ILR for Spouse Settlement on the Partner Route (SET(M))
Written by Bill Zahr
Last Updated 12 September 2026
The Partner Route to ILR The Five-Year Pathway
| Partner route to ILR Structure | |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 Entry Clearance | Spouse/civil/unmarried partner visa 33 months |
| Stage 2 Extension | FLR(M) further 30 months |
| Stage 3 Settlement | ILR via SET(M) |
| Total qualifying period | 5 years (approximately) |
| Stage 4 Citizenship | British citizenship naturalisation after 12 months of ILR |
SET(M) Eligibility Requirements 2026
Five-Year Continuous Qualifying Period
You must have completed at least five continuous years of leave in the UK as the partner of a British citizen or person with settled status. The five years run from the date your first partner visa was granted. You can apply for SET(M) up to 28 days before the five-year anniversary.
Genuine and Subsisting Relationship
You must demonstrate that your relationship has remained genuine and subsisting throughout the qualifying period and continues to be so at the date of the SET(M) application. You must be living together. The Home Office will consider your cohabitation evidence, financial integration, and the consistency of your relationship history since the initial visa.
At SET(M) stage, the Home Office requires a specified cohabitation portfolio: six items of joint correspondence addressed to both partners at the same address, OR twelve items of individual correspondence (six for each partner) at the same address, OR a combination of both. Evidence must be distributed across the 30-month FLR(M) period with no significant gaps.
Financial Requirement
| Financial requirement at SET(M) stage | |
|---|---|
| Threshold for route entry on or after 11 April 2024 | £29,000 gross annual income |
| Threshold under transitional protection (pre-April 2024 entrants) | £18,600 gross annual income |
| Income that can be combined at SET(M) stage | Both sponsor's and applicant's UK income |
| Adequate Maintenance Test exemption | Where sponsor receives PIP, DLA, or Carer's Allowance |
English Language
| English language requirement SET(M) | |
|---|---|
| Required level for SET(M) current | B1 CEFR speaking and listening only |
| From 26 March 2027 (HC 1691) | B2 CEFR speaking and listening only (reading and writing remain at B1) |
| Evidence carryover | B1 or higher test from FLR(M) stage generally accepted if not expired |
| Important distinction | The 8 January 2026 B2 change affected entry-stage work visas only not settlement. The settlement B2 change is the separate 26 March 2027 measure. |
Life in the UK Test
You must pass the Life in the UK Test unless exempt. Exemptions apply for applicants under 18, those aged 65 or over, and those with a severe long-term physical or mental condition preventing them from meeting the requirement. The test consists of 24 multiple-choice questions with a pass mark of 75% (18 correct). Cost: £50.
Absence Record
The partner route does not impose a statutory 180-day absence limit in the same way as the Skilled Worker route. However, the Home Office assesses absences against the core requirement that the UK is the applicant's primary home and that the couple genuinely intends to live together permanently in the UK. Prolonged or unexplained absences suggesting the primary residence has shifted overseas will result in refusal.
Good Character
All SET(M) applicants must meet the Good Character requirement under Part Suitability. All criminal convictions including spent convictions must be declared. Tax discrepancies between income declared to HMRC and income previously declared on visa applications are a specific ground for Good Character concerns. Outstanding NHS debt of £500 or more blocks the grant of ILR.
SET(M) Fees 2026
| SET(M) application costs | |
|---|---|
| ILR application fee | £3,226 per applicant (from 8 April 2026) |
| Life in the UK Test | £50 |
| English language test (if required) | £150–£200 (varies by provider) |
| Standard processing | Up to 6 months from biometric appointment |
| Priority service | Additional £500 5 working days |
| Super Priority service | Additional £1,000 next working day |
After SET(M) British Citizenship
Once SET(M) is granted, spouses of British citizens may apply for British citizenship naturalisation immediately there is no 12-month waiting period for Section 6(2) applicants (those married to a British citizen). All other SET(M) holders must wait 12 months before applying for naturalisation under Section 6(1).
The naturalisation fee is £1,709 plus £130 for the citizenship ceremony total £1,839 from 8 April 2026. Naturalisation processing takes approximately 6 months. There is no priority service for citizenship applications.
Dependent Children
Dependent children who have been in the UK on dependent partner visas throughout the qualifying period can apply for ILR at the same time via SET(M). Each child pays the £3,226 ILR fee separately. Children born in the UK during your qualifying period to a British or settled parent may have acquired British citizenship at birth take specialist advice before making an unnecessary ILR application for a child.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to go from spouse visa to ILR?
The standard partner route is five years: an initial 33-month entry clearance visa, a 30-month FLR(M) extension, and then SET(M). You can apply for SET(M) up to 28 days before the five-year anniversary of your initial visa grant.
What evidence do I need for ILR on the partner route?
Six items of joint correspondence or twelve items of individual correspondence (six per partner) from at least three sources covering the 30-month FLR(M) period distributed across the full period with no significant gaps. Financial evidence meeting the applicable threshold. English at B1 CEFR (or evidence of exemption). Life in the UK Test pass certificate. Both parties' passports.
Can my income be used to meet the financial requirement for spouse ILR?
Yes. At the SET(M) stage both the sponsor's and the applicant's UK income can be combined to meet the Minimum Income Requirement. This is different from the initial entry clearance stage where only the sponsor's income counted.
What is the ILR fee for a spouse in 2026?
£3,226 per applicant from 8 April 2026. Priority service adds £500; Super Priority adds £1,000. There is no Immigration Health Surcharge on ILR applications.
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