Spouse Visa Extension After 2.5 Years

You can apply to extend or renew your spouse visa for a further 2.5 years, once you have completed the initial 2.5 years under the 5-year Spouse visa route.

To be eligible to apply for a Spouse visa extension after 2.5 years, you must still be in a genuine relationship with your British citizen or settled partner.

As a result of a successful application for an extension of your Spouse visa under 5 years route, you will be granted further leave to remain for 30 months (2.5 years) to be able to complete 5 years in the UK and thus apply for settlement (ILR) as a spouse under 5 years route if meet the eligibility requirements.

Whether you want to apply, extend or switch to a UK Spouse visa, our experienced immigration lawyer can provide legal advice and help with your visa application.

Table of Contents

• How to extend a spouse visa after 2.5 years?
• Eligibility requirements for spouse visa extension
• Documents required to extend a spouse visa
• UK Spouse visa financial requirement
• Genuine & subsisting relationship
• Adequate accommodation requirement
• English language requirement
• Spouse visa to settlement (ILR)
• UK spouse visa processing time
• UK spouse visa application fees
• How can an immigration lawyer help you?
• Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
• Need legal advice or help from an immigration lawyer?

How to extend a spouse visa after 2.5 years?

You can apply for a Spouse visa extension after 2.5 years (30 months) under 5 years route from inside the UK to extend your Spouse visa by using form FLR (M).

To extend a spouse visa after 2.5 years, you will need to follow these steps:

1. Check the eligibility criteria
2. Gather supporting documents
3. Complete the online application form (FLR(M))
4. Book & attend your biometric appointment
5. Wait for a decision

1. Check the eligibility criteria

Before applying for an extension, make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements as per the UK government guidelines.

2. Gather supporting documents

You will need to provide supporting documents that demonstrate your relationship with your spouse is genuine and subsisting, as well as evidence that you meet the financial, accommodation, and English language requirements. You should gather all the necessary documents before starting your application.

3. Complete the online application form

You will need to complete the online application form FLR (M) and pay the application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fee.

4. Book & attend your biometric appointment

Once you have completed the application, you will need to book an appointment at a UK visa application centre to provide your biometric information and submit your documents.

On the day of your appointment, you will need to attend the visa application centre and provide your biometric information (fingerprints and photograph), along with your supporting documents.

5. Wait for a decision

After your application is submitted, you will need to wait for a decision. The processing time for a spouse visa extension can vary depending on the circumstances, but you can check the current processing times on the UK government's website.

Once a decision has been made, you will receive a letter informing you of the outcome. If your visa extension is approved, you will receive a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) with your new visa details. If your application is refused, you will be given reasons for the refusal and information on how to appeal the decision.

What are the requirements for a Spouse visa extension after 2.5 years?

To apply for a spouse visa extension in the UK after 2.5 years, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must still be in a genuine and subsisting relationship with your spouse or partner who is settled in the UK.
• You must have lived together continuously in the UK during your most recent period of leave.
• You must not have breached any immigration laws while in the UK.
• You must meet the financial requirement of earning at least £18,600 per year or have sufficient savings or a combination of both.
• You must provide evidence that you have suitable accommodation for you and your spouse.
• You must pass the English language requirement by either taking a Home Office-approved English language test or by providing evidence that you are exempt from this requirement.

In addition to the above, you will also need to provide updated evidence of your relationship with your spouse, such as photographs, correspondence, and joint bank statements.

What documents are required for a spouse visa extension?

If you are currently in the UK on a spouse visa and you wish to extend your visa, you will need to provide the following documents:

• Passport: You will need to provide a valid passport or travel document. Your passport must have at least one blank page for the visa.
• Financial evidence: You will need to provide evidence that you and your spouse have a combined income of at least £18,600 per year. You can provide evidence of your income from employment, self-employment, savings, or other sources. You may also need to provide evidence of your spouse's income.
• Accommodation: You will need to provide evidence that you have suitable accommodation for you and your spouse. This can be a rental agreement, mortgage statement, or a letter from your landlord.
• English language: You will need to provide evidence that you meet the English language requirement. This can be a certificate from an approved English language test, a degree taught in English, or a letter from your employer confirming your English language ability.
• Relationship evidence: You will need to provide evidence that your relationship with your spouse is genuine and subsisting. This can include photographs, joint bank statements, and correspondence.

What are the financial requirements to renew a spouse visa?

The financial requirements for a UK spouse visa are as follows:

• Income requirement: If your partner is employed in the UK, they must have a gross annual income of at least £18,600. If you have children who will also be applying for the visa, the income requirement will be higher.
• Savings requirement: If your partner is not able to meet the income requirement, you may be able to use your own savings to meet the financial requirement. You must have at least £62,500 in savings, which must have been held for at least six months prior to the visa application.
• Combination of income and savings: If you and your partner cannot meet either the income or savings requirement individually, you may be able to combine your income and savings to meet the financial requirement. For example, if your partner earns £16,000 per year, you would need to have at least £46,000 in savings to meet the financial requirement.

What is the genuine & subsisting relationship requirement?

The UK Spouse visa applicant needs to be able to prove they are in a genuine relationship, such as a civil partnership, with their British citizen or settled partner. There are lots of different types of evidence you can send to the Home Office depending upon your personal circumstances, most common documents which you can provide to meet the genuine relationship test are:

• A joint mortgage or tenancy agreement, either in the UK or outside the UK.
• Evidence of any children you have together, such as a birth certificate.
• Photographs that show you have spent time together frequently.
• A shared bank account or savings.
• Text messages or social media chat logs.
• Travel documents that prove you have visited each other at least once before you got married or have met in person.
• Any documents which prove that you intend to live together in the UK.

What is the adequate accommodation requirement?

As part of your UK Spouse Visa application, you will need to provide proof of accommodation that meets UK living standards.

Your UK national partner, who acts as your sponsor, will need to show that he or she can provide adequate accommodation for themselves, the applicant, and any dependents who intend to live in the UK.

What is the English language requirement for a spouse visa extension?

To apply for a spouse visa extension, you must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to at least level A2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.

If the applicant has completed a degree-level course that was taught in English, they may be exempt from the English language test requirement.

If an applicant is a citizen of a country where English is the majority language, they will automatically meet the English language requirement.

Spouse visa to settlement (ILR)

As a spouse visa holder, you may be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after you have spent 5 continuous years in the UK on a spouse visa.

Once you are granted ILR as a skilled worker, you can stay in the UK indefinitely and work in any job or industry without the need for a work permit. You may also be eligible to apply for British citizenship after a certain period of time.

Read this guide about how to apply for ILR as a Spouse and the eligibility requirements.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)