UK SPOUSE VISA EXTENSION DOCUMENTS CHECKLIST 2026 — WHAT YOU NEED TO RENEW YOUR PARTNER VISA
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Your UK spouse or partner visa lasts 33 months (if your application was from outside the UK) or 30 months (if you switched to the partner route from inside the UK). When it nears expiry you must apply to extend it before it runs out — if it expires before you submit, you will be deemed an overstayer, which can seriously affect your application and future status.
How is an extension different from the original application?
For an extension the Home Office shifts focus. They primarily wants to see:
- You have actually been living together in the UK throughout (continuous cohabitation)
- The financial requirement is still met and properly documented
- The relationship remains genuine and subsisting
- Your English has progressed from level A1 to at least level A2
- Your current leave is still valid at the time of application
Communication and travel evidence matter far less; cohabitation evidence matters far more.
What are the Requirements for a Spouse Visa Extension?
Relationship Requirement
At the time of making a Spouse Visa Extension, both the applicant and sponsor partner must:
- Be over 18;
- Have met in person;
- Not be related to each other;
- Be/Remain in a genuine and subsisting relationship;
- If either person were previously married/in a civil partnership, the previous marriage/s must have permanently broken down;
- Intend to live together permanently in the UK once the visa is granted
If you are married or civil partners, you must be able to prove that you are in a legal marriage/civil partnership that is recognised in the UK. If not married (applying as an unmarried partner), you must provide evidence that your relationship is akin to a marriage and that you have lived with each other continuously for 2 years or more.
Financial Requirement
The Applicant and/or Sponsor must be able to show that they are earning or receiving income from their employment or other sources or else have significant savings, and that this income/savings is sufficient for themselves and their partner for the duration of their visa.
If you or your partner were first granted leave as a spouse/partner before 11 April 2024 (including if you first applied as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner), and you/they are extending that visa, the minimum income threshold is £18,600 gross per annum. This threshold increases to £22,400 where you are applying to extend with a dependant child, and then further increments of £2,400 for each additional child you are applying with (up to a maximum threshold of £29,000).
If you or your partner were first granted leave as a spouse/partner on or after 11 April 2024, the minimum income threshold is £29,000 gross per annum.
The English Language Requirement
Another requirement is evidence of sufficient knowledge of the English Language. Unless you reside in a country where English is the primary/dominant language e.g. USA or Australia, you will need to take an English Language Test which assesses your speaking and listening ability. This must be at a minimum level of A1 (if switching from another visa category) or A2 (if making a partner visa extension).
If you have a degree or academic qualification that was taught or researched in English and recognised by Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC), the English language requirement can also be satisfied.
Other Requirements
Accommodation Requirement
You must also show that you have adequate accommodation for both of you (and any dependant children) to live in while you are in the UK. Adequate meaning that there will be no overcrowding as a result of you staying in the property.
When should you apply?
You can apply up to 28 days before your visa expires. If you were granted 33 months, you can apply to extend once you reach 30 months (2 and a half years); in this case most advisers recommend 4–6 weeks' margin. Once you submit before expiry, Section 3C leave continues your permission automatically while the application is decided — even if the expiry date of your visa passes.
Section 1 — Immigration status documents
- Applicant's current valid passport
- Applicant's current BRP — front and back
- Screenshot of applicant's current eVisa (from their UKVI account)
- Previous grant letters (if available)
- Sponsor's British passport or proof of settled status
Section 2 — Identity documents
- Applicant's current valid passport (bio and observation pages are usually sufficient)
- Applicant's national ID card (if referenced on the application form)
Section 3 — Relationship & continuous cohabitation
The most scrutinised element of any extension. You must show that your relationship continues to be genuine and subsisting. This is mainly evidenced with documents proving you have lived together continuously throughout your current visa (typically 2.5 years), with a consistent spread of evidence at the same address(es).
- Marriage / civil partnership certificate
- Relationship photos — 10–15 throughout the last 2-3 years, captioned
- Letter of Support from sponsor
- Cover letter from Applicant (optional)
- Continuous cohabitation evidence — joint tenancy, bank statements, council tax, utility bills, NHS/HMRC letters etc
Section 4 — Financial documents
The Applicant and/or Sponsor must be able to show that they are earning or receiving income from their employment or other sources or else have significant savings, and that this income/savings is sufficient for themselves and their partner for the duration of their visa.
