The route in outline

If you are a British citizen, your non-British spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner can apply for entry clearance as a partner under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. You normally apply from the country where you both live, then travel to the UK together or after the visa is granted. The first grant is for about two and a half years, followed by an extension and then settlement, as on our partner visa page. Under the government's proposals, partners of British citizens would keep a five-year pathway to settlement, with new mandatory standards such as English at B2. No start date has been published.

The main requirements are the same as for couples already in the UK: a genuine relationship, adequate accommodation, English language ability, and the financial requirement. The financial requirement is where expats most often get stuck.

Why expats have a different problem

The financial requirement is currently £29,000 a year for a sponsor working in the UK. But if you work overseas, the rules on what income counts are specific.

• Overseas employment income. In many cases it counts only if you are returning to the UK to take up employment that is due to start within three months of the application. Evidence of that job offer is required.

• Income from a UK job offer. A written job offer in the UK can be used, with the right evidence.

• Savings. Cash savings can be used instead of, or alongside, income, but the formula for how much you need is demanding. Savings must be held for a set period and in an accepted form.

• Self-employment or business income. Different documents apply, and overseas business accounts can be hard to present.

• Pensions and other income. Some sources count, with their own evidence rules.

• The spouse's own income. A partner's income from overseas generally does not count; income from work in the UK after arrival does not count at entry clearance stage.

Because the rules are technical, small differences in how income is shown can decide an application. We assess the best way to meet the requirement before you apply.

Alternatives to consider

Some families have more than one option.

• Waiting and building evidence. If the income gap is small, a delay of a few months, a pay change or a new job offer could close it.

• Using a UK job offer. A British sponsor who is still abroad may be able to rely on a confirmed UK job offer or signed contract that starts within three months of returning, normally combined with evidence of income over the previous 12 months. Income from work abroad can also count with suitable evidence. You do not have to return first and work in the UK for six months. The right method depends on how long the sponsor has been employed and what evidence is available.

• Returning first. Some families choose to have the sponsor return and start work, with the partner applying from abroad afterwards. A partner who visits the UK must come as a genuine visitor. They cannot switch to a partner visa from inside the UK, so the application has to be made from abroad.

• Other routes for your spouse. If your partner has a job offer from a licensed sponsor at the required skill level and salary, the Skilled Worker route may be an option. See Skilled Worker visa help.

• Surinder Singh. This route closed on 29 March 2022. It applied to British citizens who had exercised treaty rights in an EEA state by 31 December 2020. Late applications could be considered only where there were reasonable grounds. Most families now apply under the Immigration Rules, but we can check whether your history may be covered.

Evidence for expat couples

Strong applications usually include:

• Proof of your British citizenship (British passport or naturalisation certificate);

• Marriage, civil-partnership or cohabitation evidence;

• Employment contracts, payslips and bank statements, with translations where needed;

• A UK job offer or a letter from a UK employer, if relying on future income;

• Proof of UK accommodation you or your family can provide;

• Your spouse's English language evidence and, if required, a tuberculosis test;

• Evidence that you plan to live in the UK permanently.

We help you decide what to include and in what order.

Fees and costs

The Home Office fee for a partner application from abroad is £2,064, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge for the grant period (about £3,105 for a standard first grant). See the full table in our spouse visa cost guide. Add visa application centre costs, translations and any tuberculosis test.

Our own fees are separate: