Table Of Contents
- What is a UK Spouse Visa
- UK Spouse Visa Fees
- Visa Application Fee
- Immigration Healthcare Surcharge
- Biometric Enrollment Fee
- English Language Test Fee
- Documents Translation Fee
- Tuberculosis Test Fee
- Priority Service
- Super Priority Service
- Legal Service Fees
- Final Thoughts
The UK spouse visa is a visa route under the UK Family Visa category. This is a route for those wanting to join their married partners in the UK who are British citizens or have settled status in the UK. This is a visa route to unite non-UK nationals with their partners in the UK. The visa is initially valid for 33 months if applied for from outside the UK. However, if someone applies from within the UK to switch to a UK spouse visa, the applicant is initially granted a leave of 30 months.
After the initial period of leave, the spouse/partners can apply for a visa extension of another 30 months. Once they have lived here for 5 years continuously, they may apply for settlement, i.e., indefinite leave to remain. After holding ILR for one year, they may apply for British citizenship.
What is a UK Spouse Visa?
Are you a non-UK national and a partner/spouse of someone who is a British citizen or has settled status in the UK? Do you want to live with your partner in the UK? If yes, you can apply for a UK spouse. This is a visa route that allows you to join and live with your partner in the UK.
The UK spouse visa is also a route for those already in the UK on a different visa and who got married to a British citizen during their stay. They can apply to switch to a UK spouse visa.
This is a visa route to settlement in the UK and eventually allows you to acquire British citizenship and a British passport.
UK Spouse Visa Fees
There are various elements of the total fee you pay as part of your UK spouse visa application. We are going to discuss all of them here.
(1) Visa Application Fee –
Unless exempt, you have to pay the application fee. How much you pay depends on where you are applying from. If you are unable to pay the fee, you may apply for a fee waiver.
If Applying from Outside the UK
If you are applying from outside the UK, you need to pay £1,846 per applicant (if there are dependent children) as visa application fee.
You pay this fee when applying online. This fee takes care of your spouse visa application processing. The fee keeps changing from time to time. You must check the official website of the UK Government, GOV.UK, to see the latest spouse visa application fee before you apply.
If Applying from Inside the UK
If you are applying for a UK spouse visa from inside the UK, you have to pay a fee of £1,258 per applicant.
This is the fee you pay when you are applying to switch to this visa route from another visa you already have. The same fees you pay when applying to extend your existing spouse visa.
2. Immigration Healthcare Surcharge –
The Immigration Healthcare Surcharge fee is a mandatory fee all spouse visa applicants have to pay. By paying this fee, you become eligible to access the National Health Service (NHS) during your stay in the UK.
Currently, the IHS fee is £1,035 per year for all adult spouse visa applicants. So, the total IHS fee for 2.5 years (initial leave allowed as spouse/partner applying from inside the UK) comes to £2,587.5.
Total IHS fee for 2 years and 9 months (initial leave allowed as spouse/partner applying from outside the UK) comes to £3,105.
The IHS Fee for Dependent Children
The NHS immigration health surcharge costs £1,940 for 2.5 years and £2,328 for 2 years and 9 months per dependent child under the age of 18 on a spouse visa application.
3. Biometric Enrollment Fee –
You must enroll your biometrics (fingerprint and photograph) to prove your identity. This is mandatory as part of the UK spouse visa application process. You can enroll your biometric information at a visa application center in your country (if applying from outside the UK).
When you apply from inside the UK, you need to enroll the same at a UK Visa Application Citizenship and Application Service (UKVCAS) center.
You may have to pay £19.20 as a biometric enrollment fee.
4. English Language Test Fee –
Showing your ability to read, write, and speak the English language at a certain level is a key requirement. Unless exempt, you must pass an approved English language test to prove your proficiency in it.
An English language test can cost you £150.
5. Documents Translation Fee –
All your supporting documents must be in English or Welsh. This is one of the key requirements of a UK spouse visa. If your documents are in another language, they must be translated into English or Welsh.
There is a translation fee that you would have to pay. The estimated translation cost could be £50-£300 per document.
6. Tuberculosis Test Fee –
Submitting a TB test certificate is required if you are applying from a country where taking a TB test is mandatory. For a TB test, you may have to pay anywhere between £65 and £110. This is not applicable if you are applying from inside the UK.
7. Priority Service –
Usually it takes a few weeks to months to receive a decision on your visa application. However, there is a priority service through which you can receive quicker decisions. You should check whether this is available in your home country or not.
With priority service, you can receive a decision within 5 working days. You need to pay a fee of £500 for priority service.
8. Super Priority Service –
This service can be opted for receiving a decision at the end of the next working day. Again, if you are applying from outside the UK, you should check if this service is available in your country.
You need to pay £1,000 for super priority service.
9. Legal Service Fees –
The UK spouse visa application process is complex. Even though you can apply yourself, taking expert services is always a good choice. If you want to go through a hassle-free process, you should seek an expert solicitor or immigration lawyer’s service. They help you with your spouse’s visa application.
Legal assistance comes with a cost. You usually may have to pay anywhere between £800 and £2,500.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are various costs attached to the UK spouse visa application process. Some are mandatory, such as visa application fees, and some are optional, such as legal service fees. You and your partner should be ready for financial commitments.
All fees are dynamic and keep changing from time to time. You must visit the official website GOV.UK to see the latest fees.
Your and your partner’s life becomes easy when you are prepared for all the costs. If you plan in advance, you can navigate easily and join your partner in the UK.
Read Similar Blogs
UK Fiancé Visa vs. Spouse Visa: Key Differences