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Thinking of extending your UK spouse visa after 2.5 years? This in-depth guide covers everything you need updated 2025 fees, Home Office rules, eligibility criteria, checklists, and real case examples. You’ll also learn how to avoid common refusal mistakes, understand Paragraph 39E exceptions, and get solicitor-backed insights on meeting financial, English, and relationship requirements. Whether you’re living together or apart, this article helps you submit a strong, mistake-free application.
What Is a UK Spouse Visa Extension?
A UK spouse visa extension lets individuals already on a spouse or partner visa extend their stay for another 2.5 years. Unlike the initial spouse visa, which allows a partner to enter the UK, this extension is for those who are already living in the UK with their British or settled partner and want to stay on the 5-year route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
This article breaks down everything you need to know—including 2025 immigration policy updates, the latest Home Office rules, real-life visa mistakes, and solicitor-backed insights to help you avoid refusals and delays.
| Who Can Apply | Who Cannot Apply |
|---|---|
| British or Irish citizen’s partner | Visitor visa holder |
| Partner of someone with Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) | Person on immigration bail |
| Partner of a refugee status holder | Short-term study visa holder |
| Partner of someone with EU Pre-Settled or Settled Status | Temporary work visa holder |
Cost of Spouse Visa Extension After April 2025 Update
Extending your UK spouse visa after 2.5 years comes with multiple fees. Some are mandatory, others optional—but skipping any required one will delay or ruin your application. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need to pay in 2025.
Application Fee
As of 9 April 2025, the spouse visa extension fee is £1,321 per applicant, including minors.
This is up from the previous £1,258, reflecting a 5% increase.
✅ Always double-check the current fee on the UKVI official site before applying.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
IHS is compulsory—it gives you access to NHS services while you’re in the UK.
IHS Cost (Inside UK – Spouse Visa Extension)
- Adult: £2,587.50 (for 2 years 6 months = 30 months)
- Child under 18: £1,940
⚠️ If you’re applying from outside the UK, the visa is granted for 33 months, so your IHS fee will be slightly higher.
Priority Services (Optional)
If you want a faster decision:
- £500 – Get a decision within 5 working days after biometrics.
- £1,000 – Get a decision by the next working day after biometrics.
Pro tip: Your countdown starts after biometrics, not when you submit the online application.
Biometrics Fee
Biometric enrolment is mandatory.
- Cost: £60 per applicant
- Document Scanning Fee (incase you have not selected Self Upload): 60£
- Provider: Biometrics are now handled by TLScontact (not UKVCAS anymore).
This fee covers your fingerprints and photograph, which are used to create your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).
Total Estimated Cost (Per Adult Applicant – 2025)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | £1,321 |
| IHS | £2,587.50 |
| Biometrics | £60 |
| Total (Standard) | £3,968.50 |
| Priority (Optional) | +£500 or +£1,000 |
Check If You Are Exempt from Paying This Fees
You may be eligible for a fee exemption if you’re financially struggling, at risk of destitution, or receiving Carer’s Allowance. Check your eligibility before applying—this could save you thousands.
Pro tip: At the time of extension under the partner route, the applicant and sponsor can combine their income to meet the financial requirement set by the Home Office..
UK Spouse Visa Extension Requirements
Relationship Requirement (At Spouse Visa Renewal)
To renew your spouse visa, you must show that your relationship is genuine, ongoing, and still meets the rules.
✅ What You Need to Prove:
i) You’re in a continuous and subsisting relationship
- Submit your marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate
ii) You live together (cohabitation proof):
- Joint tenancy agreements
- Joint utility bills
- Joint bank statements
iii) If you’re living apart (due to work or study):
- Provide chat logs, emails, travel bookings for joint holidays, or written confirmation from friends/family who can verify the relationship
iv) If living with family rent-free:
- Submit a host letter confirming you live there
- Include joint bank statements or official letters showing the same address
v) If you have children together:
- Attach birth certificates and passports of the children
English Language Requirement
You must meet the English language requirement when applying to extend your spouse visa.
✅ Who’s Exempt?
