How to Get Married to a UK Citizen and get a Visa Sponsorship and Secure your Accommodation Before Relocating
Many people dream of moving to the UK with visa sponsorship. But still, a lot of people are confused about how to get married to a UK citizen and get a visa sponsorship. And we get it; the process can feel like a lot. On one hand, you have to figure out the requirements to marry a British citizen, on the other hand, you still have to deal with paperwork and find a place to live. What if you miss an important step or don’t meet the sponsorship rules? It’s stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. In this article, we’ll walk you through exactly how to get married to a UK citizen, secure a visa sponsorship, and find a place to live, without the headache most people go through.
What is a UK Spouse Visa?
A UK spouse visa lets you live in the UK with your partner if they’re a British citizen or settled person (like someone with Indefinite Leave to Remain). But you need to know something, just getting married to a UK citizen doesn’t automatically give you the right to live there, you need to apply for a spouse visa. The UK marriage visa process is quite straightforward but not entirely easy. You need to fulfil certain criteria to become eligible for this process. This often includes proving that your relationship is a real one and that you have enough money to support yourselves without relying on public funds. The approval of your visa will grant you a period of stay extending to 2 years and 9 months which you can subsequently extend. After living together in the UK for 5 years, you could be eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain. This allows you to stay in the country permanently. Eventually, you might even qualify for British citizenship.
What are the UK Spouse Visa Requirements for 2025?
You need to fulfil certain requirements before applying for a UK spouse visa. In this section, we provide an easy-to-follow detailed explanation to help you understand what is required.
1. Prove your relationship is genuine
The visa application requires proof of a genuine relationship between you and your partner. The UK spouse visa requirements can be met by being legally married or being in a civil partnership which the UK recognizes, living together for 2 years, planning to marry, or registering as civil partners within six months of entering the country. You can prove your genuine relationship by showing marriage or civil partnership documents alongside pictures of your time together, bank statements, utility bills, rental agreements, and messages or call logs showing continuous communication between both of you.
2. Meet the financial requirement
You and your partner need to earn at least £29,000 annually as gross income starting from 11 April 2024 (the threshold was formerly £18,600 before this date). Nonetheless, the financial requirements set before 11 April 2024 continue to apply to fiancé and fiancée visa applicants who submitted their applications before then. You can prove your financial standing by showing proof of combined salaries, self-employment income, pensions, maternity allowance, bereavement benefits, or savings exceeding £88,500. However, you can bypass this requirement when your partner receives Disability Living Allowance benefits. Keep in mind that you still have to prove that you would not have to rely on public funds upon entry to the country.
3. Meet the English language requirement
To prove English language proficiency, you must demonstrate your ability to speak and understand the language at least at the A1 (basic) level. To fulfil the English language requirement, you need to pass approved tests, hold degrees taught in English, or come from English-speaking countries such as the US, Canada, Australia, and Jamaica. Individuals older than 65 or those with physical or mental disabilities may get an exemption from these requirements.
4. Provide proof of accommodation
The immigration system requires you to prove that you have suitable housing arrangements in place for living in the UK. The property needs to be either owned by you or your partner or rented by either of you. Also, the space needs to fit both of you and your children properly while following all public health and safety requirements. You can start by staying with family or friends but you must first provide written consent from the landlord or property owner.
Which Documents are Required for a UK Spouse Visa?
1. You should get a spouse visa application form filled out correctly and pay the necessary fee.
2. You will have to present your valid passport and any previous passports to prove your travel history.
3. You need to prove that there is a real relationship between both of you by showing documents such as joint bills, bank statements, photos, and communication logs.
4. You need to provide proof of combined income of at least £29,000 (e.g. bank statements, savings or wage slips).
5. You will need to present proof of your accommodation arrangements like a rental agreement, mortgage statement or a landlord’s letter stating that it is suitable.
