Fiance Visa UK

You can apply for a Fiance visa to marry your partner in the UK if you want to marry a British citizen or settled person within 6 months of your Fiancé(e) visa.

Table of Contents

• What is a UK Fiancé(e) visa?
• UK Fiance visa requirements
• UK Fiance visa financial requirements
• Adequate accommodation requirement
• English language requirement
• What documents are required to apply for a UK fiance visa?
• How to apply for a UK Fiance visa?
• UK fiance visa processing time 2024
• UK Fiance visa application fees
• How can our immigration lawyer help you?
• Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
• Need legal advice or help from an immigration lawyer?

What is a UK Fiancé(e) visa?

A UK Fiancé(e) visa, also known as a prospective marriage visa, is a type of visa that allows a non-EEA national to enter the UK for the purpose of marrying their UK-based fiancé(e).

To be eligible for a UK Fiancé(e) visa, the applicant must provide evidence of their intention to marry their fiancé(e) within six months of arriving in the UK, and they must demonstrate that they meet the financial and English language requirements. The UK-based fiancé(e) must also meet certain requirements, including being a British citizen or settled person, and demonstrating that they can provide adequate support for their fiancé(e) during their stay in the UK.

Once the applicant has entered the UK on a Fiancé(e) visa, they can apply for further leave to remain in the UK as a spouse after they have married their UK-based fiancé(e). They will need to meet the requirements for a UK Spouse visa, which includes proving that they are in a genuine & subsisting relationship with their partner and meeting the financial and English language requirements.

It's important to note that the Fiancé(e) visa route is only available for those who are engaged to be married. If you are in a long-term relationship but not yet engaged, you may need to consider other visa routes, such as the UK Unmarried Partner visa.

UK Fiance visa requirements

To be eligible for a UK Fiancé(e) visa, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

• Age: You and your fiance must be over 18 years.
• Relationship: The applicant must be engaged to be married to a British citizen or settled person in the UK, and they must intend to marry their partner within six months of arriving in the UK.
• Eligibility: The applicant must be over 18 years old and not closely related to their partner. They must also be free to marry and not in a subsisting relationship.
• Financial requirement: The UK-based partner must meet the minimum income requirement or have sufficient savings to support their fiancé(e) during their stay in the UK.
• Accommodation requirement: The couple must have adequate accommodation in the UK.
• English language requirement: The applicant must demonstrate their knowledge of the English language by passing an approved English language test, or by being a national of a majority English-speaking country.

It's important to note that the Fiancé(e) visa application process can be complex, and it is recommended to seek advice from a qualified immigration advisor to ensure that all requirements are met before submitting the application.

UK Fiance visa financial requirements

To meet the financial requirement for a UK Fiancé(e) visa, the UK-based partner must demonstrate that they meet a minimum income threshold or have sufficient savings to support their fiancé(e) during their stay in the UK. The minimum income threshold is currently £18,600 per year, although this amount may be higher if the UK-based partner has dependents.

The following sources of income and savings can be considered when assessing the financial requirement:

• Employment income: The UK-based partner can use their employment income to meet the financial requirement, as long as they have been earning the required amount for at least six months.
• Non-employment income: The UK-based partner can also use non-employment income, such as rental income or pension income, to meet the financial requirement.
• Savings: If the UK-based partner does not meet the income threshold, they may be able to use their savings to make up the shortfall. The savings must have been held for at least six months, and the amount required will depend on the length of the fiancé(e) visa and whether the savings are held jointly with the applicant.

Adequate accommodation requirement

To meet the adequate accommodation requirement for a UK Fiancé(e) visa, the couple must demonstrate that they have suitable accommodation in the UK that meets certain criteria. The accommodation must:

• Be owned or occupied exclusively by the UK-based partner, or be owned or leased jointly by the couple.
• Be able to accommodate both the UK-based partner and the fiancé(e), as well as any other dependents.
• Be free from overcrowding, and meet the relevant health and safety standards.
• Not be rented from a local authority or a housing association.
• Not be subsidized by public funds.

The accommodation requirement can be met in different ways, such as by providing evidence of ownership or occupancy of a property, a rental agreement, or a letter of support from a friend or family member who is willing to accommodate the couple. If the couple does not have suitable accommodation when the application is submitted, they may still be able to apply for a fiancé(e) visa, but they will need to demonstrate that they have made adequate arrangements to secure accommodation once they arrive in the UK.

English language requirement

To apply for a UK fiance visa, you must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to a certain level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.

You must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to at least level A1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.

What documents are required to apply for a UK fiance visa?

To apply for a UK Fiancé(e) visa, the following documents are typically required:

• Valid passport: The applicant must provide a valid passport or other travel document.
• Proof of relationship: The applicant must provide evidence of their relationship with their UK-based fiancé(e), such as engagement photos, letters, and other forms of communication.
• Evidence of intention to marry: The applicant must provide evidence of their intention to marry their fiancé(e) within six months of arriving in the UK, such as wedding invitations or booking confirmations for a wedding venue.
• Financial documents: The UK-based partner must provide evidence of meeting the financial requirement, such as payslips, bank statements, or a letter from an employer. If the UK-based partner is self-employed, they may need to provide additional documentation, such as tax returns and business accounts.
• Accommodation documents: The couple must provide evidence of meeting the accommodation requirement, such as proof of ownership or occupancy of a property, a rental agreement, or a letter of support from a friend or family member who is willing to accommodate the couple.
• English language test certificate: The applicant must provide a valid English language test certificate unless they are a national of a majority English-speaking country.

How to apply for a UK Fiance visa?

Below is the step-by-step process to apply for a UK Fiance visa:

1. Check if you meet the eligibility criteria
2. Gather the required documents
3. Apply online using the correct application form & submit documents
4. Pay the visa application fee
5. Attend a biometric appointment
6. Wait for a decision

UK fiance visa processing time 2024

The standard fiance visa UK processing time in 2024 is currently 24 weeks. However, you may be able to use priority service to fast-track your application and get a faster decision within 15-30 working days.

UK Fiance visa application fees

The fiance visa UK fee is £1,538 if you are applying from outside the UK using standard service. You may be eligible to use priority service to get a faster decision. You need to pay a priority service fee in addition to the application fee.

How can our immigration lawyer help you?

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Here are some commonly asked questions about UK Fiancé(e) visa: