The Home Office Fee

The current fee for a UK Spouse/Partner Visa is £1,846 for applications made outside the UK (Entry Clearance/Leave to Enter). This comes under the Family Visa Category which effectively allows you to join your British/settled family member (in this case, your spouse/partner) in the UK for an initial period of 2 years and 9 months, which can then be extended (read further on).
If you are applying inside the UK, to extend your stay as a spouse of a British/Settled person (either extending your existing spouse visa or switching to the partner route from a different visa category), the application is 'Further Leave to Remain as a Spouse/Partner' (FLR M) and costs £1,048.

How Long Does the Visa Last?

A Spouse Visa (Entry Clearance) gives you permission to stay in the UK for 2 years and 9 months, which can then be extended via FLR M for a further 2 and a half years (2 years and 6 months). If you are already in the UK under another visa category and switching to the Partner Route, you will be granted with further leave to remain for 2 and a half years, in the UK.

Can I include my Children on my Application?

Children (under 18) can apply as dependants at the same time as the (main) applicant. Each dependant will cost an additional £1,846 if applying outside the UK or £1,048 if applying within the UK.

The Immigration Health Surcharge

As part of your application you must also pay for the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) which gives you access to UK healthcare. The cost for which is currently £3,105 applicable to applications made outside the UK (The fee is £2,587.50 for applications made inside the UK).

Priority Visa Service for Faster Processing Time
To get a quicker decision on your application, you can opt to pay extra for the priority service*. The cost for this is £500 (for applications made outside of the UK).

- Note that this service is not suitable for people who have had any of the following: 

• been refused a visa for the UK, and/or;
• been refused leave to enter the UK, and/or
• been deported, removed, or otherwise required to leave the UK, and/or;
• overstayed a period of leave in the UK, and/or;
• had leave to remain in the UK curtailed by the Home Office, and/or;
• been refused leave to remain in the UK by the Home Office, and/or;
• been refused a visa for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States of America, or the Schengen countries, and/or;
• you have been interviewed, detained, or prosecuted by the police for any offence in the UK or elsewhere, and/or;
• you have an unspent criminal conviction in any country, and/or;
• you have committed a criminal offence in any country.

If you are applying inside of the UK, there is the Super Priority service where you can get a decision within 1-2 working days, and this costs £1000.

Are there any other Costs I need to Worry About?

In order to meet all of the requirements for a Spouse Visa UK Application, you may also incur other costs, such as: -

English Language Test

Another requirement of the Spouse Visa Application is evidence of sufficient knowledge of the English Language. Unless you reside in a country where English is the primary/dominant language e.g. the USA or Australia, you will need to take an English Language Test. This must be at CEFR level A1. The current cost for the IELTS Life Skills test is £150.

If you have a degree or academic qualification that was taught or researched in English and recognised by Ecctis (formerly known as UK NARIC), you would not need to take the English Language Test, but will still need to obtain a confirmation letter from Ecctis, which will cost approximately £150.

TB Test

If you are a resident of a country where Tuberculosis screening is required by the UK, you will need to have a TB test at an approved clinic by the Home Office. The cost for this will vary for each country, and if you do not have an approved clinic in your home country, you would need to get tested in a neighbouring country that has one, in which case you will need to factor in travelling costs also.

Translation of Documents

Any supporting documents that are not in English or Welsh must be translated. This will typically apply to items such as Marriage and Birth Certificates that originate from non-English speaking countries. The Home Office's official rule on this is the following: Each original document must be accompanied by a full translation that can be independently verified by the Home Office. Each translated document must contain:

• confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document
• the date of the translation
• the translator's full name and signature
• the translator's contact details

Do I need an Immigration Lawyer to Assist me with my Application?

While it is not essential to instruct a Lawyer to handle your Visa Application for you, a good immigration lawyer can save you a lot of time and stress.

They are after all experts in this area and have vast experience to guide you effectively at every step of your application. Even if you think you have everything covered, it may be worth paying a more affordable fee for an Immigration expert to check your supporting documents and application, and avoid the potential heartache of having your application refused by the home office just because you missed something.

Everyone's case is different and if your situation is complex or you are concerned you can't meet any of the requirements, it is highly recommended you seek professional advice from a UK Immigration expert.