6. You have to show the CEFR A1 certificate, an academic qualification taught in English, or exemption proof.
7. It is required that you submit two colour photos that are in accordance with the official UKVI guidelines.
8. You have to provide your biometric information, that is, fingerprints and digital photographs.
9. If you are required by your country, you must include tuberculosis test results from an approved centre.
10. Details of previous immigration applications with reference numbers and supporting documents from previous applications are needed.
11. You also have to disclose any criminal history with supporting details.
12. If you have one, you need to give your UK National Insurance number.
How to Apply for a UK Spouse Visa
1. First, verify that you meet all the requirements because your application may be rejected if you don’t meet them.
2. Collect all the documents necessary which we have highlighted above. Heads up, you have to be careful with this step because your application can be delayed by missing documents.
3. Complete the form online on the Home Office website and check that all the details are consistent with the documents you have given.
4. After submitting the form, pay the application fee. Just so you know, the amount of the fee varies if you are applying from inside or outside the UK.
5. You need to upload all the documents such as bank statements, your passport and so on, and prove your relationship. Double-check everything to avoid mistakes.
6. Next, they will schedule you for a biometric appointment in which they will take your fingerprints and photograph as this is needed for identity verification.
7. If you are invited, go for the interview where you may be asked questions regarding your relationship and plan for the UK. Be honest but confident too, as you answer because once, the authorities start to see you fidgeting, they can be suspicious.
How Long Does It Take to Get a UK Visa After Marriage?
In 2025, the standard processing time for a UK spouse visa is up to 12 weeks for applications submitted from outside the UK and up to 8 weeks for those submitted from within the UK. To be clear about this, this is a breakdown:
Standard out-of-country applications- Up to 12 weeks
Priority out-of-country applications- 30 working days
Standard in-country applications- Up to 8 weeks
Super-priority in-country applications – 1 working day
What are the New Rules for UK Spouse Visa 2025?
There are no major changes but one notable one is the financial requirement for a UK Spouse Visa which increased from £18,600 to £29,000 on April 11, 2024. Please note that there is no increase for couples with dependents. However, you don’t need to worry too much about this because you can meet this through employment, savings of £88,500, pensions, self-employment profits, rental income, or dividends. However, the Labour government may introduce further changes in 2025, so you must remain observant.
What Percentage of UK Spouse Visas are Approved?
If you’re planning to apply for a UK Spouse Visa, one of the biggest questions on your mind is probably, “What are my chances of approval?”. We get it, anyone should be concerned about that, especially considering the amount of time, energy and resources that go into the whole process. However, not to scare you but 20% to 25% of applications are rejected and that’s still a significant number of people facing disappointment, uncertainty, and financial loss. On the bright side, this just means that the approval rate for UK spouse visas is fairly encouraging and boils down to around 75% to 80% of applications.
What are the Reasons for UK Spouse Visa Rejection?
Getting a UK Spouse Visa isn’t exactly a walk in the park. Even though about 75% to 80% of applications get approved, that still leaves around 20% to 25% facing rejection as we said earlier, and trust me, that’s not the kind of news you want after all the effort and money you’ve put in.
So, why do so many applications get refused?
1. They Don’t Believe Your Relationship Is Real
One of the biggest reasons for rejection is that the Home Office suspects your relationship isn’t genuine. If they think you’re in a “sham” marriage, where the relationship is staged just for immigration purposes, they’ll reject your application.
To avoid this, you need to provide solid proof that your relationship is real and ongoing. This includes:
- Photos together over time
- Message transcripts (WhatsApp, emails, texts)
- Evidence of joint bank accounts or shared bills
- Proof of living arrangements
Sometimes, they’ll even call you in for an interview to test how well you know each other. If your documents are weak or inconsistent, you could be in trouble.
2. Not Meeting the Financial Requirement
This one’s huge. The financial threshold for a spouse visa is now £29,000 (up from £18,600). If you’re not earning enough, they’ll reject you. But there are other ways to meet the requirement and this has been discussed above.
If you have £88,500 in savings, you don’t need to meet the income requirement at all. But if you’re self-employed and submit pre-tax figures, that’s an automatic red flag. Also, provide at least six months’ worth of recent payslips. Keep this in mind so you won’t be shocked if your visa is refused because of missing or outdated payslips.
