UK Fiancé Visa

A UK Fiancé visa allows individuals who are engaged to a UK-based partner to enter the UK to marry their partner (also referred to as a ‘sponsor’) within six months of arriving in the UK.

What is a UK Fiancé Visa?

A UK Fiancé visa allows individuals who are engaged to a UK-based partner to enter the UK to marry their partner (also referred to as a ‘sponsor’) within six months of arriving in the UK. The Fiancé visa is a sub-category of the UK Family Visa.

The UK Fiancé visa lasts for 6 months and within this time you must usually marry your UK-based partner. If you wish to remain in the UK after your Fiancé visa expires then you must apply for another UK visa or immigration permission. Most often individuals with a UK Fiancé visa will apply to switch to the UK Spouse Visa which can lead to indefinite leave to remain and British citizenship.

Fiancé Visa UK Requirements 2024

To be eligible to make a UK Fiancé visa application, you will be required to meet the following requirements:

Your partner must either:
- Be a British citizen;
- Be settled in the UK (i.e. they have indefinite leave to remain, settled status, or proof of permanent residence in the UK);
- Be from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and have pre-settled status (they must have been living in the UK before the 1st January 2021);
- Have a Turkish Businessperson visa or Turkish Worker Visa;
- Have refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK.
- In the UK with permission as a Stateless person.
You are both over the age of 18;
You have both met in person;
Your relationship is “genuine” and “subsisting”;
You intend to marry or enter into a civil partnership with your partner within six months of your arrival in the United Kingdom;
Any previous relationships, civil partnerships, or marriages have broken down permanently;
You intend to live together permanently in the United Kingdom;
You will be adequately maintained in the UK without recourse to public funds (“benefits”);
There is adequate accommodation for you and any dependents;
You meet the English language requirement (You speak and understand English to the required level).

How do I prove my relationship is genuine for a Fiancé Visa UK?

To be eligible to make a UK Fiancé visa application, you will be required to prove that your relationship is genuine. There are many ways to prove that your relationship is genuine for a UK Fiancé visa, however, the most common way (where applicable) is to show that you and your UK-based partner live together.

To prove that your relationship is genuine for the UK Fiancé visa, you can send the following evidence as part of your UK Fiancé visa application:

Documents which come from an official third party, such as the government, a bank, a landlord, a utility provider, or a medical professional;
Documents that confirm the nature of your relationship with your partner - for example, that you live together or, share joint expenses; and
Evidence that is less than 4 years old.

It is current UK Home Office guidance though that items such as greetings cards, travel tickets, receipts, photographs and text or social media messages are not considered strong evidence of your relationship and are unlikely to help your application.

A qualified legal advisor will take detailed instructions about your relationship and make suggestions on the documents likely to carry the most evidential weight.

What are the Financial Requirements for a Fiancé Visa for the UK?

The way in which you will meet the financial requirements for a Fiancé visa within the UK will depend on whether you are working, self-employed, have sufficient savings or in receipt of specified benefits.

When applying for a UK Fiancé visa you will be required to have an annual income of at least £29,000.

In addition to showing that you meet the minimum income, you are also required to show:

The sources used to satisfy the financial requirement come from permitted income sources or savings.
That the sources of income cover certain periods of time applicable to each permitted income source relied upon.
Evidence for each source of income relied upon.

Who is exempt from meeting the financial requirements for a UK Fiancé Visa?

If your partner (“Sponsor”) is in receipt of certain benefits issued to those who are disabled, or who have caring responsibilities, or is in receipt of Armed Forces Independence and Compensation payments then you will be exempt from meeting the financial requirements for a UK Fiancé visa UK.

However, an applicant will still need to meet the financial requirement through adequate maintenance.

The English language requirement and UK Fiancé Visa applications

Unless exempt, when applying for a UK Fiancé visa you will be required to show that you meet the English language requirement:

You must be able to show that your English language abilities are at least to level A1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.

There are a variety of ways in which you can meet the English language requirement including:

Being a national of a majority English speaking country;
Passing an approved English language test to the required CEFR level;
Having an academic qualification which was taught in English. This academic qualification must be recognised (by Ecctis) as being the equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s degree, a UK Master’s degree, or a PhD if it was awarded outside of the UK.

How can Paragon Law help?

The UK Home Office will meticulously scrutinise every detail of a Fiancé Visa application. The key to success lies in the preparation of robust supporting evidence, which is where our immigration solicitors and caseworkers can provide invaluable assistance and legal advice. By leveraging their expertise, we can ensure the strongest possible application is made, maximising the chances of success.

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What proof do you need for a Fiancé Visa?

