Spouse Visa Extension

Financial requirement

As part of the Spouse Visa extension requirements, you are required to demonstrate that you continue to meet the UK Spouse Visa financial requirements. When applying to extend your UK Spouse Visa, you will be required to prove that:

• You and your spouse/partner have a combined income of at least £18,600.

• If you have one dependent child then the minimum income requirement rises to £22,400. However, the minimum income requirement rises by a further £2,400 for each additional child.

The financial requirement can be met through different means, including:

• Income from salaried or non-salaried employment;

• Non-employment income (i.e. income from rental properties or dividends from shares);

• Cash savings of £16,000 or more;

• State and private pensions; and

• Income from self-employment, or income as a director or employee of a specified limited company in the UK.

While the financial requirements are a significant part of UK Spouse Visa extension applications, not everyone will be required to satisfy them in order to extend their visa. For instance, if your partner receives one of the following benefits, then you will not be required to satisfy the financial requirement laid out previously. However, you will still be required to demonstrate that your partner can adequate maintain you in the UK:

• Disability Living Allowance

• Severe Disablement Allowance

• Carer’s Allowance

• Attendance Allowance

• Personal Independence Payment

• Industrial Injuries Disablement benefit

• Police Injury Pension

• Armed Forces Independence Payment or Guaranteed Income Payment under Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

• Constant Attendance Allowance, Mobility Supplement or War Disablement Pension under War Pensions Scheme

English language requirement

When applying for a Spouse Visa extension you will be required to prove that you can speak and listen to English to at least level A2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. 

You can meet the English language requirement by sitting an approved English language test which assesses your speaking and listening abilities. 

You will be exempt from the English language requirement if you meet one of the following requirements:

• Are a national of an English speaking country (Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the USA).

• Have a degree or higher qualification from an institution recognised by Ecctis which was taught or researched in English.

• In a previous application (i.e. in your original Spouse Visa application) you passed an approved English language test to at least level A2 on the CEFR scale.

• You have a long-term physical or mental condition which prevents you from meeting the English language requirement.

Being a national of a majority English speaking country

If you are a national of one of the following countries then you can meet the UK Spouse Visa English language requirements this way:

• Antigua and Barbuda

• Australia

• The Bahamas

• Barbados

• Belize

• Dominica

• Grenada

• Guyana

• Ireland

• Jamaica

• Malta

• New Zealand

• St Kitts and Nevis

• St Lucia

• St Vincent and the Grenadines

• Trinidad and Tobago

• USA

Which English test is required for UK spouse visa extension? 

When applying to extend your UK Spouse Visa you must pass a secure English language test (SELT) to level A2 on the CEFR scale. The English language test must assess your speaking and listening skills and you must take the test with an approved provider.

How early can I apply for a Spouse Visa extension?

To apply for a Spouse Visa extension, you must submit an application no more than 28 days prior to the expiry date of your current visa.

Spouse Visa extension form

When applying for a Spouse Visa extension after 2.5 years, the form an Applicant would need to complete is FLR(M) or FLR (FP).  

At present the Home Office aims to make decisions within 8 weeks after you have enrolled your biometrics.

Spouse Visa extension fee

The current Spouse Visa extension fee is £1,048. 

However, you must also pay the immigration health surcharge which is £624 per year (or £1,560 for the duration of your Spouse Visa extension).

How can Paragon Law help? 

Our immigration lawyers have assisted many individuals to successfully make a Spouse Visa extension application. If you require assistance to extend your UK Spouse Visa, or need support in relation to another matter relating to UK immigration, then please contact us to speak to an expert immigration lawyer.