Fiance Visa UK: Hire a Fiance visa Lawyer
The fiance visa is an immigration permission for those who wish to marry or enter into a civil partnership with their partner in the UK.
Need expert assistance with your Fiancé Visa UK application? Our fiance visa lawyer specialize in securing successful outcomes for your application. Call us today at 0161 826 9783 or request a free consultation online.
Page Contents
- Fiance visa requirements
- Fiance visa financial requirements
- Genuine relationship requirement
- Accommodation requirements
- Prohibited Degree of Relationship
- Intention to Marry in the UK
- English language requirement
- Information need to provide with the fiance visa application
- How to apply for a Fiance visa UK?
- How long can you stay in the UK?
- Fiance visa cost and processing time
- What happens if my application is accepted?
- What happens if my application is rejected?
- Can I extend my fiance visa in UK?
- How do I switch to a Spouse Visa?
- Common reasons for fiancé visa refusals
- Fiance visa to ILR in the UK
- How can our fiance visa lawyer help?
- FAQs
What is the fiance visa in UK?
If you and your partner intend to live together in the UK, you might be eligible for the fiance visa. The fiance visa is designed to allow individuals from outside the UK to enter the UK so that they can marry or begin a civil relationship with their partner in the UK. Their partner must either be a British citizen or someone with settled status in the country.
The fiancé visa grants you permission to enter and stay in the UK for up to six months. During this six-month period, you must get married to your UK partner.
After the six-month period has expired, you must switch to another form of immigration permission to remain in the UK. You will be eligible to switch to the spouse visa from the fiancé visa, which will enable you to live in the UK for up to 30 months. You can also apply for a spouse visa extension, which lasts for a further 30 months.
Fiance visa requirements
In order to be eligible for the fiancé visa, both the the fiance visa applicant and their partner must meet certain requirements. The main fiancé visa requirements are as follows:
- Both you and your partner must be at least 18
- Your fiancé must already be living in the UK as a British citizen or person with settled status
- You must be planning to get married within six months in the UK
- You need to be able to prove that your relationship is genuine, and that you have met your partner in-person at least once before the date of your application
- You must intend to live with your partner in the UK after the marriage or civil partnership
- You must be able to prove that you can financially support yourselves as a couple, without the need to access public funds. If you have any dependents who will be joining you, you must prove that you can financially support them too
- Your UK partner (sponsor) must be earning at least £29,000, or meet the requirement through other means
- You need to be able to show that you have suitable accommodation for you and your family
- If you are from a non-English-speaking country, you need to be able to show that you can understand and communicate in English to at least the level of A1 as set by the Common European Framework of Languages
UK fiance visa financial requirements
As mentioned, you will need to prove that you meet certain financial thresholds if you wish to apply for a fiance visa in the UK. As you will be considered as a non-permanent resident, you will not have access to any public funds in the UK.
You need to prove to the Home Office that you have enough money to support yourself (and any dependents) during your six months of residence in the UK. It is important to bear in mind that a fiance visa holder is not permitted to work in the UK.
You must prove that you and your UK national partner meet the Spouse Visa financial requirement (you must meet the combined income threshold for a Spouse Visa of at least £29,000.
You can prove your financial means for the fiance visa through:
- A regular salary through employment
- Through self-employment
- Statutory sick pay, maternity, paternity or adoption pay
- Savings
- Stocks or shares
- Property financial gains, such as rent
- Pension payments
Using savings towards the financial requirement
The income requirement for the Fiance visa is £29,000. If you have savings in excess of £16,000, you can put these savings towards meeting the minimum income amount. Your savings can therefore be used to help demonstrate that you have the means to support yourself during your stay.
If you have savings of £88,500 or more, and can show that you have had those savings for at least a 6-month period at the point of application, you will not need to satisfy any additional income requirements, as your savings will be considered sufficient for meeting the minimum income threshold.
