UK Spouse Visa Lawyers and Solicitors

Top UK Spouse Visa lawyers and solicitors in London, with over 80 years of combined specialist experience in UK immigration.

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The UK Spouse Visa, also referred to as the UK Partner Visa, enables foreign nationals to live with their partner or spouse in the UK. To qualify, applicants must be married, in a civil partnership, or have been living together in a relationship for at least two years with their UK-based partner or spouse. The UK-based partner or spouse must either be a British citizen/national or have the right of permanent settlement here (i.e. Indefinite Leave to Remain). In addition, they must meet other requirements, such as the minimum combined income, English language, and suitable accommodation requirements. For a full breakdown of the requirements and how to meet them, visit our page: Spouse Visa UK Requirements and Application Guide 2025

The requirements for UK Spouse Visa can be complex, depending on individual circumstances, and many people find it difficult to understand how to meet them. This is why many applicants choose to seek the assistance of a Spouse Visa lawyer.

How can our spouse visa lawyers help?

Our London-based Spouse Visa Lawyers and Solicitors have extensive experience in assisting couples with spouse visa applications, helping them live together or reunite in the UK permanently. We understand how UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) clearance officers assess Spouse Visa applications and will ensure your submission meets all the necessary criteria. If we identify any potential issues in your case, we will clearly explain the risks and provide tailored advice on how to resolve them. Having supported hundreds of couples in various situations, we know common pitfalls and the key factors that contribute to a successful application. Every Spouse Visa case is unique. You can be assured that we will tailor any guidance we provide regarding your Spouse Visa to your specific circumstances, increasing your chances of a successful application. Depending on your needs, our Spouse Visa Solicitors can:

Advise you on your UK Spouse Visa application
Handle your UK Spouse Visa application from start to finish
Review and check your supporting documents
Assist with UK Spouse Visa refusals and appeals
Manage your Spouse Visa extension and Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application

Advise you on your UK spouse visa application

Our solicitor can assess your eligibility for a UK Spouse Visa based on your current circumstances and provide tailored guidance. We will carefully evaluate your relationship status, financial position, and immigration history, and assess how you meet the key requirements—including the minimum income threshold, English language proficiency, and suitable accommodation. Drawing on our extensive experience securing family visas, we will advise you on how to address any areas where the requirements are not yet fully met. Our goal is to ensure your application is built on the strongest possible foundation from the outset.

Handle your UK spouse visa application from start to finish

Our Spouse Visa lawyers can manage your entire application process on your behalf from the initial consultation to the receipt of your visa. This includes gathering the required documents and information, completing the relevant application forms, compiling supporting evidence, drafting cover letters, and submitting your application to the Home Office. Once submitted, we will closely monitor the progress of your case and liaise directly with UK Visas and Immigration if needed. If any issues arise, we will address them promptly and effectively. We only submit your application to the Home Office once we are fully confident in its likelihood of success. Your success is our success. We understand that our reputation is built on the outcomes we achieve for our clients, and we are fully committed to securing a successful Spouse Visa application for you.

Review and check your supporting documents

If you would prefer to handle your application by yourself, our Spouse Visa lawyers also offer a highly cost-effective document and application review service. Your lawyer will carefully review your application form and the evidence you plan to provide and, where necessary, recommend additional documents that may strengthen your case. You can be assured that any problems with your application will be spotted and recommendations made as to how to resolve them. This approach will remove the potential for any delays or the refusal of your application.

Assist with UK spouse visa refusals and appeals

At Reiss Edwards, we have a strong track record of successfully assisting Spouse Visa applicants whose applications have previously been refused. The official requirements for a Spouse Visa can be difficult to interpret, as they are often outlined in brief and legal terms. Applications can be refused for various reasons. If your Spouse Visa has been refused, we will prioritise identifying the specific reasons behind the refusal (these should never be assumed). Armed with this information, we will recommend the best course of action to minimise time, cost and effort, which may include appealing, submitting a fresh application, or lodging a request for an administrative review.

Manage your Spouse Visa extension and Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application

Having made a successful Spouse Visa application, you will normally be allowed to remain in the UK with your Spouse for an initial period of 2.5 years. Just before your Visa expires, if you wish to remain for longer, you will need to apply to renew your visa. If your Visa renewal is approved, it will normally be extended for a further 2.5 years. After 5 years of continuous residence in the UK, you will be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

Preparing renewal applications can be extremely time-consuming and emotionally taxing, hence why many of our valued clients who used our services for their initial Spouse Visa application come back to us to handle their extension and settlement applications.

Our solicitors will guide you through the journey to renewal and settlement while removing the doubt and anxiety that many family visa applicants naturally feel. The advice you receive will be carefully tailored to support your long-term goals and the needs of your family. Having assisted hundreds of clients in a wide range of situations, our Spouse Visa lawyers bring a wealth of experience and insight that you can rely on at every step.

