5-Year Spouse Visa Route

5-year spouse visa route is a common path for non-UK residents as it permits them to live in the UK with their partners. The visa is designed for partners interested in living together in the UK. On this route, applicants are free to get an education and can do work. Moreover, this route eventually leads the applicants towards ILR.

However, applicants must meet some rules and requirements to enter the UK on this route. Unlike other visas, this visa has an application process. Moreover, applicants can apply for an extension if they cannot meet the requirements of the 5-year route. 

What Is A Spouse Visa

The visa permits the partners of UK citizenship holders to join the UK. It emphasizes that both partners must live together after meeting some requirements associated with this visa. A genuine relationship is one of the primary requirements to qualify for a spouse visa. Other requirements include language and accommodation requirements, and biometric enrollment is crucial. 

10-Year UK Spouse Visa Route Requirements

The following are the requirements of a 10-year spouse visa route:

  • The age of both partners must be above 18.
  • Genuine relationship requirements.
  • Both are intended to live in the same house.
  • The couple should be financially stable.

Requirements Of 5 Year Route Spouse Visa

The following criteria for a 5-year route spouse visa are given below:

Relationship requirements

Relationship requirements of a 5-year route spouse visa are as follows:

  • Papers that show the applicant is legally married to a person who is a British citizen.
  • Civil partners can also apply for this route.
  • Combined photographs, children’s birth certificates, and joint bank accounts are solid evidence to prove your relationship. 

Financial requirements

The financial requirements of a 5-year route spouse visa are as follows:

  • The financial requirements for a spouse have increased; now, it is £29,000 annually. 
  • Applicants can show this income from pensions, salary, self-employment, cash savings, maternity leave pay, and rent. 

Language requirements

Language requirements of a 5-year route spouse visa are as follows:

  • To show proficiency in the English language, the level A1 test is compulsory. 
  • Applicants under 18 and those with an English degree are exempt from this test.
  • Applicants, when applying for an extension, need to pass the level A2 test. 

Accommodation requirements

Accommodation requirements of a 5-year route spouse visa are as follows:

  • In the UK, applicants and applicants’ partners must have secure accommodation for their families.
  • There would be sufficient space. 

Application Process 

The application process for a 5-year route spouse visa is given below in detail:

  • Read the requirements of this visa on the UK immigration website to learn what documents are required. Then, collect them and prepare a file.
  • Complete the form correctly. 
  • Go for fingerprint and picture verification.
  • Pay IHS and application fee.
  • Apply from, upload the document, and upload the paid fee receipt. 
  • Now, wait for 8 – 12 weeks to get the decision on your application. 
  • After a successful decision, applicants will enter the UK. Here, they can get free health care and education. However, access to public funds will not be accessible. 

Visa Extension 

At the end of the initial period, applicants will undergo this procedure to get extensions to complete the 5-year spouse visa route. The steps are:

  • Get a spouse visa application form and fill it out.
  • Make a file of supporting documents, and also include the visa history of your initial spouse visa.
  • Submit this file and application to the website.
  • Provide your verified fingerprints and photographs to the home office.
  • Wait to get a decision on your application. 

Way To ILR 

After the completion of 5-year route, applicants can apply for ILR by using the following steps:

  • To get ILR, applicants must pass a test covering UK culture, history, and traditions. It is the Life in the UK test.
  • Now, applicants need to meet an A2 level test to show their proficiency in the English language. 
  • Complete the form for the ILR application correctly. 
  • Go for fingerprint and picture verification.
  • Pay IHS and application fee.
  • Apply from, upload the document, and upload the paid fee receipt.

ILR To Citizenship

After one year of ILR, applicants can apply for citizenship. For this purpose, the following steps will involved in this process:

  • Applicants for citizenship must have good character, no criminal record, and friendly behavior in society. 
  • If the applicant did not pass the Life in the UK test for ILR, citizenship must pass it with a 70 score.
  • Complete the citizenship correctly. 
  • Go for fingerprint and picture verification.
  • Pay IHS and application fee.
  • Apply from, upload the document, and upload the paid fee receipt.
  • If the applicant’s grant is successful, the applicant will be invited to attend the citizenship ceremony in owner to get it. 

Conclusion

To conclude, a 5-year route spouse visa is crucial for married people who wish to live together with their spouse in the UK and are searching for the right path for them. The process is simple, but applicants must fulfill some eligibility criteria, including financial, English language, accommodation, and relationship requirements. In addition, the given time for processing this route’s application is 8 – 12 weeks. On this route, the couple not only reunites with each other but also gets permanent residency in the UK. Once granted, applicants will get the chance to vote, funds, free education, and healthcare. For a smooth process, understand the requirements of this route in detail to avoid mishaps.

(FAQs)

What is the processing time of a 5-year route spouse visa?

The 5-year route spouse visa application takes almost 2-3 months to process. However, the processing time can be increased due to missing information, incorrect details, and limited supporting documents. Moreover, in complex cases, applicants are called to the home office to give the verification of the details they mentioned in their application. 

How do I switch from a finance visa to a spouse visa?

Partners who enter the UK on a finance visa can marry within six months. You can switch your visa to a spouse visa after being married to the UK citizenship holder partner. The process involves the following steps:

  • Marry to your partner.
  • Get the applicant form for the spouse visa and apply.
  • Provide documents and necessary paperwork.
  • Provide biometric details and submit your application.
  • Wait for the decision.

How much does a spouse visa cost?

The cost of a spouse visa is listed as:

Type of feeCost 
Application fee inside the UK£1048
Outside the UK, the application fee£1846
IHS per year for adults£1035
IHS per year for kids£776
Biometric fee£19.20

What are the language requirements of a 5-year Spouse visa route?

There are several requirements for a five-year spouse visa route that are given below:

  • To show proficiency in the English language, the level A1 test is compulsory. 
  • Applicants under 18 and those with an English degree are exempt from this test.
  • Applicants, when applying for an extension, need to pass the level A2 test.