Fiance Visa UK Application 2025 – Get Legal Assistance to Join Your Partner

What is a Fiance Visa?

The UK Fiance Visa is designed to enable non-EEA nationals to enter the UK to marry or enter into a civil partnership with their UK-based partner and begin a new life here. The applicant’s partner must be either a UK citizen or a person with settled status in the country.

Fiance Visas last for 6 months, and they are granted under the assumption that you will marry your partner within the validity period of the visa. So, if you intend to relocate to the UK to begin a new life with your UK-based partner, you could be eligible for the UK Fiance Visa.

You must apply for another immigration permission to remain in the UK after your Fiance Visa expires. The simplest is to switch from the UK Fiance visa to the Spouse Visa, which grants holders 30 months of residence in the UK. You can look for employment and study in the UK as a Spouse Visa holder without any restrictions.

Who is Eligible for a UK Fiancé Visa? UK Fiance Visa Requirements

To be eligible for the Fiance Visa, both you and your partner must meet certain conditions and requirements.

The main eligibility criteria in 2025 are as follows:

• Both you and your partner must be at least 18-years-old
• You must be planning to get married within the 6-month validity period of the Fiance Visa. (A confirmed booking at a wedding venue or with a registrar in the UK, invitations sent to guests, statements from both partners outlining wedding plans.)
• Your partner must be one of the following: a British or Irish citizen, someone with indefinite leave to remain or settled status in the UK, a person with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, a refugee or person with humanitarian protection, or a Turkish Businessperson or Worker visa holder.
• You must intend to live with your partner in the UK once you are married/in a civil partnership
• You need to demonstrate that you have the means to financially support yourselves as a couple and won’t become a financial burden on the state. You must have a combined income of at least £29,000 annually
• You need to show that you have suitable accommodation to live in with your partner and your dependents
• If you are from a non-English-speaking country, you need to take an approved SELT test to prove that you can understand and communicate in English to the level of A1 as set by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

What are the Income Requirements for a Fiancé Visa?

You must demonstrate that you satisfy the financial requirements when applying for a Fiance Visa, proving a gross annual income of £29,000 or more. You/Your sponsor must be able to ‘adequately maintain and accommodate’ the sponsored family member. 

You will need to satisfy the same financial requirements for the Spouse Visa if you switch at any point while in the UK, or apply instead for the Spouse Visa (if you marry elsewhere before you come to the country).

The Fiance Visa financial requirements are clear, yet complex. Proving you can support and accommodate your sponsored fiance requires significant documentation. Insufficient evidence of your financial history, or disorganised filing of your financial documents can result in refusal.

How to Satisfy the UK Fiance Visa Financial Requirement

Satisfying the Fiance Visa requirement is possible in a number of ways. You can prove you meet the requirement with:

• Income from your sponsoring fiance’s employment
• Income from your own salary if you have existing employment and permission to work in the UK
• Non-employment income from rental properties, capital gains and share dividends, etc
• Savings of over £1,270 held in a bank account or holding account under your (or your fiance’s) name
• Income from self-employment or as a director or employee of a limited company in the UK. This is applicable to you or your fiance as long as you have existing work permissions
• Statutory sick pay, maternity, paternity or adoption pay
• Pension payments

Financial Requirement for Savings

To meet the minimum income requirement for your UK Spouse Visa application, you can show proof of your income of a minimum of £29,000 using your pay slips, employment contract, or any other document that proves you earn that amount or above it. If you are using cash savings instead, your cash savings must be over £88,500 and can be proven with a bank statement.

Financial Requirement Exemptions

Sponsors can be exempt from meeting the standard £29,000 income threshold if they receive any of the following benefits:

• Disability Living Allowance
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Armed Forces Independence Payment or Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
• Mobility Supplement, Constant Attendance Allowance, or War Disablement Pension under the War Pensions Scheme
• Police Injury Pension
• Industrial Injury Disablement Benefit
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance

In these cases, the sponsor does not need to meet the income requirement. However, the applicant must still demonstrate they have sufficient funds to support themselves in the UK and ensure they have appropriate accommodation without relying on public funds.

