Key Points
- There are six main areas: sponsor, relationship, finances, English, accommodation and suitability.
- Each requirement is assessed on its own.
- Most new applications must meet the £29,000 per year income requirement.
- Your immigration history can matter as much as your current circumstances.
Eligible UK sponsor
Your partner must have a qualifying immigration or citizenship status. Most sponsors are British or Irish citizens or people with settled status, such as Indefinite Leave to Remain or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
Some other statuses also qualify, including refugee status, and pre-settled status in certain cases. Both of you must be 18 or over.
Genuine relationship
Your relationship must meet the relevant requirements and be supported by appropriate evidence. You must have met in person, any previous relationships must have ended, and you must intend to live together permanently in the UK.
Financial requirement
You must satisfy the financial requirement that applies to your circumstances. For most new applications that is £29,000 per year, shown through one or more permitted sources of income or savings.
English language
The applicant must meet the English language requirement unless an exemption applies. The level for a first application is A1.
Accommodation
Suitable accommodation must be available for you, your partner and any dependants, without overcrowding.
Immigration and suitability requirements
Previous immigration history and other suitability issues may also be relevant. These include criminal convictions, past breaches of immigration law, unpaid NHS debts and any false information given in an earlier application.
If you are applying from inside the UK, your current immigration status also matters. Some types of permission do not allow you to switch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I meet every requirement except one?
The application is likely to be refused under the standard rules. In limited cases the Home Office must still consider whether refusal would breach the right to family life, which can lead to a grant on a longer route to settlement.
Do the requirements change when I extend?
The same areas are assessed again, with some differences. The English level rises to A2, and people who entered the route before 11 April 2024 may keep the earlier financial rules when extending with the same partner.
Official Sources
This page is general information, not legal advice. The rules and figures are set by the Home Office and can change.