK. Insurmountable obstacles mean the very significant difficulties that would be faced by the applicant or their partner in continuing their family life outside the UK, which could not be overcome or would entail very serious hardship for the applicant or their partner.

Suitability Requirements for Switching to a Spouse Visa (5-Year Route)

If you are applying to switch to a Spouse Visa (10-Year Route) from inside the UK, you must satisfy both the eligibility requirements and the suitability requirements set out in Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. The suitability requirements are designed to ensure that applicants do not have adverse immigration, criminal, or personal conduct issues that would make it inappropriate for them to be granted leave to remain in the UK.

At Premium Solicitors, our specialist spouse visa solicitors can assess your circumstances, identify any potential suitability concerns, and provide expert legal representation to maximise your prospects of success.

What Are the Suitability Requirements?

The Home Office will consider whether there are any reasons why your application should be refused on suitability grounds. Even if you meet the relationship, financial, accommodation, and English language requirements, your application may still be refused if you fail to satisfy the suitability criteria.

Suitability requirements generally relate to:

Criminal convictions
Immigration breaches
Deception or false representations
Outstanding litigation costs owed to the Home Office
Failure to comply with previous immigration conditions
Conduct that is not considered conducive to the public good
Failure to provide the requested information or attend the interviews

How To Apply for Switching to a Spouse Visa (10-Year Route)?

To apply for switching into a spouse visa (10-year route), you should take the following steps:

Complete the online application form FLR (FP) on the UKVI website.
Submit the completed application online by paying the Home Office UKVI fees, which include the application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), unless you applied for a fee waiver and your fee waiver application has been approved by the Home Office UKVI;
Book your biometrics appointment with TLSContact by creating an account on the TLSContract web portal.
Upload all the supporting documents online before the biometrics enrolment appointment date.
Attend your biometrics enrolment appointment. You should take your passport and your biometrics appointment letter with you to your biometrics appointment.
Wait for a decision on the application, which will normally be made within 6 to 12 months if submitted through standard service and within 24 hours if submitted through Super Priority Service.

Super Priority Service for Spouse Visa (10 Years Route)

As specialist spouse visa solicitors based in London, we are registered with the Home Office, UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) to provide Super Priority Service for switching to a spouse visa (10-year route) whereby a decision on your spouse visa application will be made within 24 hours if you submit your application through Super Priority Service.

Our spouse visa solicitors can prepare and submit your spouse visa application more quickly and secure a decision faster through Super Priority Service. This way, you will not have to wait months (sometimes years) for a decision on your application.

Switching from Other Visas to Spouse Visa (10-Year Route)

If you are already in the UK on another immigration route and have married or entered into a civil partnership with a British citizen or a person who is settled in the UK, you may be eligible to switch to a Spouse Visa under the 10-year route to settlement.

The Immigration Rules allow eligible applicants already in the UK to switch from another visa category to a spouse visa, provided they meet all the requirements set out in Appendix FM. You must apply before your current visa expires.

Switching From a Spouse Visa 10-Year Route to a 5-Year Route

If you are in the UK under a spouse visa (5-year route) and you do not meet the financial requirement to extend your spouse visa under the 5-year route, you can apply for switching to a spouse visa (10-year route). All the time previously spent under the 5-year route will also count towards the ILR qualifying period for the 10-year route. When applying to switch from a spouse visa 5-year route to a 10-year route, there will be no financial requirement or English language requirement for the application. We can prepare and submit your application through Super Priority Service, so you receive a decision within 24 hours.

Switching From a Fiancé Visa To a Spouse Visa (10-Year Route)

A person who is in the UK on a fiancé visa can apply for switching into a spouse visa under the 10-year route soon after the registration of the marriage of the applicant with the UK qualifying partner, if the applicant cannot satisfy the financial requirement for an application to be approved under the 5-year route. An application to switch from a fiancé visa to a spouse visa can be made through Super Priority Service to obtain a decision within 24 hours, so the applicant can obtain the right to work in the UK as soon as the spouse visa application is approved by UKVI. It is always possible for the applicant to switch back to the spouse visa 5-year route at any time after the application under the spouse visa 10-year route has been approved by the UKVI Home Office.

Switching From a Student Visa to a Spouse Visa (10-Year Route)

A person in the UK on a student visa can apply to switch to a spouse visa (10-year route) after marrying a UK partner if neither the applicant nor the UK partner meets the financial requirement. It is always possible for the applicant to switch back to the spouse visa 5-year route at any time after the application under the spouse visa 10-year route has been approved by the UKVI Home Office.

Switching From a Work Visa To a Spouse Visa (10 Years Route)?

A person in the UK on any work visa can apply to switch to a spouse visa under the 10-year route from inside the UK if they marry a UK partner while on a UK work visa. Only where the applicant or UK partner is unable to meet the financial requirement will the applicant consider applying under the spouse visa 10-year route; otherwise, an applicant in such circumstances would normally apply under the spouse visa 5-year route. It is always open for the applicant to switch back to the spouse visa 5-year route at any time in the future after the application under the spouse visa 10-year route has been approved by the UKVI Home Office.