If the Applicant was originally granted leave as a spouse/partner before 11 April 2024 and they are extending their visa, then the minimum income threshold is £18,600 gross per annum. This threshold increases to £22,400 where you are applying to extend with a dependant child, and then further increments of £2,400 for each additional child you are applying with (up to a maximum threshold of £29,000).
For Applicants that were granted leave after 11 April 2024, the minimum income threshold is £29,000 gross per annum
The documents you must provide need to prove the source of income being used to meet the minimum income requirement. For example if the applicant is relying on employment income, they will need to provide payslips, bank statements, a letter from their employer and in some cases employment contract(s).
Income sources that qualify to meet the minimum income threshold are:
- Salary from Employment;
- Non-employment income e.g. rental income from property;
- Cash savings;
- Pension Income;
- Self-Employment income;
- Income as a Director and/or Employee of a specified UK Limited company
Exemption from the Financial Requirement
If the sponsor is in receipt of specific benefits or allowances, the applicant is exempt from having to meet the minimum income threshold. These include:
- Disability living allowance
- Severe disablement allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- Carers’ allowance
- Attendance allowance
- Child Disability Payment
- Adult Disability Payment
- Industrial injury disablement benefit
- Police Injury Pension
- Armed Forces Independence Payment or Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
- Constant Attendance Allowance, Mobility Supplement or War Disablement Pension under the War Pensions Scheme
- Industrial injury disablement benefit
In this instance, evidence must be submitted to prove that the sponsor has sufficient funds to support them, the applicant and any other dependants without any additional public funds. - The Sponsor's total income and housing costs will be need to be assessed.
Cash savings
On savings alone, the figure follows your applicable threshold:
£62,500 where your threshold is £18,600, or
£88,500 where your threshold is £29,000. The figure is £16,000 plus 2.5 × the income shortfall, held for at least 6 months.
Section 5 — English language (Level A2 minimum)
Another requirement is evidence of sufficient knowledge of the English Language. Unless you reside in a country where English is the primary/dominant language e.g. USA or Australia, you will need to take an English Language Test which assesses your speaking and listening ability. For extensions, this must be at a minimum level of A2.
If you have a degree or academic qualification that was taught or researched in English and recognised by Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC), the English language requirement may also be satisfied.
- Approved A2 (or above) SELT certificate OR
- Degree taught in English + Ecctis Statement of Comparability + transcripts (if not from a UK University) OR
- Passport, if from an exempt nationality
Section 6 — Accommodation
For the accommodation requirement, the documents to be provided will depend on whether the property is owned, rented etc.
| Situation | Documents required |
|---|---|
| Owner-occupied | Land Registry title or mortgage statement |
| Renting privately | Current tenancy agreement |
| Sponsor only on tenancy | Tenancy agreement + landlord permission letter |
| Living with family/friends | Consent letter from owner + copy of their ID |
Section 7 — Other forms & translations
- Declaration Form
- Family Consent Forms
- UKVI Documents Checklist (generated after online submission)
- Certified English translation for any non-English document*
* 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
The 5 most common extension mistakes
- Cohabitation evidence with gaps in the timeline
- Applying too close to or even after the visa expiry date
- Bank statements and payslips covering different periods
- Incomplete Financial Documents to evidence the source(s) of income(s) relied on
- Using a Level A1 SELT certificate when A2 is required
Quick reference checklist
Immigration status
- Passport, BRP (front/back), eVisa screenshot, previous BRPs/grant letters, sponsor proof
Relationship
- Certificate, photos, cover letter, cohabitation evidence (covering last 2 years)
English / Accommodation / Admin
- Language Test certificate / Degree Certificate · tenancy/mortgage · consent forms · translations
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply to extend my spouse visa?
You can apply up to 28 days before your current leave expires. Most immigration advisers recommend applying with at least 3 weeks to spare. Section 3C leave continues your permission once you submit before expiry.
Can the applicant's income be used?
Yes — for an extension the applicant's own employment income can count, alone or combined with the sponsor's.
Do I need to retake the English test?
If you are not exempt and didn't pass at A2 originally, yes — the extension requires at least leave A2. An A1 certificate is not sufficient for an extension.
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