You don’t need to take an English test if:
- You’re a national of a majority English-speaking country (e.g. USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand)
- You’re 65 or older
- You have a mental or physical condition that prevents you from taking the test (must be backed by medical evidence)
- You hold a UK-recognised degree taught or researched in English (must be verified by Ecctis if awarded abroad)
What Test Do You Need?
- Minimum requirement: A2 Speaking and Listening (CEFR scale) for spouse visa extension
- Recommended: B1 test — it satisfies both the spouse visa extension and ILR later
Pro tip: Consider taking the B1 English test instead. It also satisfies the requirement for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) later—saving you time and money down the line.
Financial Requirement
If you came to the UK before 11 April 2024, you and your partner must jointly show a minimum income of £18,600 per year.
If you came to the UK on or after 11 April 2024, the new threshold applies—you’ll need to show a joint income of £29,000 per year.
You can meet this financial requirement in several ways:
i) If You’re Salaried
- Payslips (last 6 months if paid monthly, or 12 if paid weekly)
- Corresponding bank statements
- Employment letter confirming job details
- P60-P45
ii) If You’re Self-Employed
- Invoices or receipts of payments
- Letter from accountant confirming your income meets the threshold
iii) From Other Income Sources
- Cash savings (must be held for at least 6 months; minimum £88,500 if relying solely on savings under new rules)
- Rental income
- Dividends from shares
- Interest from investments
- Use payment vouchers, bank statements, or other formal evidence
Risk factor: If you or your partner don’t meet the financial criteria and no exemption applies, the Home Office may move your application to the 10-year partner route instead of 5 years—meaning it will take you a full 10 years to qualify for ILR
Accommodation Requirement (At Extension Stage)
Your accommodation must be adequate, not overcrowded, and exclusive to your family.
To prove this, you can submit:
- Tenancy agreement from a private landlord or letting agency
- Utility bills showing current occupancy
- (Optional) A property inspection report or housing survey—adds strength, but not mandatory
Suggestion: Think of the inspection report as garnish—it’s not required, but it makes the case look better.
When Overstaying Might Be Forgiven (Paragraph 39E)
The Home Office may ignore your overstay if you meet one of these limited exceptions under Paragraph 39E of the Immigration Rules:
1. Applied Within 14 Days of Visa Expiry (With Good Reason)
If your visa expired but you applied within 14 days and had a compelling reason beyond your control, your overstay may be excused. Provide a written explanation and supporting evidence.
2. Applied After a Previous Refusal or Rejection
If:
- Your previous application was submitted on time
- And your new application was submitted within 14 days of:
- The refusal or rejection
- End of your Section 3C leave
- Appeal or administrative review outcome
You may still qualify without it affecting your good character assessment.
3. COVID-19 Related Overstay (24 Jan – 31 Aug 2020)
If you overstayed during this time due to pandemic disruptions, the Home Office may disregard it.
💡 Pro Tip
Overstaying isn’t always fatal to your case—but you must explain your situation clearly and include any supporting documents.Always refer to Paragraph 39E in your cover letter if claiming an exception.
Spouse Visa Extension Processing Time (Inside the UK)
One important point—you cannot use the UK Immigration ID Check app to apply for a spouse visa extension. Unlike some other applications, this route requires you to attend a biometric appointment in person. Your application’s processing time officially begins on the day you provide your biometrics, not the day you submit your online application.
🔍 Standard Processing Timeline
The standard processing time for a spouse visa extension inside the UK is typically 4 to 8 working weeks after biometrics. This can vary depending on Home Office workload, complexity of your case, or missing documents.
Real Client Example
In one of our client’s cases (screenshot attached above):
- Application submitted: 19 March 2025
- Biometrics completed: 7 April 2025 (after 19 days)
- Next day: Received an official email from the Home Office confirming that the decision will be made within 4 working weeks
This means the expected timeline in her case is approximately 1 month and 7 days from biometrics. The Home Office also clearly stated they would notify her if there’s any delay.