Common work visa categories from which applicants may switch to a spouse visa (5-year route) include:

Skilled Worker Visa
Graduate Visa
Health and Care Worker Visa
Global Talent Visa
Innovator Founder Visa
Scale-up Worker Visa
Youth Mobility Scheme Visa
Dependant Visas
UK Expansion Worker Visa
Senior or Specialist Worker Visa
Religious Worker Visa
Charity Worker Visa

Fee Waiver to Switch to a Spouse Visa Under the 10-year Route

You can apply for a fee waiver online before you apply to switch to the 10-year spouse visa route, and are unable to pay the Home Office UKVI fees for the application. Home Office UKVI decision-makers must take into account the full amount payable by an applicant when considering a fee waiver request. The total amount refers to the combined immigration application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). Where an applicant can pay the whole of the immigration fee but none, or only part of the IHS, the immigration fee will be required, and the waiver will be applied to the IHS. If the applicant is unable to pay the fee or the IHS, the Home Office UKVI will waive both. Read More

Appeal Against the Spouse Visa Refusal

If your application for switching to a spouse has been refused by the Home Office UKVI and you have been given the right to appeal against the refusal decision, you should file an appeal with the First Tier Tribunal within 14 days of the refusal decision. The appeal against the refusal decision can be successful on the grounds that the decision to refuse is not in accordance with rules or in contravention of your right to private and family life as envisaged under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). An Immigration Judge at the First Tier Tribunal will hear and determine the appeal. Our specialist spouse visa solicitors can provide the legal services you need to represent you in your spouse visa appeal to challenge the refusal decision.

How We Can Help

Our specialist team of family visa solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representation for your spouse visa switching application on a fixed-fee basis. Our family visa solicitors can legally represent you in your application to switch to a spouse visa and handle all aspects of your application until a decision is made by the UKVI Home Office. The immigration casework to be carried out by our immigration solicitors in relation to your application for switching to a spouse visa will entail the following:

Advice on requirements: Our spouse visa solicitors will advise you on the requirements you need to meet for your spouse visa application to be successful.

Documentary advice: Our spouse visa solicitors will prepare and email you a comprehensive list of supporting documents to be submitted in support of your application for switching to a spouse visa.

Assessing documents: Our spouse visa solicitors will assess your documents to ensure that all documents you provide in support of your application to switch to a spouse visa comply with the immigration rules.

Completing the application form: Our spouse visa solicitors will complete the relevant form for your switch to a spouse visa.

Submitting an application through Super Priority Service: If required, our spouse visa solicitors will submit your application to switch to a spouse visa online via Super Priority Service to obtain a decision within 24 hours.

Booking an appointment with the application centre: After the online submission of your application for switching to a spouse visa, our spouse visa solicitors will book your appointment with the application centre for you to enrol your biometrics.

Detailed cover letter: Our specialist spouse visa solicitors will prepare a detailed cover letter in support of your application for switching to a spouse visa to explain all the relevant legal requirements for your application to be approved by the Home Office UKVI.

Uploading documents online: Before the biometrics enrolment date, our spouse visa solicitors will upload all supporting documents online to support your application to switch to a spouse visa.

Follow-up work: Our spouse visa solicitors will handle all follow-up until the Home Office UKVI decides on your application to switch to a spouse visa.

Why Choose Us for Switching to a Spouse Visa (10-Year Route)?

There are several reasons you can choose our London-based spouse visa solicitors and lawyers to handle your application to switch to a spouse visa from inside the UK. The main reasons include the following:

High-Quality Legal Services: Our team of the best spouse visa solicitors in London provides high-quality legal services for switching to a spouse visa in the UK from inside the UK. The high quality of UK visa and immigration legal services provided by our best team of immigration lawyers is self-evident from the 5-star Google Reviews rating by 99% of our clients.

Remote Legal Services: Our specialist spouse visa solicitors and lawyers can provide you with expert spouse visa advice and legal representation remotely from our offices in London. Using modern technology, our specialist spouse visa solicitors and lawyers can handle your application to switch to a spouse visa remotely, without you needing to visit our offices. Whilst we are more than happy to welcome clients into our offices, if this is their preference, we are proud to offer our legal services for spouse visa applications remotely to save you time and travel costs.

Open 7 Days A Week: We are open 7 days a week and pride ourselves on providing dedicated spouse visa advice and legal representation.

All Work Carried Out By Qualified Specialist Immigration Solicitors: Our specialist team of fully qualified and experienced spouse visa solicitors, who have extensive experience dealing with spouse visa applications, will carry out all the casework on your application for switching into a spouse visa in the UK.

Fast Track Visa Service: Our experienced and qualified spouse visa solicitors will prepare and submit your application to switch to a spouse visa in the shortest possible time using the fast-track process. Where possible, our spouse visa solicitors will submit your spouse visa application through the Super Priority Visa Service to obtain a decision within 24 hours.

Free Immigration Advice Online: Our specialist team of spouse visa solicitors and lawyers can provide one-off free immigration advice online for switching to a spouse visa through our website enquiry form.

Fixed Fees With Payment Plan: Our spouse visa solicitors and lawyers charge reasonable and affordable fixed fees for an application to switch to a spouse visa. You can pay our fixed fee in two instalments: half when we start working on your spouse visa application, and the remaining half when the application is fully prepared and ready for submission to the UKVI Home Office.

Our Team of Specialist Spouse Visa Solicitors

Our spouse visa solicitors specialise in applications for switching to a spouse visa (10-year route) from within the UK. As one of the best spouse visa solicitors, we have successfully helped thousands of clients with their applications for switching to a spouse visa under the 10-year route. Our highly experienced and fully qualified spouse visa solicitors offer fast, friendly, reliable, and fixed-fee advice and legal representation for switching to a spouse visa (10-year route) from inside the UK.

Meet Our Team of Spouse Visa Solicitors in London

At Premium Solicitors, our strength lies in the expertise, dedication, and unwavering commitment of our spouse visa solicitors in London. We understand that immigration matters are life-changing events, and our team is here to guide you through every step of the spouse visa process with professionalism and care.

Our team comprises a diverse group of spouse visa solicitors with extensive experience and expertise. We are united by a shared goal: to deliver the highest level of legal support and advocacy tailored to your immigration needs.