If none of these exemptions apply, applicants may ask the Home Office to consider exceptional circumstances, such as potential harm to a child if the application is refused. In such cases, sufficient financial support must still be demonstrated, including support from external sources like financial assistance from another person.

Documents Required for a Fiancé Visa

If you want to apply for a Fiance Visa, you will need to provide certain information and documents which prove that you are eligible for the Fiance Visa.

You will need to provide information about yourself and your UK-based partner, as well as any dependents who you want to add to your application. Some of the information which you will need to provide includes:

• Your name and date of birth
• Copies of the photo page of any old passports and visas
• Information about the relationship you have with your partner. This includes how long you have been together, how you met and how often you see each other
• Details of anyone you previously married or had children with
• Divorce certificates (if applicable)
• Details of any criminal convictions
• Details of the countries outside the UK which you have lived in and visited
• The date of birth and nationality of your parents if you are applying from outside the UK

Here at the Immigration Advice Service, we can advise you on all the documentation and information which you will need to provide in your portfolio of evidence. We will help you to source, gather and compile all your documentation, whilst ensuring your evidence adheres to all necessary administrative standards.

Call us now on +44 (0)333 414 9244 to find out more about how we can help you.

What is the English Language Requirement?

If you are from a non-English-speaking country, you will need to fulfil an English language requirement as a Fiance Visa applicant unless you are exempt (more below).

You need to demonstrate that your level of English in reading, writing, listening and speaking is at least to the level of A1 as set by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

You will need to pass a SELT test at the level of at least A1 at an approved English language test centre to prove your English language ability.

Your pass certificate will need to be included in your portfolio of evidence to submit to the Home Office.

You will be exempt from the English language requirement if:

• You hold a degree or higher qualification taught in English at an educational institution recognised by ECCTIS
• You are over 65
• You are a recognised refugee
• You are from an exempt country
• You have a mental or physical condition which prevents you from sitting the exam

How Do I Satisfy the Genuine Relationship Requirement?

One of the key UK Fiance Visa requirements is the genuine relationship requirement. You must provide sufficient evidence to prove that you are in a genuine relationship with your UK-based partner.

You will need to provide information such as:

• Bank statements of joint accounts
• Documents showing details of accommodation which you have lived in together
• Birth certificates, if you have had any children together
• Divorce certificates, if applicable
• Reference letters from family, friends and professional people who can vouch that you are in a genuine relationship
• Information on how long you have been together, how you met and how often you see each other

If you need any help with the genuine relationship requirement, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We will consider your case and advise you on all the information and documents which you will need to provide to prove your relationship is genuine.

If you would like any assistance, call our friendly client care team now on 0333 242 9057.

Fiancé Visa UK Application Fees and Processing Time

Currently, it costs £1,938 to apply for the Fiance Visa from abroad and £1,321 to apply from inside the UK. There may also be other costs attached to your application. See our posts on UK fiance visa costs.

There is no specific timetable for when you will receive a decision on your Fiance Visa. If your application has been completed fully and to the required standard, you can expect to receive your decision quicker.

However, if, for example, your application is missing certain key documents, this will delay the processing stage. Immigration officials may contact you to request more information if they deem it to be necessary.

On average, you can expect your UK Fiance visa processing time between 2 and 3 months after the date it is received.

We can help to formulate your UK Fiance Visa application to the very highest standards with our industry-leading application package. With this service, one of our expert immigration lawyers will work with you through the entire application process.  We understand what it takes to formulate a successful application and we will maximise your chances of securing the Fiance Visa.

Through hiring our services, you can expect to receive a quick decision on your application. To find out more about our application package, please call our friendly team now on 0333 242 9057.

How to Apply for A UK Fiance Visa

The process to obtain a UK Fiancé Visa is conducted through online channels on the Home Office website. The application procedure encompasses the following stages:

• Determine your eligibility for a Fiancé Visa – If uncertain about your eligibility, consulting one of our family visa Solicitors can provide you with confirmation.
• Prepare the necessary documents to validate your eligibility – Should you prefer, our family visa Solicitors can manage this aspect on your behalf.
• Complete the digital application form online.
• Settle the applicable application fee (details can be found in the FAQ section below).
• Upload any mandatory documents that support your application.
• Arrange a biometric appointment for fingerprinting and photograph capture.
• Participate in an interview, if an invitation is extended.