Exemption from the financial requirements for a Fiance Visa application
In some cases, you may be exempt from needing to meet the usual financial requirements for the Fiance visa. Specifically, if your sponsor (i.e. your fiance) falls into one of the following categories, you are likely to be exempt from the usual financial requirements:
- Your fiance is receiving disability living allowance
- Your fiance is receiving severe disablement allowance
- Your fiance is receiving the armed forces independence payment or guaranteed income payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
- Your partner is receiving a police injury pension or industrial injury disablement benefit
- Your fiance is receiving attendance allowance or carers’ allowance
- Your fiance is receiving mobility supplement, constant attendance allowance, or a war disablement pension
While you will not need to meet the usual financial requirements in any of the above circumstances, you will still generally be expected to demonstrate that you have access to sufficient financial means to support yourself during your stay. Failure to demonstrate this could still result in an unsuccessful application.
Genuine relationship requirement for Fiance visa UK
When applying for a UK Fiance visa, you will need to provide evidence that your relationship is genuine (i.e. that you are not marrying your fiance in order to obtain UK immigration status).
When proving that your relationship is genuine, there is a range of evidence which you can provide, such as:
- Conversation records between you and your fiance (preferably from over an extended period of time)
- Proof of shared travel or finances
- Proof of time spent together as a couple
- Shared care for any mutual children
Accommodation requirements for Fiance visa UK
When applying for the Fiance visa, you will be expected to provide evidence that you have acceptable accommodation in which to stay for the duration of your time in the UK. Failure to demonstrate this is likely to result in an unsuccessful Fiance visa application.
The accommodation must have sufficient space to house you, your fiance, and any dependants who will be living with you.
You will need to provide the details of the accommodation in question as part of your application.
Prohibited Degree of Relationship for Fiance visa UK
Under UK law, two individuals cannot marry if they are too closely related to one another. A number of familial relationships are covered by this law, meaning that individuals who share one of these relationships will not be able to marry each other.
In particular, in the UK you cannot marry anyone with whom you share one of the following familial relationships:
- Adopted child or parent
- Biological child
- Former adoptive child or parent
- Grandparent or grandchild
- Parent
- Aunt or uncle
- Brother or sister
- Niece of nephew
If you and your fiance share one of the above familial relationships, you will not be eligible to marry each other within the UK, and so will not be eligible for a Fiance visa. This would likely also affect your eligibility for a Spouse visa, in the event that you apply instead for this visa type.
Intention to Marry in the UK Within 6 Months
A Fiance visa is only valid for a 6 month period. This is because, in applying for a Fiance visa, you are expressing your intention to marry your fiance within 6 months of arrival in the UK. Once you have married your fiance, you can then apply to switch to a Spouse visa, which allows you to stay in the UK for 2 years and 9 months and can be extended upon expiry.
While the Fiance visa itself does not provide a direct route to permanent settlement in the UK, the Spouse visa does. After living in the UK on a Spouse visa for a sufficient amount of time (generally 5 years) you can then apply for permanent settlement and then, eventually, for UK citizenship.
UK Fiance visa English language requirement
The fiance visa requirements expect all applicants to fulfil an English language condition if they are from a non-English-speaking country.
When applying for a fiance visa, applicants need to demonstrate that they can write and speak in English to an A1 level standard, as set by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
You can prove your knowledge of English through:
- A valid English language test certificate which shows your knowledge of English is to at least an A1 level. The test must have been taken at an approved test provider
- A degree or higher qualification which was taught in English at an educational institution which is recognised by the NARIC
You are exempt from the English language requirement if:
- You are over 65
- You have a mental or physical condition which prevents you from sitting the exam
- You are a victim of domestic abuse
- You are a recognised refugee
- You are living in the UK as an orphan or widow
You are exempt form the English language requirement if you are a citizen of one of the following countries.
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Canada
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Jamaica
- New Zealand
- Republic of Ireland (for citizenship only)
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- The United States of America
What Information will I need to provide when applying for a fiance visa?
If you apply for fiancé visa, you will need to provide certain information and documents to the Home Office to prove your eligibility for this partner visa. You will need to provide information about yourself, your partner and any dependents who will be included in the application.
The specific information and documents which you will need to submit differs somewhat depending on your individual circumstances.
