UK Spouse Visa Extension (FLR(M))

If you’re living in the UK on a Spouse Visa and your 30 (or 33) months are running out, you need to apply for a UK Spouse Visa Extension — officially called FLR(M): Further Leave to Remain (Marriage) — before your current visa expires. This guide walks through every requirement, the current fees, the application process, and the mistakes that most often cause refusals.

What Is a Spouse Visa Extension?

A Spouse Visa Extension allows someone already in the UK on a partner visa to stay for a further 30 months (2.5 years). It’s the halfway point on the five-year route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR):

Spouse Visa (30–33 months) → FLR(M) Extension (30 months) → ILR → British Citizenship

The application form is called FLR(M), and it’s used by:

• Spouses and civil partners of British citizens or settled persons
• Unmarried partners who’ve lived together for at least two years (or meet the “durable relationship” criteria)
• People who entered on a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner visa, married in the UK, and now want to continue on the partner route

Our experienced immigration solicitors in London are here to help with all types of UK visas, asylum, nationality, appeals, or immigration issues. Call us today on 02039300554 to speak with our London immigration solicitors or book an appointment online for a confidential consultation.

Requirements for spouse visa extension in 2026

To extend your spouse visa, you must still satisfy the requirements under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules — the same framework that governed your original application.

Relationship Requirement

Your relationship must still be genuine and subsisting. At extension stage, the Home Office expects to see evidence covering the entire period since your last visa was granted, not just a snapshot. Typical evidence includes:

• Recent photographs together
• Correspondence, messages, and call logs
• Evidence you’re living together at the same address

Cohabitation Evidence

Unlike the initial visa, the extension stage places heavy weight on proof you’ve actually been living together. The general benchmark used by caseworkers is:

• At least 6 joint documents, or 12 individual documents (covering both partners)
• From at least 3 different sources (e.g. joint bank account, council tax bill, utility bills, tenancy agreement, GP registration)
• Spread across the full period since your last grant of leave

Financial Requirement

This is the single most common reason FLR(M) applications are refused — usually because of how evidence is presented, not because the income itself is too low.

• £29,000 minimum gross annual income for most applicants who entered the route on or after 11 April 2024
• £18,600 still applies under transitional protection if you first applied for your spouse visa before 11 April 2024
• Key advantage at extension stage: unlike the initial entry clearance application (sponsor’s income only), both partners’ incomes can now be combined to meet the threshold
• The requirement can also be met through:
  • Employment or self-employment income
  • Cash savings of broadly £88,500+ held for at least 6 months (the exact savings calculation depends on any income already counted)
  • Pension income
• Exception: if your sponsoring partner receives PIP, DLA, Attendance Allowance, or Carer’s Allowance, a separate “adequate maintenance” test applies instead of the income threshold.

English Language Requirement

The required level steps up at each stage of the route:

• Initial spouse visa: A1
• FLR(M) extension: A2 (CEFR level)
• Settlement (ILR): B1

You can meet the A2 requirement by:

• Passing an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) — providers include IELTS (SELT Consortium) and Trinity College London, typically costing £150–£200
• Holding a degree taught and assessed entirely in English
• Being a national of a majority English-speaking country (e.g. USA, Australia, Canada) — exempt from testing

Tip: if you’re confident enough, consider sitting the B1 test now instead of A2. It satisfies the extension requirement and removes a step later, since B1 is required for ILR anyway.

Accommodation Requirement

Your accommodation must:

• Be ones you have a legal right to occupy
• Not be overcrowded under the Housing Act 1985 definition
• Meet public health and safety standards
• Already be arranged (not prospective) at the time you apply

Evidence can include a tenancy agreement, mortgage statement, or property inspection report.

How Much Does a Spouse Visa Extension Cost in 2026?

From 8 April 2026, the government fees are:

When to Apply (Timing Is Critical)

• You can apply up to 28 days before your current visa expires — applying earlier than this window can result in refusal
• Don’t wait until the last minute — most advisers recommend applying within the first week of that 28-day window, leaving time to fix any document issues
• If you apply before your current leave expires, you get Section 3C leave: your existing conditions (including the right to work) continue automatically while the Home Office makes a decision, even if processing runs past your original expiry date
• If you apply after your visa has already expired, you’re treated as an overstayer from the date of expiry — this can seriously damage your immigration record and your route to ILR
• Section 3C leave does not allow you to leave and re-enter the UK. If you travel while your application is pending, the protection ends

How to Apply: Step by Step

• Gather your documents well in advance — financial evidence in particular takes time to assemble correctly
• Apply online via the GOV.UK FLR(M) application (paper applications are now only available if you’re eligible for a fee waiver)
• Pay the application fee and IHS in full
• Book a biometrics appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) centre
• Attend your appointment to provide fingerprints and a photo, and submit your supporting documents
• Wait for a decision — standard processing is around 8 weeks from your biometrics appointment

Documents You’ll Typically Need

• Current eVisa share code (physical BRP cards expired 31 December 2024 — UK immigration status is now fully digital)
• Valid passports for both partners
• Marriage or civil partnership certificate
• 6 months of bank statements showing salary deposits
• Employer letter and payslips (or HMRC SA302 and business accounts if self-employed)
• Approved English test certificate at A2 (or evidence of exemption/qualifying degree)
• Cohabitation evidence: utility bills, council tax, joint accounts, tenancy agreement
• Accommodation evidence
• Previous passports covering the period since your initial visa (or an explanation for gaps)

What Happens After Spouse Visa Extension Approval?

If your FLR(M) is approved, you’ll be granted a further 30 months of leave, confirmed digitally through your UKVI account (eVisa). From there:

• After completing 5 continuous years on the partner route (initial visa + FLR(M) extension), you become eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) — permanent settlement, with no time limits or conditions
• ILR requires English at B1 level and passing the Life in the UK test
• After ILR, most people become eligible to apply for British citizenship after one further year

Note: time spent in the UK on a fiancé(e) visa does not count toward the five-year qualifying period — the clock starts from your first grant of leave on the spouse/partner route itself.

If Your Relationship Has Broken Down

If your relationship ends before you’ve completed the five-year route, there’s a separate route for victims of domestic abuse (SET (DV)) that allows settlement outside the normal rules. If this applies to you, seek specialist immigration advice as soon as possible.

Why Choose Our Immigration Solicitors In London?

Are you looking for trusted immigration solicitors in London to help you with your UK visa or immigration matter? Here are a few good reasons of why you should choose our immigration solicitors:

• Our team of expert immigration solicitors in London has years of experience handling all types of UK visa and immigration matters.
• We offer clear and competitive fees with flexible payment options, so you know exactly what to expect—no hidden costs.
• Every case is different. We give personalised advice and solutions based on your unique situation.
• We respond quickly, keep you updated, and work to meet all Home Office deadlines.
• Whether it’s a Skilled Worker visa, Spouse visa, or British citizenship—we handle all UK immigration applications and appeals.
• Our London immigration lawyers have a strong track record in winning difficult cases, including visa refusals and Judicial Reviews.
• You can speak to our solicitors via phone, video call, or email—no need to travel to our office.
• We are fully regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, ensuring you get trusted and professional legal services.
• Need urgent help? We offer same-day appointments to assist with last-minute applications or legal emergencies.
• We help UK employers with Sponsor Licences, Skilled Worker visas, and compliance with immigration law.
• Our office is based in London, Croydon, easily accessible by public transport for in-person appointments.

Frequently Asked Questions