How to Fill in the Spouse Visa Application

Updated 27 March 202613 min read

What you need to know

The Spouse visa application form is completed online via GOV.UK. It covers your personal details, immigration history, relationship, your partner's financial situation, accommodation, and English language ability. This guide explains each section and highlights common pitfalls.

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Before You Start

Preparation is key to a smooth application. The form is available on the GOV.UK family visa page. Before opening the form, gather:

  • Your passport (and any previous passports)
  • Your partner's passport or identity document
  • Your marriage or civil partnership certificate
  • Your partner's last 6 months of payslips
  • Your partner's last 6 months of bank statements (showing salary payments)
  • A letter from your partner's employer confirming their employment and salary
  • Evidence of your English language qualification
  • Evidence of accommodation (tenancy agreement, mortgage statement, or letter from homeowner)
  • Relationship evidence (photos, messages, travel records)

For a comprehensive list, see our Spouse visa documents checklist.

Section 1: Your Personal Details

The form begins with your basic information: full name, date of birth, nationality, and passport details. Enter your name exactly as it appears on your passport. If you have changed your name (for example, after marriage), provide both your current name and previous names.

You will also be asked about your current immigration status. If you are applying from outside the UK, this is straightforward. If you are applying from within the UK (switching from another visa), provide details of your current visa.

Section 2: Your Partner (the Sponsor)

This section asks about your UK-based partner. You need to provide:

  • Their full name, date of birth, and nationality
  • Their immigration status (British citizen, settled person, or person with refugee status)
  • Their passport or identity document details
  • Their current address in the UK
  • Their contact details

If your partner has been married before, you will need to provide details of any previous marriages and evidence that they ended (divorce certificates or death certificates).

Section 3: Your Relationship

This section is designed to establish that your relationship is genuine and subsisting. You will be asked:

  • When and how you met
  • When you started your relationship
  • When you got married or entered a civil partnership
  • How you have maintained contact (in-person visits, calls, messages)
  • Whether you have lived together and for how long
  • Whether you have children together

Be detailed and honest. The Home Office is looking for a consistent, believable narrative of your relationship. Vague or contradictory answers raise concerns. If your relationship developed online before meeting in person, explain this clearly and provide evidence of your communications.

For guidance on what evidence to provide, see our relationship evidence guide.

Section 4: Financial Requirement

This is the most complex section of the form and the one where mistakes most commonly lead to refusal. You must demonstrate that your household income meets the minimum income requirement of £29,000 per year.

The form asks you to specify how you are meeting the requirement:

  • Category A: Your partner has been employed by the same employer for at least 6 months and earns at least £29,000. See our Category A guide.
  • Category B: Your partner earns at least £29,000 now but has changed jobs in the last 6 months. See our Category B guide.
  • Self-employment: Different rules and evidence requirements apply. See our self-employment guide.
  • Cash savings: You can use savings above £16,000 to make up a shortfall in income. See our savings guide.

Enter the financial figures accurately. The Home Office will cross-reference the figures you provide on the form with the documents you submit. Any discrepancy can lead to a refusal.

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Section 5: Accommodation

You must show that you will have adequate accommodation in the UK that is not overcrowded. The form asks about:

  • The address where you will live
  • Who owns or rents the property
  • How many rooms the property has
  • Who else lives there

If you will be renting, provide the tenancy agreement. If you will live with family or friends, a letter from the homeowner confirming you can live there is usually sufficient. The accommodation does not need to be luxurious, but it must not be overcrowded according to the housing standards.

Section 6: English Language

You must show that you meet the English language requirement at A1 level (for the initial Spouse visa) or B1 level (for extensions and ILR).

You meet the requirement if you:

  • Are a national of a majority English-speaking country
  • Have a degree taught in English (with a NARIC statement confirming it is equivalent to a UK degree)
  • Have passed an approved English language test at the required level

Enter the details of your qualification or test result in the form. Include the test provider, reference number, and date of the test.

Section 7: Immigration History and Character

You will be asked about:

  • Previous visits to the UK and their dates
  • Previous visa applications (successful and refused)
  • Any criminal convictions anywhere in the world
  • Any immigration offences
  • Any involvement in terrorism or activities harmful to the UK

Answer honestly. Previous visa refusals do not automatically prevent a new application from succeeding, but failing to disclose them will be treated as deception, which is a ground for mandatory refusal.

Uploading Documents

After completing the form, you upload your supporting documents. The online system allows you to upload scanned copies or clear photographs of documents.

Tips for document uploads:

  • Scan or photograph each page clearly. Ensure all text is legible.
  • Organise documents by category (financial, relationship, identity).
  • If documents are not in English, provide a certified translation alongside the original.
  • Name files clearly (for example, "Payslip_January_2026.pdf").
  • Check file size limits. Compress large files if necessary.

Common Mistakes That Lead to Refusal

  • Income figures that do not match documents: If you say your partner earns £30,000 but their payslips show £28,000, the application will be refused.
  • Missing bank statements: You need consecutive monthly statements covering the full 6-month period. A missing month is a refusal.
  • Insufficient relationship evidence: A few photos are not enough. Provide a range of evidence types covering the duration of your relationship.
  • Wrong English language test: Only tests from approved providers (Trinity College London and IELTS SELT) are accepted.
  • Not disclosing previous refusals: Failure to disclose is treated as deception.

For a detailed list of refusal reasons, see our Spouse visa refusal reasons guide.

After Submission

Once you submit the form and pay the fee:

  1. Book your biometric appointment at a visa application centre.
  2. Attend the appointment with your passport and any original documents requested.
  3. Wait for a decision. Standard processing is 12 to 24 weeks from outside the UK.
  4. If approved, you will receive a vignette (sticker) in your passport to travel to the UK, or a decision letter if applying from within the UK.

For processing time details, see our Spouse visa processing time guide.

This guide is general information, not immigration advice. Immigration rules change frequently. For advice on your specific situation, consult an OISC-registered adviser or immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the latest rules.

Preparing a UK visa application?

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