Do you need a solicitor to apply for a UK spouse visa?

Instructing an immigration solicitor is not a legal requirement when submitting a UK spouse visa application. Indeed, if you are completely confident that your case is straightforward, you can follow the Home Office’s guidance and completing the online application yourself. It is important to note, however, that the available guidance does not cover all personal circumstances. It is quite common for refusals to occur even for what the applicant believed to be a straightforward case. It may be prudent to work with a Spouse Visa Solicitor if any of the following circumstances apply:

You are making your first Spouse Visa application
Your circumstances are complex
You want expert guidance and peace of mind
You have been refused a Spouse Visa in the past

You are making your first Spouse Visa application

Making any type of visa application for the first time can be daunting and nerve-wracking, and this is especially so with a Spouse Visa. Your ability to come to the UK to join and live with your partner here rests on you receiving a positive outcome from the Home Office.

We know that interpreting the Spouse Visa requirements and application process can be overwhelming and confusing for first-time applicants. Our experienced Spouse Visa solicitors can guide you through the application process step by step. We are here to take care of your visa on your behalf, allowing you to focus on other matters, such as your relocation to the UK and making arrangements for your family. We will do everything we can to help meet the requirements and ensure that your application is prepared correctly to avoid unnecessary delays or refusals.

Your circumstances are complex

Complications can increase the risk of a Spouse Visa application being refused if not properly addressed in advance. Common issues that may affect your application include (but not limited to):

You or your partner have a complex financial situation
Lack of evidence to prove a genuine and subsisting relationship
A previous UK visa refusal
Insufficient documentation to demonstrate your relationship is genuine and ongoing
Concerns that your accommodation does not meet Home Office requirements

If you believe any factors may complicate your Spouse Visa application, it is strongly advisable to speak with our experienced Spouse Visa lawyers. We will take the time to fully understand your circumstances and concerns before providing clear, honest advice on the strength of your application.

Our solicitors will assess the risks and advise whether your application has a high chance of success. Where issues can be overcome, we will recommend a tailored strategy, such as submitting detailed cover letters, additional documentation, or supplementary evidence.

Our Spouse Visa solicitors have helped hundreds of applicants overcome challenges they initially believed would prevent them from obtaining a visa.

You want expert guidance and peace of mind

Even if your case seems straightforward, it’s completely understandable to want to minimise the risk of a visa refusal. Applying for a Spouse Visa can be a stressful and high-stakes process, especially when you’re preparing to relocate to the UK or remain here with your loved one. With so much already on your mind, from accommodation arrangements to family planning, ensuring that your visa application is accurate, complete, and fully compliant can be overwhelming.

Our experienced Spouse Visa solicitors can help ensure that your documents meet Home Office standards and that every part of your application complies with the latest immigration rules and guidance. We take the time to check for any errors, omissions, or weak points that could lead to delays or refusal.

With our support, you can move forward with confidence. Knowing your application is in safe hands and allowing you to focus on the things that matter most: your future, your family, and your life together in the UK

You have had a Spouse Visa refused before

If you have been refused a Spouse visa or any other type of visa in the past, it is especially important to consider working with an immigration solicitor. Spouse Visas can be refused for a wide range of reasons. The Home Office often refuses applications because it believes that despite the evidence presented, the applicant is not in a genuine and subsisting relationship. Indeed, UKVI entry clearance officers are always highly alert for any signs of ‘sham’ marriages or relationships. If they are satisfied that the relationship is genuine, they will still refuse any application where the applicant does not meet the ‘good character’ of other visa-specific requirements. The chances are that if you have been refused a Spouse Visa in the past, a new application of the same type may get refused again unless the underlying issue is identified and resolved. While the Home Office will explain a Spouse Visa has been refused, the exact legal basis for the refusal is still not always entirely clear.

Our experienced Spouse Visa solicitors are trained to properly understand why your visa application was refused. Based on their knowledge of similar cases, they will then recommend the best route forward. Once you have agreed on a strategy, your solicitor will then get to work to build a stronger, well-documented application to maximise your chances of success.

FAQs received by our Spouse Visa lawyers

Question: How do I prove a genuine and subsisting relationship for my spouse visa application?

The UK Home Office will assess the relationship of Spouse Visa applicants on the balance of probabilities. Each relationship is unique in terms of how it forms, develops, and progresses over time. As a result, there is no single formula to satisfy the Home Office that a relationship is genuine and subsisting. However, the following general guidelines can help demonstrate the authenticity of your relationship:

Cohabitation evidence

While cohabitation is not a mandatory requirement for a UK Spouse Visa application, it is considered strong evidence of a genuine and subsisting relationship. Useful evidence may include, but is not limited to, a joint tenancy agreement, utility bills, and official documents showing that you and your partner are registered at the same address, such as driving licences.