3. Messy Paperwork
You’d be surprised how many applications get refused because of simple mistakes. Some examples:
- Outdated or incomplete forms
- Missing key documents (like divorce certificates or proof of accommodation)
- Bank statements older than 28 days
- Incorrect English language test (you need an approved Secure English Language Test – SELT)
- Mismatched addresses on documents
A single typo or missing tick box can ruin everything. Double-check everything before submitting.
4. Lack of Evidence of Communication
If you don’t have enough proof that you and your partner regularly communicate, that’s a red flag. UKVI wants to see that your relationship is active and consistent. Things like WhatsApp chats, emails, and call logs can help. If you’re not sure what’s enough, get an immigration solicitor to review your documents.
5. Issues With the English Language Test
If you’re not from a majority English-speaking country, you need to pass an A1-level English test. Make sure you take the right test as using an unapproved test will lead to automatic refusal.
6. Missing the Health and Biometric Fees
Forget to pay the healthcare surcharge or biometric fee? That’s an instant rejection. Make sure all payments are completed and confirmed before you submit.
7. Proof of Living Together
If you’ve been living together, you need to prove it as discussed earlier through joint bills, tenancy agreements, and letters from landlords or utility companies. If you’re applying as a fiancé(e), you’ll need to show that you plan to marry or enter a civil partnership within six months of arriving in the UK.
How to Secure Accommodation in the UK?
1. Start your search at least 2–3 months in advance, especially if you are looking for a space in busy cities like London and Manchester.
2. Look out for trusted platforms to aid your search such as Rightmove, Zoopla. Please don’t underestimate Facebook groups because they can also be helpful.
3. Set a Budget and include rent, bills (electricity, water, internet), and council tax. Always be prepared for a deposit (usually 4–6 weeks’ rent) because most landlords ask for a commitment fee to show you are really interested.
4. Don’t forget to carry along important documents because you’ll need proof of ID (passport or BRP), proof of income, and possibly a guarantor if you’re renting a house in the UK for the first time.
5. Read the contract with “double eyes” and be sure you understand the tenancy terms, payment dates, and notice periods before signing. Just so you know, ignorance is not an excuse.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the financial requirements for UK spouse visa?
When you are planning to sponsor your foreign spouse or partner for a UK visa, you will usually have to show that you have enough funds to meet the annual income requirement of £29,000. This is referred to as the financial requirement or minimum income requirement.
N:B If you are a British citizen or have indefinite leave to remain (permanent residency) in the UK, this rule applies. But if you are a migrant and your partner is planning to come on a dependent visa, you might have to worry about different financial rules.
2. Can a UK spouse visa be revoked?
Yes, a UK spouse visa can be revoked only by the Home Office, but not directly by your spouse. They may cancel your visa if they find out that your relationship has ended, you are trying to deceive the authorities or if you’ve breached the visa conditions. If you no longer meet the requirements for a spouse visa, the Home Office will start the unfortunate process of cancelling it.
3. Can an asylum seeker apply for a spouse visa in the UK?
If the relationship is genuine, a British citizen and an asylum seeker should have no trouble getting married in the UK. However, you could get into trouble if the UK Border Agency is planning to deport you.
4. Does a UK spouse visa require an interview?
Not all UK spouse visa applicants have to go through a UK visa interview, but the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) may ask for one if they have doubts about your relationship or it seems you’re not telling the truth in your application. In the event of this, the interview will be more about whether your relationship with your UK-based spouse is real and ongoing.
Conclusion
Planning and preparing for a UK spouse visa and accommodation is necessary but is not always a smooth ride. To increase your chances of success, you need to make sure your relationship meets UKVI requirements, check for the necessary documents and meet the financial criteria. When you’re approved for a visa, you can then find somewhere to live that’s suitable for you to make it easier to settle in. But for now, take time to understand the process so you can be well prepared.