Still, in most cases, the following information will be needed for a fiance visa:
- Your name and date of birth
- Any previous immigration applications
- Copies of photo page and any previous visas from old passports
- Divorce certificates, if applicable
- Details of any criminal convictions
- Your parents’ date of birth and nationality if you are applying from outside the UK
- Information about the relationship with your partner, including how long you’ve lived together, how you met and how often you see each other
- Details of anyone you previously married or had children with
- Countries outside the UK which you’ve lived in and visited
Similar information relating to your partner and dependents will also need to be provided.
How to apply for a Fiance visa UK?
There are a number of steps which you will need to complete when applying for a UK Fiance visa.
The first step is gathering the necessary documents and ensuring that you satisfy the eligibility criteria.
The second step is submitting your application online, via the UK government website. You will also generally need to pay an application fee as part of this process.
In some cases, you will need to complete the third step of having your identity verified at a UK visa application centre, which can be found in numerous global locations.
The final step is waiting for a decision on your application. In general, you should receive a decision within 12 weeks of applying, if you apply from outside of the UK. If you apply from within the UK, this processing period reduces to 8 weeks. However, processing your application may take longer if the application contains any errors, is missing any information, or if a high number of other visa applications are simultaneously being processed.
Seeking legal assistance can help to minimise delays by ensuring that your application does not contain any errors. Contact Manchester Immigration Lawyers today on 0161 826 9783 to learn more about our full range of services.
How long can you stay in the UK on a Fiance Visa?
The UK Fiance visa allows you to stay in the UK for up to 6 months. Within this period of time, you are expected to marry your fiance.
Once the ceremony has taken place, you will then be eligible to switch to a Spouse visa, at which point you will be authorised to remain in the UK for 2 years and 9 months. You can also extend the Spouse visa for an additional 2 years and 6 months upon expiry, and can apply for permanent settlement after being in the UK on this visa for at least 5 years. After a year of living in the UK with permanent settlement status, you will generally then be able to apply for UK citizenship.
Therefore, while the Fiance visa itself only allows a UK stay of up to 6 months, it provides a route to eventual permanent settlement in the UK.
Fiance visa cost and processing time
The fiance visa costs £2,064 if you apply from abroad, and £1,321 if you apply from within the UK.
There is no set time frame for receiving a decision on your fiance visa after it has been submitted. However, on average, applications are processed between 2 and 3 months after the date they are received.
In order to avoid any unnecessary delays, when you apply for fiance visa UK it is important that you submit all necessary supporting documents in your portfolio of evidence. Also, it is crucial that you adhere to all necessary Home Office administrative standards when you complete the fiance visa application form.
Our Fiance visa lawyers are here to provide expert assistance with your fiance visa application. We can work with you to complete your own fiance visa application to the very highest standard, maximising your chances of securing your fiance visa.
Call us now on 0161 826 9783 for expert guidance on the fiance visa requirements and application process.
What happens if my fiance visa application is accepted?
If your fiance visa application is accepted, you will be granted permission to enter into the UK for up to six months. The visa is given under the assumption that you will get married within these six months to your UK resident partner and will abide by the conditions imposed on your fiance visa immigration permission.
As mentioned above, you will need to change your immigration status after your fiance visa has expired. The fiance visa offers a seamless transition to the spouse visa (more below).
Can I extend my fiance visa in UK?
Generally speaking, it is not expected that you will need to extend your fiance visa in the UK. However, if you did not manage to get married within the six months through no fault of your own, you could be granted with a fiance visa extension.
The same requirements will need to be fulfilled in order to be eligible for the extension, and there mustn’t have been any significant changes in your circumstances during the time you have spent in the UK.
What can I do if my fiance visa UK application is rejected?
When you apply for a fiance visa in the UK, you will need to submit an adequate portfolio of evidence containing all necessary documents and information to support your application. If you fail to demonstrate your eligibility, your application could be delayed or even rejected.
If you believe that your application was unfairly rejected, you will have the option of challenging the Home Office’s decision. Your refusal letter will set out the reason/s why your application was rejected, and the options you have to challenge the Home Office’s decision.
If you believe that the Home Office made a genuine mistake, such as not taking a document or some information into consideration, the best option is an administrative review. Your application will be reconsidered by another immigration official with the administrative review.
In some cases, you might also have the option of a full legal appeal under immigration rules. Our team of fiance visa lawyers can offer full support with the appeal process, including viability of such a route for you, and legal representation at the full hearing before the tribunal.