If you and your partner are not currently cohabiting, it is important to clearly explain the reasons for this and outline the steps you plan to take to live together in the near future.

Frequency of contact

If you and your partner are not in the same country, it is important to show that you ae both in frequent contact as a couple would be expected to. Where you and your partner have travelled to see each other or gone on holidays together, this should also be included.

Photographs

You and your partner would need to show that you have met. Photographs of you together can be helpful visual evidence, not only to confirm that you have met, but also to illustrate how your relationship has developed over time. Please note, every relationship is different. Some couples may meet more often and have fewer records of remote contact, while others may meet less frequently but communicate regularly. What’s important is that the evidence provided genuinely reflects the nature of your relationship.

Question: I have a child from a previous relationship. When I apply for my partner’s spouse visa, will I have to show a higher income then if I did not have a child?

The new financial requirement for a UK Spouse Visa is £29,000 per year, regardless of whether children are included in the application. However, if the British partner (the sponsor) is receiving an “exempted benefit”, such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), they need to meet the adequate maintenance test instead. To satisfy the Adequate Maintenance test, the sponsor must demonstrate the household income, after deducting housing and council tax costs, is sufficient to support the family at a level equivalent to Income Support. This calculation must take into account any dependent children already in the UK or those applying to join.

Question: I am a Director of a Limited Company and have a partner planning to apply for a spouse visa to join me in the UK. If I did not meet the salary threshold in my latest submitted financial year, what options do I have?

If you are a director of a limited company and you are unable to meet the financial requirement using your salary or dividends from the most recent financial year (referred to as “Category F” income), you may instead be able to rely on the average income from the last two full financial years of your company. This can be particularly helpful if the latest year was unusually poor, but the previous year was significantly stronger.

Alternatively, if the average of the two previous financial years do not assist you, you may need to focus on completing the current company tax year and ensure that, by year end, all salaries and/or dividends amount to at least £29,000. If this option is also not feasible, it is advisable to consult an immigration solicitor to review your circumstances, explore alternative options, and adjust your strategy for meeting the financial requirement before submitting your application.

Question: I have been employed for less than 6 months and earn significantly more than the financial requirement for a spouse visa. Do I still have to wait for 6 months of employment?

You don’t need to wait six months before applying if you are earning significantly above the UK spouse visa financial requirement. However, you must show that:

You are currently in employment (for less than six months) with an annual salary of at least £29,000; and
You have earned a minimum of £29,000 over the past 12 months.

For example, if you are earning £10,000 per month, you would meet both requirements after just three months.

Question: I am not living with my partner currently, can I still apply for a UK spouse visa.

You can still apply for a UK spouse visa if you are not living with your partner currently. But you would need to explain why you are not living together and when you do plan to live together. The earlier you plan to start living together and the more evidence you can provide to show that steps are being taken toward cohabitation the better. This helps demonstrate to the Home Office that there are valid reasons for not living together now and that you genuinely intend to do so.

Cash savings (commonly referred to as Category D) can be combined with certain types of income to meet the UK spouse visa financial requirement. The rules set out in Appendix FM-SE are highly prescriptive and strictly applied by the Home Office.

For example, if you are not relying on self-employment as a sole trader, income as a director of your own limited company, or employment with a company owned by a family member, you may combine salaried income with savings. If your income is below the required £29,000 per year, the Home Office uses a specific formula to calculate the amount of savings needed to make up the shortfall:

X = £29,000 – your actual income

Y = X × 2.5

Z = Y + £16,000

Z is the total amount of cash savings required to meet the financial requirement.

(Note: For indefinite leave to remain (ILR), a different multiplier applies instead of 2.5.)

For example, if your income is £20,000 per year you would need £38,500 in cash savings to meet the spouse visa financial requirement:

£29,000 – £20,000 = £9,000 (this is the income shortfall X)

£9,000 × 2.5 = £22,500 (This is the additional savings required to cover the income gap Y)

£22,500 + £16,000 = £38,500 (This is the total amount of savings you need (Z) to meet the financial requirement by combining income and savings.)

Why Choose Reiss Edwards as Your Spouse Visa Solicitor?

Direct Access to Your Solicitor

You can directly talk to your dedicated Spouse Visa solicitor and case worker with no gatekeeper from the first call. Just the support you need, when you need it.

Legal Advice Tailored to You

No Spouse Visa application is exactly the same. That’s why our legal advice and support are always personalised to suit your individual circumstances.

Personal and Compassionate Service

We care deeply about every client. We listen closely to your concerns and priorities, ensuring every step we take aligns with what matters most to you.