How Much Does a Spouse Visa UK Cost in 2026?

The Home Office Application Fee

From the 9th of April 2025, the current fee for a UK Spouse or Partner Visa is £2,064 for applications made outside the UK (Entry Clearance/Leave to Enter). This comes under the Family Route to Settlement Visa Category which effectively allows you to join your British or settled family member (in this case, your spouse/partner) in the UK for an initial period of 2 years and 9 months, which can then be extended (read further on).

If you are applying inside the UK, to extend your stay as a spouse of a British/Settled person (either extending your existing spouse visa or switching to the partner route from a different visa category), the application is 'Further Leave to Remain as a Spouse/Partner' (FLR M) and costs £1,407.

How Long Does the Visa Last?

A Fiancé(e)/Proposed Civil Partner Visa is granted for a maximum period of 6 months and once you are married or have formed a civil partnership, you can then switch to the Partner Route via FLR M and be granted leave of 2 and a half years (2 years and 6 months).

A Spouse Visa (Entry Clearance/Leave to Enter) gives you permission to stay in the UK for 2 years and 9 months, which can then be extended via FLR M for a further 2 and a half years (2 years and 6 months).

If you are already in the UK under another visa category and switching to the Partner Route, you will be granted with further leave to remain for 2 and a half years, in the UK.

Can I include my Children on my Application?

If you’re applying for a UK Spouse or Partner Visa and you have children under the age of 18, they can apply as dependants alongside the main applicant. The fee for each dependant is an additional £2,064 if applying from outside the UK, or £1,407 if applying within the UK

The Immigration Health Surcharge

As part of your application you must also pay for the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS Fee) which gives you access to UK healthcare. The cost for which is currently £3,105 applicable to applications made outside the UK (The fee is £2,587.50 for applications made inside the UK).

The IHS Fee is mandatory and must be paid in full together with the Visa Application Fee.

Priority Visa Service for Faster Processing Time
To get a quicker decision on your application, you can opt to pay extra for the priority service*. The cost for this is currently £500 (for applications made outside of the UK).

- Note that this service is not suitable for people who have had any of the following: 

• been refused a visa for the UK, and/or;
• been refused leave to enter the UK, and/or
• been deported, removed, or otherwise required to leave the UK, and/or;
• overstayed a period of leave in the UK, and/or;
• had leave to remain in the UK curtailed by the Home Office, and/or;
• been refused leave to remain in the UK by the Home Office, and/or;
• been refused a visa for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States of America, or the Schengen countries, and/or;
• you have been interviewed, detained, or prosecuted by the police for any offence in the UK or elsewhere, and/or;
• you have an unspent criminal conviction in any country, and/or;
• you have committed a criminal offence in any country.

If you are applying inside of the UK, there is the Super Priority service where you can get a decision within 1-2 working days, and this currently costs £1000.

Are there any other Costs I need to Worry About?

In order to meet all of the requirements for a Spouse Visa UK Application, you may also incur other costs, such as: -

English Language Test

Another requirement of the Spouse Visa Application is evidence of sufficient knowledge of the English Language. Unless you reside in a country where English is the primary/dominant language e.g. the USA or Australia, and you don't have a degree that was taught in English, you will need to take a Home Office Approved English Language Test that assesses your speaking and listening abilities. This must be at a minimum level of A1 of The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). - The current cost for a English Language Test is £150.

If you have a degree or academic qualification that was taught or researched in English, you will need to obtain a certificate from Ecctis (formerly known as UK NARIC) to confirm that your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree or higher. The cost for this is approximately £150.

TB Test

If you are a resident of a country where Tuberculosis screening is required by the UK, you will need to have a TB test at an approved clinic by the Home Office. The cost for this will vary for each country, and if you do not have an approved clinic in your home country, you would need to get tested in a neighbouring country that has one, in which case you will need to factor in travelling costs also.

Translation of Documents

Any supporting documents that are not in English or Welsh must be translated. This will typically apply to items such as Marriage and Birth Certificates that originate from non-English speaking countries. The Home Office's official rule on this is the following: Each original document must be accompanied by a full translation that can be independently verified by the Home Office. Each translated document must contain:

• confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document
• the date of the translation
• the translator's full name and signature
• the translator's contact details

Biometric Appointment Fee

In most cases, you will also need to pay a charge to the Third Party company that operates the Visa Centre for your Biometric Appointment.

They also offer additional services that you can opt for additional fees. These include document scanning where the staff at the visa centre will scan and upload your supporting documents for you during your appointment, or Prime Time Appointment slots if you would prefer to attend the visa centre outside standard operating hours.

Do I need an Immigration Lawyer to Assist me with my Application?

While it is not essential to instruct a Lawyer to handle your Visa Application for you, a good immigration lawyer can save you a lot of time and stress.

They are after all experts in this area and have vast experience to guide you effectively at every step of your application. Even if you think you have everything covered, it may be worth paying a more affordable fee for an Immigration expert to check your supporting documents and application, and avoid the potential heartache of having your application refused by the home office just because you missed something.

Everyone's case is different and if your situation is complex or you are concerned you can't meet any of the requirements, it is highly recommended you seek professional advice from a UK Immigration expert.