Need help with your fiancé visa UK application? Our expert fiancé visa lawyers provide step-by-step assistance, ensuring a successful outcome. Call us now on 0161 826 9783.
How Do I Switch from a UK Fiancé Visa to a Spouse Visa?
After you have entered into your marriage/civil partnership, you will be eligible for the spouse visa. The spouse visa is a highly sought-after visa, which grants you permission to remain in the UK for up to two and a half years.
You will still need to apply for the spouse visa in the same way as any other applicant and fulfil all necessary requirements.
However, owing to the fact that you have already applied for a fiance visa, which has many similar requirements to the spouse and fiance visa requirements, the process of applying for the spouse visa should be easier to manage.
You can work and study in the UK as a spouse visa holder, and all time spent in the UK as a spouse visa holder counts towards minimum residency requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain and British citizenship.
The spouse visa can be extended for a further two and a half years, after which you will be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). ILR is a form of permanent residence, meaning you can remain in the UK without any restrictions.
You will be eligible to apply for British citizenship after you have lived in the UK under Indefinite Leave to Remain status for 12 months.
Common reasons for fiancé visa refusals
There are a number of reasons why a UK Fiance visa application may be unsuccessful. However, the main reason is failure to provide sufficient evidence that your relationship is genuine. The Home Office, when considering your application, is looking for proof that your relationship is real and not simply a route to UK immigration status.
As such, when preparing your application, you should make sure to provide as much evidence as possible of the genuineness of your relationship, such as communication records and evidence of time spent together – at events or on holidays, for example. You should aim to provide evidence which covers an extended period of time, where possible.
Applications may also be unsuccessful when they contain errors or are missing information. To maximise your chances of success, make sure that the application form is completed correctly and that no necessary information or documentation is missing.
Documents submitted as part of your application will also generally need to be translated into either English or Welsh in order to be processed. Make sure that your documents are translated by an authorised translation service, where applicable, in order to ensure that your application is processed properly.
One way of maximising your chance of a successful application is by seeking legal assistance. At Manchester Immigration Lawyers, we are adept at helping with cases like this. Contact us today on 0161 826 9783 to access our full range of services and to receive bespoke immigration assistance.
Fiance visa to ILR in the UK
The Fiance visa provides an indirect route to indefinite leave to remain in the UK, otherwise known as permanent settlement status.
The Fiance visa allows you to remain in the UK for 6 months, during which time you will be expected to marry your fiance. Once the ceremony has taken place, you will then be eligible to apply for a UK Spouse visa.
The Spouse visa allows you to remain in the UK for 2 years and 9 months, after which you can apply for an extension of 2 years and 6 months.
The amount of time before you can apply for indefinite leave to remain will depend on your specific route. If you are on the 2 year route, you will be able to apply for ILR after 2 years of living legally and continuously in the UK. If you are on the 5 year route, the minimum period of legal and continuous residence increases to 5 years.
Once you have successfully obtained permanent settlement status, you will generally be able to apply for British citizenship after 1 year, provided that you satisfy the British citizenship eligibility criteria.
Permanent settlement status brings a number of benefits, such as the ability to work and study in the UK indefinitely without requiring a visa, access to the National Health Service (NHS) without needing to pay the annual healthcare surcharge, and the ability to apply for welfare benefits. However, you will need to obtain British citizenship in order to become eligible to participate in UK elections and to apply for a British passport.
How Our UK Fiancé Visa Lawyer & Advisers Can Help You Secure a Visa
Applying for a UK Fiancé Visa can be a complex and challenging process, with strict eligibility criteria and detailed documentation requirements. While it is not a legal requirement to hire an immigration lawyer, doing so can significantly improve your chances of success.
With over 5,000 successful visa applications, our firm has helped thousands of clients reunite with their partners in the UK. Our extensive experience and client-focused approach make us one of the most trusted immigration law firms in the UK.
Why Work with Our Fiancé Visa Lawyers?
Our team of OISC-accredited immigration advisers specializes in UK fiancé visa applications, ensuring that your case is handled with the highest level of expertise and professionalism. We offer:
- Expert Guidance – Our lawyers have an in-depth understanding of UK immigration law and will guide you through every step of the application process.