Spouse Visa Extension Checklist (Living Together or Apart – 2025)
The documents you need for a UK spouse visa extension vary depending on your situation. The checklist will differ if you’re salaried, self-employed, a member of the British Armed Forces, a company director, or if you’re currently living apart from your partner. What you submit should reflect your actual living and financial circumstances.
Identity & Immigration Documents
- Current passport
- Expired BRP (must be expired less than 18 months ago)
Relationship Evidence
- Marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate
- Photos together over time
- Chat logs showing regular contact (WhatsApp, Messenger, etc.)
- Travel tickets or hotel bookings from trips taken together
- Cover letter explaining relationship history and current circumstances
If You Have Children
- Children’s birth certificates
- Passports
Financial Documents
(Choose based on how you’re meeting the financial requirement)
If Salaried:
- Payslips
- P60s
- Bank statements matching salary payments
- Employment letter
If Self-Employed:
- Receipts or payment proofs
- Accountant’s letter confirming income
If Using Other Sources:
- Cash savings evidence
- Rental income or dividend vouchers
Accommodation Documents
- Tenancy agreement or host letter (if living rent-free)
- Utility bills
- Council tax letters
- (Optional) Property inspection report
If Living Apart
- Explain the reason for separation in your cover letter
- Provide:
- Chat logs
- Emails
- Travel tickets
- Holiday photos
- Statements from friends/family who can confirm your relationship
- Any evidence of plans to reunite or meet
5 Common Mistakes When Applying for a Spouse Visa Extension
Many spouse visa extension applications are delayed or refused not because the applicants are ineligible—but because they make preventable mistakes. Below are some of the most common errors people make during the process and how to avoid them.
1. Applying Late
Submitting your application after your visa has already expired is one of the most serious mistakes. Even a short delay can lead to complications unless it fits the exceptions under paragraph 39E. Always apply before your current visa expires.
2. Mixing Category A and Category B Income
Category A is for applicants who’ve been with the same employer for 6+ months; Category B is for those with less stable or recent income. Mixing documents from both categories without following the correct structure causes confusion and increases the chance of refusal. Stick to one category unless you understand how to structure both correctly.
3. Weak Proof of Cohabitation
Cohabitation evidence is critical in proving your relationship is genuine and ongoing. Submitting inconsistent or limited joint documents (like only one utility bill) weakens your case. The Home Office expects a variety of proof covering the full 2.5-year period.
4. Thinking You Can’t Work While Waiting
Many applicants mistakenly believe they must stop working after submitting their extension application. This is incorrect. Under Section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971, if your previous visa was valid at the time of application, you can legally continue working while awaiting a decision.
5. Travelling Abroad While Application is Pending
Leaving the UK while your extension application is being processed is a serious risk. It automatically withdraws your application. You will lose the Immigration Health Surcharge, and only the visa fee may be refunded. Avoid travelling until a decision has been made and your BRP is issued.
Frequently Asked Questions
Real Case Example
Late Spouse Visa Extension with Financial & Medical Hardship
A British-Brazilian couple missed the deadline to renew their spouse visa due to multiple issues outside their control. Their child, who has a disability, was admitted to hospital, and the wife was at home full-time caring for him. The husband—the sole earner—lost his job due to redundancy, making it impossible to meet the £18,600 financial requirement in time.
They contacted us five days after their visa expired. At that point, they hadn’t taken the A2 English test either.
We immediately advised them to submit the application as soon as possible. They visited our office, and we completed and submitted the application, clearly explaining:
- The reason for the late application
- Why they couldn’t meet the financial threshold
- Medical documentation regarding their son’s condition
- Proof of job loss and income drop
After submission, the applicant sat the A2 English test at Trinity College, St Pancras, and passed. Despite submitting late and taking the test after applying, the Home Office approved the visa.
However, the couple was moved to the 10-year partner route instead of continuing on the 5-year route—something the Home Office typically does in complex or compassionate cases.
Pro Tip: Try not to miss the deadline. But if you do, you have up to 14 days after your visa expiry (under Paragraph 39E) to apply—as long as you have a valid reason and provide solid evidence. This rule applies not only to spouse visas but also to student, skilled worker, and graduate visa holders inside the UK.