Short answer
Most people come to the UK on a family or work visa, such as the spouse visa (£29,000 income requirement) or Skilled Worker visa (usually £41,700 salary), and can apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years. Immigration advice can only be given by regulated advisers, so check your case with one.
Who can give immigration advice in the UK?
Immigration advice and services in the UK can only be given by regulated advisers. Under section 84 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 it is a criminal offence to give immigration advice unless you are regulated or exempt. Regulated advisers include solicitors and barristers regulated by their professional bodies and advisers registered with the Immigration Advice Authority (the IAA, previously the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner, renamed in January 2025).
This page is general information about the rules. Libra can help you understand the Immigration Rules and prepare questions, and you can find a regulated immigration adviser through Libra for advice on your own application.
What are the spouse visa requirements in the UK?
The partner (spouse) visa is part of the family visa route. In general you need to show:
- you are married or in a civil partnership recognised in the UK, or have lived together in a relationship for at least two years
- your relationship is genuine and you intend to live together in the UK
- a combined income of at least £29,000 a year for applications made from 11 April 2024 (savings can sometimes be used instead; people extending leave first granted under earlier rules may still use the old £18,600 level)
- a good knowledge of English and suitable accommodation
The first grant is usually for up to 2 years and 9 months, followed by an extension. You can normally apply to settle after five continuous years on the partner route. Time as a fiancé does not count towards the five years.
What do you need for a Skilled Worker visa?
You need a job offer from a UK employer licensed by the Home Office as a sponsor, and a certificate of sponsorship. Since 22 July 2025 the job must generally be at graduate level (RQF 6) and on the list of eligible occupations. The usual minimum salary is the higher of £41,700 a year or the going rate for the job, with lower thresholds (from £33,400) in some cases.
Since 8 January 2026 new Skilled Worker applicants need English at level B2. You also pay an application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge for each year of your visa.
What are the ILR requirements?
Indefinite leave to remain (ILR), also called settlement, lets you live and work in the UK without time limits. Under the current rules the main requirements usually are:
- five years' continuous residence on a qualifying route, such as Skilled Worker or partner (ten years for long residence)
- meeting the route's requirements throughout, for example salary for Skilled Workers
- passing the Life in the UK test and meeting the English requirement (currently B1)
- no serious breaches of immigration law and meeting suitability rules
The Home Office fee for ILR is £3,226 per person. Excess absences from the UK can break continuous residence, so check the limits for your route.
Are the settlement rules changing?
Yes, changes are planned, but most are not yet law. The government has consulted on an "earned settlement" model with a baseline qualifying period of ten years instead of five, adjusted up or down depending on factors such as earnings and contribution. As at 30 September 2026 no Immigration Rules implementing earned settlement have been laid before Parliament, and the details and any transitional protection are not confirmed.
Changes already announced include a higher English requirement (B2) for settlement applications made on or after 26 March 2027, and the Graduate visa falling to 18 months from 1 January 2027. If you are close to qualifying for ILR, have your dates checked by a regulated adviser.
How do you apply for British citizenship?
Most adults apply for naturalisation once they have ILR (or EU settled status). You usually need to:
- have lived in the UK for five years, and have held ILR for 12 months (unless married to a British citizen)
- not have spent more than 450 days outside the UK in the five years, or more than 90 days in the last 12 months
- pass the Life in the UK test, meet the English requirement and meet the good character requirement
- demonstrate sufficient knowledge of English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic
- meet the good character requirement.
To apply, you will need to complete the online naturalisation application, upload supporting documents and attend a UKVCAS appointment for your fingerprints and photograph.
The application fee is £1,839 (£1,709 application plus a £130 citizenship ceremony). Some countries do not allow dual nationality, so check before applying.
You will then need to wait for the Home Office decision. If approved, you will attend a citizenship ceremony and receive your certificate of naturalisation.
Can you appeal a visa refusal?
It depends on the decision. You have a right of appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) only if the Home Office refused a protection (asylum) claim, a human rights claim (for example, family life under Article 8) or certain EU Settlement Scheme decisions. The tribunal fee is £82 without a hearing or £144 with one.
Most other refusals can only be challenged by administrative review, where the Home Office checks for a caseworking error (£80 for applications made outside the UK), or by making a fresh application. Your refusal letter tells you which option applies. Judicial review in the Upper Tribunal is a last resort with strict time limits.
What are the key deadlines and time limits?