Receiving a Decision

If your Fiance Visa application is approved, you will be permitted to remain in the UK for up to six months. You must get married within the 6-month period of your Fiance Visa and you must abide by the conditions imposed on your immigration permission.

If you are travelling from outside of the UK, you will need to report to border control when you arrive. It is important to bring photocopies of key documents and information from your application with you when you travel to the UK.

If you are granted with a Fiance Visa, it is expected that you will make the UK your new home. This requires you to switch to a different form of long-term immigration permission when your visa expires.

In most circumstances, you will not be able to apply for a Fiance Visa extension. However, if there were exceptional circumstances which prevented you from getting married within the initial 6-month period, at the discretion of the Home Office, you might be granted an extension.

The same requirements will need to be fulfilled to be eligible to apply for the extension and your circumstances must not have changed significantly.

How Do I Switch to the Spouse Visa?

One of the main benefits of the Fiance Visa is that it offers a smooth transition to the highly sought-after Spouse Visa. You will need to go through the standard Spouse Visa application process, but you will not need to leave the UK to apply for it (provided you apply before your Fiance Visa expires).

You can stay in the UK for 30 months under a Spouse Visa and you will be able to apply for a Spouse Visa extension when your original Spouse Visa expires, provided your circumstances haven’t changed. The Spouse Visa extension also lasts for 30 months.

You can work in the UK and study as a Spouse Visa holder and all time spent in the UK under this visa counts towards minimum residency requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and British citizenship.

After you have spent 5 years living in the UK under a Spouse Visa, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain status, which is a form of permanent residence, meaning you can remain in the UK without any restrictions.

After you have lived in the UK for a year under ILR, you will be eligible to apply for full British citizenship. As a British citizen, you can apply for a British passport and enjoy the full benefits of being a British citizen.

Fiancé Visa Appeal Process

To lodge a Fiancé Visa appeal, it is recommended that you follow the below steps:

1. Read your refusal letter carefully to understand the reasons why your application was refused
2. Identify whether you have the right to appeal the decision (this will be clearly stated in your letter)
3. You must submit your appeal within 14 or 28 days (depending on whether you applied outside or inside the UK)
4. Prepare your case to demonstrate why the decision should be reversed
5. Attend the hearing at the First-tier Tribunal in the UK immigration courts
6. Wait for a decision on your appeal

If your fiancé visa application has been refused but you have not been given the right to appeal the decision, then you should seek legal advice as soon as possible to help establish what you can do next.

What is the UK Fiancé Visa appeal process time?

There is no set time for visa appeals to be processed. Some may be decided within one month, while others may have to wait for over 12 months.

Approximately 50% of immigration decisions are overturned on appeal, and recent figures showed that the Home Office loses 75% of immigration appeals.

This means that there is a high chance that you will be successful if you submit a strong appeal against your initial decision.

Prohibited Degree of Relationship Requirement

To qualify for a Fiance visa, you and your fiance must not be related in any of the following ways. Your partner must not be your:

• Adopted child
• Adoptive guardian
• Offspring
• Formerly adopted child
• Former adoptive guardian
• Grandmother or grandfather
• Grandson or granddaughter
• Biological parent
• Maternal or paternal aunt or uncle
• Brother or sister
• Daughter or son of a sibling
• Half-sibling

Previous Relationships

In order to qualify for the fiance visa, you or your partner must not be married or in another relationship with a third party at the time of your application. If you or your partner have been married previously, you must give genuine proof that your previous marriage has been terminated through divorce (which must have been done officially through the courts) or widowed.

If you were not previously married but in a civil partnership, you must prove that your relationship was over before you applied for the fiance visa.

Source

Gov.uk: Family visas: apply, extend or switch: Apply as a partner or spouse