When applying for a Fiancé visa you will be required to provide proof to show that you meet the requirements. However, the proof that you will be required to provide as part of your Fiancé visa application is dependent on your own and your partner’s circumstances.

However, the Home Office Immigration Rules do require certain information and documents to be provided. The following are just some of the proof which needs to be provided for a Fiancé visa:

A valid passport.
Proof of your partner’s (sponsor’s) immigration status.

Any documents not in English will need to be translated by a suitably qualified professional.

While optional, reviewing UK Home Office guidance prior to submitting your application of this nature can greatly benefit your submission. Failing to provide the specified evidence may result in your UK Fiancé visa application being rejected.

How to apply for a UK Fiancé Visa

To apply for a UK Fiancé visa, you must make an online application from outside of the UK.

As part of the online application, you will need an email address and be required to register it. You can complete and submit the UK Fiancé visa application online using any of your preferred devices - be it a tablet, smartphone, or laptop.

At the time of submission, you will be required to pay the application fee (£1,846).

Documents are to be submitted via a trusted third-party website, typically VFS Global or TLS Contact. Further instructions on submitting your documents will be provided after submission.

Once completed, you will be required to attend a Visa Application Centre to provide your biometric details (fingerprints and photographs). In some cases, you may need to submit or send your passport to another centre, and the specific details on this will be communicated electronically based on the country and centre you choose.

Fiancé Visa cost UK

A Fiancé visa UK costs £1,846. This application fee may vary slightly according to the exchange rate.

You will not have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of your Fiancé visa application. However, if you choose to switch to another UK visa or immigration route (i.e. UK Spouse Visa), you will be required to pay the IHS as part of that application.

Correct at time of writing - 26th June 2024.

What is the UK Fiancé Visa processing time?

The UK Home Office guidance on waiting times is that the UK Fiancé visa processing time currently stands at 24 weeks. This means that you should get a decision on your UK Fiancé visa within 24 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre.

There may be an option to choose priority (5 working days from the date of your biometric appointment) or super-priority (next working day from the date of your biometric appointment) services. You will be notified at the time of payment if this service is available, but it will cost extra, and the fee will be payable at the time of application.

How long does a UK Fiancé Visa last?

A UK Fiancé visa grants you entry to the United Kingdom for 6 months and you must usually get married in this time. Once you have married your partner (your "sponsor") you will be able to switch from the Fiancé visa to a UK Spouse Visa, which will grant you stay (leave to remain) in the UK up to 2.5 years (30 months).

A UK Spouse Visa can be used to apply for indefinite leave to remain and ultimately British citizenship.

In what circumstances could a UK Fiancé Visa be denied?

A UK Fiancé visa will be denied if it is believed that you do not meet the eligibility requirements. Additionally, if you do not provide sufficient evidence as part of your application then your UK Fiancé visa may also be denied.

The UK Home Office will scrutinise every detail of your application. For this reason it is invaluable to seek the assistance of an immigration solicitor as they will be able to ensure that a robust application is submitted.

Can I extend my Fiancé Visa?

UK Fiancé visa extensions are very rare. There is some provision for an extension of the visa as a fiancé but, in order to be granted this, you have to show that:

There is a good reason that the marriage or proposed civil partnership didn’t take place while you have leave to enter in this category (such as severe illness or postponement/cancellation not due to the applicant or sponsor); and
There is satisfactory evidence that the marriage or civil partnership will take place at an earlier date; and
All of the other criteria met during the Fiancé visa application process continue to be met.

Does the Fiancé Visa lead to settlement in the UK?

The UK Fiancé visa by itself does not create a path to settlement in the UK. Therefore, if you were to apply for a UK Fiancé visa you would need to marry your UK partner and then switch to a UK Spouse visa to be on a path to indefinite leave to remain and British citizenship.

Enquire now about the UK Fiancé visa

Our immigration lawyers are able to assist you at any stage of your application. To find out more about how we can help you, fill out the form below and one of our immigration advisors will get back to you shortly.

UK Fiancé Visa: FAQs

How much does a UK Fiancé visa cost?

The cost of a Fiancé visa in the UK is £1,846, which may be subject to slight variations based on exchange rates.

Correct at the time of writing - 15th May 2024.

How long does a Fiancé visa last?

With a UK Fiancé visa, you are granted entry into the United Kingdom for six months, during which you are typically required to marry.

How do you apply for a UK Fiancé visa?

To apply for a UK Fiancé visa, you must make an online application from outside of the UK.

How long does it take to get a UK Fiancé visa?

The current UK Home Office guidance on waiting times is that you should get a decision on your UK Fiancé visa within 24 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre.

Can you extend a UK Fiancé Visa?

Extensions for Fiancé visas are uncommon.

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