Immigration deadlines are strict. The main ones are:
- Appeal to the First-tier Tribunal: 14 days from receiving the decision if you are in the UK, 28 days if you are outside the UK
- Administrative review of a visa refused outside the UK: 28 days from getting the decision
- Skilled Worker: apply within three months of receiving your certificate of sponsorship
- Apply to extend or switch before your current permission expires, to avoid becoming an overstayer
- 26 March 2027: English requirement for most settlement applications rises from B1 to B2
What should you do next?
- Check the expiry date on your current visa or eRecord and note it somewhere safe.
- Read the official GOV.UK guidance for your route and gather documents such as payslips, bank statements and proof of your relationship or residence.
- Ask Libra to explain the rules for your route in plain English and to build a checklist of questions for an adviser.
- Before you apply or respond to a refusal, find a regulated immigration adviser through Libra. Only a regulated adviser can advise you on your own case.
- Apply before your permission expires and keep proof of your application.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum income for a UK spouse visa?
For partner visa applications made from 11 April 2024, the minimum income requirement is £29,000 a year, from employment and certain other sources, with savings usable in some cases. People extending leave first granted under earlier rules may still rely on the previous £18,600 threshold plus amounts for children.
How long does it take to get ILR in the UK?
Under the current rules most work and family routes lead to ILR after five years' continuous residence, and the long residence route takes ten years. The government has proposed a ten-year baseline under earned settlement, but as at September 2026 those rules had not been laid before Parliament.
Can anyone help me with my visa application?
No. In the UK it is a criminal offence to give immigration advice or services unless you are regulated, for example a solicitor or an adviser registered with the Immigration Advice Authority. Libra can explain the rules generally, and you can find a regulated adviser through Libra for advice on your case.
Can I appeal if my visa is refused?
Only if the refusal involved a protection claim, a human rights claim or certain EU Settlement Scheme decisions. The deadline is 14 days from the decision in the UK or 28 days from outside. Other refusals may be challenged by administrative review or by reapplying. Your refusal letter says which applies.
Do I need B2 English for a visa?
New Skilled Worker, Scale-up and High Potential Individual applicants have needed B2 English since 8 January 2026. For settlement, the requirement is currently B1 but rises to B2 for most applications made on or after 26 March 2027. Partner visas have their own English requirements.
How much does British citizenship cost?
The naturalisation fee for an adult is £1,839, made up of a £1,709 application fee and a £130 citizenship ceremony fee. You also pay for the Life in the UK test and any English test you need. Fees are reviewed regularly, so check GOV.UK before you apply.
Can I switch from a visitor visa to a spouse visa while I am in the UK?
Generally no. Visitors cannot normally switch into a family or work route from inside the UK and usually must apply from abroad. There are narrow exceptions, so check the current Immigration Rules before you pay a fee or make any plans.
Can I work in the UK on a spouse visa?
Yes. A partner visa normally allows you to work, be self-employed and study in the UK, with no need for a sponsor. Check the conditions on your visa decision letter or eVisa, as the specific permissions can differ by route.
What happens if my visa expires while I am waiting for a decision?
If you apply for an extension before your current permission ends, your existing conditions generally continue until the decision, known as section 3C leave. If you apply late, that protection is lost and you may be treated as an overstayer, so never leave it to the last day.
Can I travel abroad while my UK visa application is being processed?
It depends on the application. If you apply from inside the UK, leaving before a decision usually means the application is treated as withdrawn. Applications made from outside the UK are different. Check the guidance for your route before booking travel.
Can my partner and children come with me on a Skilled Worker visa?
Usually yes. Your partner and children under 18 can apply as dependants if they meet the requirements, including having the required funds unless an exemption applies. Each dependant pays their own fees and healthcare surcharge. Check the current rules for your route.
Do the new 10 year settlement rules apply to me?
The government has announced reforms called earned settlement, which would lengthen the standard wait for indefinite leave to remain for many routes. Details, dates and transitional protection are still being set out. Do not rely on a quick summary: check the latest Home Office guidance for your visa.
Ask Libra
- Can I switch from a visitor visa to a spouse visa in the UK?
- Can I work in the UK on a spouse visa?
- What happens if my visa runs out while I wait for a decision?
- Can I leave the UK while my visa extension is pending?
- Can my family join me on a Skilled Worker visa?
- How will earned settlement affect my route to ILR?
Sources
- GOV.UK: Family visa, partner or spouse
- GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa, your job and salary
- GOV.UK: Indefinite leave to remain
- GOV.UK: Apply for citizenship if you have ILR
- GOV.UK: Appeal against a visa or immigration decision
- GOV.UK: Visa administrative review
- Immigration Advice Authority
- Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, section 84
This guide is general information about the law in England and Wales as at September 2026, not legal advice. For advice on your situation, ask Libra or find a lawyer through Libra.
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