Spouse or partner visa to British citizenship: every step
The UK partner route takes most people just over 5 years from first visa to British passport. You start with a 2 year 9 month spouse visa (A1 English), extend for 2 years 6 months (A2), apply for indefinite leave to remain after 5 years (B1, or B2 from 26 March 2027, plus the Life in the UK test), then apply for citizenship, straight away if your partner is British.
What is changing
In November 2026 the government confirmed that partners of British citizens will keep a 5-year route to settlement. Partners of people who are settled but not British are expected to move to a longer route under earned settlement. No start date has been set, so the current 5-year rules below still apply.
The route at a glance
- 1First spouse or partner visaMonth 0
- 2Extend your visaBefore your first visa expires (about 2 years 9 months)
- 3Indefinite leave to remain (ILR)After 5 years on the partner route
- 4British citizenshipStraight after ILR if your partner is British, otherwise 12 months after ILR
- 5Ceremony and passportAfter approval
Step 1 of 5
First spouse or partner visa
Show a genuine relationship, £29,000 combined income (or savings) and adequate accommodation, and pass an A1 English test unless you are exempt.
- When
- Month 0
- How long it lasts
- Up to 2 years 9 months
- English
- A1 speaking and listening
- Cost
- £2,064 from abroad (£1,407 in the UK) + £3,105 health surcharge
Step 2 of 5
Extend your visa
Apply from inside the UK before your visa runs out. You still need the financial requirement and the same relationship.
- When
- Before your first visa expires (about 2 years 9 months)
- How long it lasts
- Up to 2 years 6 months
- English
- A2 speaking and listening (or reuse a higher pass)
- Cost
- £1,407 + £2,587.50 health surcharge
Step 3 of 5
Indefinite leave to remain (ILR)
Pass the Life in the UK test, meet the English level and the financial requirement again, and show 5 years of continuous residence.
- When
- After 5 years on the partner route
- How long it lasts
- Permanent
- English
- B1 speaking and listening (B2 for applications from 26 March 2027)
- Cost
- £3,226 + £50 Life in the UK test
Step 4 of 5
British citizenship
Spouses of British citizens can apply as soon as they have ILR, with 3 years in the UK and no more than 270 days abroad (90 in the last 12 months).
- When
- Straight after ILR if your partner is British, otherwise 12 months after ILR
- How long it lasts
- For life
- English
- B1 (your earlier pass usually counts)
- Cost
- £1,709 + £130 ceremony
Step 5 of 5
Ceremony and passport
Attend your citizenship ceremony, then apply for your first British passport.
- When
- After approval
- Cost
- £102 first adult passport (online)
How much the whole route costs
For one adult applying from abroad, the Home Office fees, health surcharges, Life in the UK test, ILR, citizenship, ceremony and first passport add up to about £14,380 at November 2026 fees, plus about £160 to £209 for each English test.
Mistakes that cost people time and money
- Counting fiancé(e) time. It does not count towards the 5 years. The clock starts with your first spouse or partner visa.
- Letting the visa expire. Apply to extend before it runs out. Up to 28 days of remaining time is added to the new visa if you stay with the same partner.
- Using an expired English test. Results must have been awarded within 2 years of your application.
- Wrong financial evidence. Payslips and bank statements must cover the right period and match. Savings must be held for 6 months.
- Leaving the Life in the UK test too late. You need it for ILR. Start practising during your extension.
- Missing the March 2027 English change. ILR applications from 26 March 2027 need B2, not B1.
You will need the Life in the UK test for ILR
767 free practice questions and 60 mock tests. No login, no paywall.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get British citizenship through a spouse visa?
Usually about 5 years to ILR (2 years 9 months on the first visa, then a 2 year 6 month extension). If your partner is a British citizen you can apply for citizenship as soon as you get ILR, so the whole route is typically just over 5 years plus processing time.
What English test do I need on the spouse visa route?
A1 speaking and listening for the first visa, A2 to extend, and B1 for ILR. For ILR applications made on or after 26 March 2027 the settlement level rises to B2. A higher pass can usually be reused at later steps.
How much does the spouse visa route cost in total?
For one adult applying from abroad, Home Office fees, health surcharges, the Life in the UK test, ILR, naturalisation, the ceremony and a first passport come to about £14,380 (November 2026 fees), plus English tests.
What is the income requirement for a UK partner visa?
£29,000 a year in combined gross income, or cash savings of £16,000 plus 2.5 times any shortfall (£88,500 using savings alone). If you first applied before 11 April 2024 and are extending with the same partner, the old £18,600 threshold applies.
Does time on a fiancé visa count towards ILR?
No. GOV.UK says time as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner, or on other visas, does not count towards the 5 years. The clock starts with your first spouse or partner visa.
Rules this tool uses
- First partner visa up to 2 years 9 months; extension up to 2 years 6 months; ILR after 5 years on the partner route
- English: A1 first visa, A2 extension, B1 ILR (B2 for ILR applications on or after 26 March 2027)
- £29,000 income, or £16,000 + 2.5 × shortfall in savings; £18,600 for pre-11 April 2024 partners extending
- Fees from the Home Office fees table (8 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Apply as a partner or spouse
- GOV.UK: Knowledge of English
- GOV.UK: Financial requirements
- GOV.UK: Home Office fees table
Checked against GOV.UK: November 2026.
This is a free guide, not legal advice, and we are not linked to the Home Office. Rules and fees can change. Always check GOV.UK before you apply. For complex cases, speak to a regulated immigration adviser.