Spouse, Civil Partner or Unmarried Partner
The overseas spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner of a British citizen or person settled in the UK may be able to apply to remain with or join them in the UK. Both the applicant and partner must be aged 18 or over and the applicant must demonstrate a sufficient knowledge of English and satisfy minimum income requirements.
Key features
- Work: migrants in this category may work and study in the UK.
- Successful applicants will receive leave for up to 2.5 years and may apply to extend their stay.
- Settlement: leave under this category may lead to settlement.
How we can help
Ensuring our clients are able to live in the UK with their loved ones is of the utmost importance to us. From the planning stage through to the arrival of their relatives in the UK, we help clients navigate the complex application process.
Our legal fees
Fixed fees
We work on a fixed fee basis. Our fees for individual spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner applications typically range between £7,000 – £12,000 plus VAT and disbursements depending upon the issues, urgencies and complexities involved.
Disbursements
You can expect the main disbursements to include:
- Home Office filing fees (click here for the government’s visa/entry clearance fee calculator and here for a list of all Home Office fees);
- Immigration Health Surcharge fees, if applicable;
- Optional premium service fees for in-country and out-of-country applications; and
- other ancillary disbursements such as National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) fees, biometric enrolment, translations, courier and postage charges, etc.
Latest Insights
27 July 2026
Buying a business with global talent? Don’t overlook immigration compliance
From sponsor licence requirements to right-to-work obligations, immigration issues should form a core part of M&A due diligence and post-completion…
15 July 2026
LexisNexis UK publishes practice note on immigration options for business owners by Francesca Sciberras and Melike Çelik
LexisNexis UK has published a new Practice Note by Francesca Sciberras (Partner) and Melike Çelik (Trainee Solicitor) examining the immigration…
8 July 2026
Expanded right to work obligations from 1 October 2026: new regulations and code of practice published
Long-anticipated right to work regulations have been introduced which extend right to work compliance obligations to a wider range of working…