- Personalized Support – We tailor our services to your unique circumstances, ensuring that your application is as strong as possible.
- Error-Free Applications – A single mistake can lead to delays or even visa refusals. Our experts meticulously review your application to avoid errors.
- Appeal & Reapplication Assistance – If your visa application is refused, we can help you challenge the decision or reapply with a stronger case.
Comprehensive Services We Provide
Our Manchester-based immigration firm provides a full range of services to support your UK fiancé visa application, including:
- Eligibility Assessments – We assess your case to ensure you meet all the fiancé visa UK requirements.
- Document Preparation – Our team helps you gather and organize all necessary documents, ensuring compliance with Home Office standards.
- Application Submission – We complete and submit your fiancé visa application on your behalf, reducing stress and maximizing success.
- Legal Representation – If needed, our advisers provide full legal representation in case of visa refusals or appeals.
- Transition to Spouse Visa – Once married, we assist with switching to a Spouse Visa, securing your long-term stay in the UK.
Call us now on 0161 826 9783 to get started.
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, the law may change, and the information may not reflect the most current legal developments. No warranty is given regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information, and we do not accept liability in such cases. We recommend consulting with a qualified lawyer at Manchester Immigration Lawyers before making any decisions based on the content provided.
Last modified on August 27th, 2025 at 2:42 pm
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Frequently Asked Questions
It is important to note that if you enter the UK under the standard visitor visa, you cannot marry your partner in the UK. You could potentially use time spent in the UK under the visitor visa to make arrangements for your wedding/civil partnership, but you will need to leave the country and apply for a fiance visa to get married or enter a civil partnership in the UK.
However, there is a specialist UK marriage visa which you can apply for if you intend on marrying in the UK but not settling here. You can stay in the UK for up to 6 months with this visa, and it costs £115 to apply.
You cannot switch to a spouse visa (or any other UK immigration permission) with a marriage visitor visa and you cannot extend the visa. You also won’t be able to bring any dependents to the UK under this visa.
You need to get married within 6 months of the date your fiance visa is granted.
If there are unforeseen circumstances that result in you not being able to marry in this time frame, you might be able to apply for an extension to your fiance visa.
To fulfil the fiance visa requirements, you and your partner need to be able to demonstrate that you are in a genuine relationship. You will need to prove this through information and certain documentation.
For example, you will usually need to provide bank statements of joint accounts, reference letters from family, friends or professional people who can vouch that you are in a genuine relationship. If you have children, their birth certificates can act as proof of the relationship too.
To find out more about the genuine relationship requirement and the information you will need to provide, our Manchester immigration lawyers are at hand to help. Please call us now on 0161 826 9783.
Citizens of the following countries will not need to fulfil the English language requirement:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- the Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- New Zealand
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- USA
No, you will not be able to work (or study) in the UK whilst on a Fiance visa. This is because the purpose of the visa is to give you a window in which to marry your partner; it is not intended as a long-term visa option.
However, once you have married your partner, you will then be able to apply for a Spouse visa, under which visa type you will be authorised to work.
In order to minimise the period of time during which you are not authorised to work in the UK, you should aim to marry your partner as soon into the 6-month period as possible. After the ceremony, you should make sure to promptly submit your Spouse visa application. As waiting times for a decision can be up to 8 weeks for applications submitted from within the UK (and up to a year if the financial and language requirements are not met) you should anticipate a period of at least a few months where you will not be authorised to work and should plan accordingly.
If you do not get married during the validity period of your Fiance visa and do not obtain a new visa before the Fiance visa’s expiry, you will no longer be eligible to remain in the UK and will be expected to leave.
In general, it is not possible to extend a Fiance visa as the 6-month validity period is intended to give you a sufficient window in which to marry your fiance. However, if there were extenuating circumstances which prevented you from getting married, it may sometimes be possible to obtain an extension.
In the event that you are unable to marry in the UK during the designated 6-month window and are unable to obtain an extension or an alternative visa, other options might be marrying your partner in your country of origin and then applying for a UK Spouse visa, or applying for an UK Unmarried Partner visa (if you have been in a relationship with your partner for at least 2 years) and entering the UK via this route.
