Traveling On A Fiancé Visa: What Uk-Bound Couples Need To Know

can you travel on a fiance visa uk

The UK Fiancé Visa is for those who are engaged to a British or Irish citizen or a person settled in the UK, and who want to join their partner in the UK with plans to get married within six months of their arrival. The visa is granted on the assumption that the marriage will take place within the six-month validity period of the visa. The visa does not allow holders to work or study in the UK.

Once married, visa holders will need to apply for permission to extend their stay in the UK and switch to a Spouse Visa. This visa allows holders to stay in the UK for 30 months, work, and study without restrictions.

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Financial requirements

To be granted a Fiancé Visa, you and your UK-based partner must have a minimum combined gross annual income of £29,000. This can be demonstrated through the following sources:

  • Income from employment or self-employment
  • Pension of the applicant and/or partner
  • Maternity allowances or bereavement benefits received by the partner in the UK
  • Any other income and/or savings specified by the applicant and/or partner

You can also use savings to meet the financial requirement, as long as these exceed £16,000. If you have savings of £88,500, you will not need to show evidence of any income.

If you are exempt from meeting the financial requirement, you will not need to show that you earn £29,000 or more. Exemptions are available if your partner is receiving income from any of the following sources:

  • Disability living allowance
  • Severe disablement allowance
  • Armed Forces Independence Payment or Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
  • Mobility Supplement, Constant Attendance Allowance, or War Disablement Pension under the War Pensions Scheme
  • Police Injury Pension
  • Industrial injury disablement benefit
  • Attendance allowance

However, in this case, the applicant will still need to show that they have enough funds to maintain themselves in the UK and have adequate accommodation.

If none of the above exemptions apply, applicants may be able to ask that exceptional circumstances are considered by the Home Office. For example, if they can show that their child(ren) would be at harm if the application is refused. In this case, the applicant will still need to prove they have sufficient funds, but the source of these can be widened to include other credible sources, such as a guarantee of financial support from another person.

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English language requirement

To be eligible for a UK Fiancé Visa, you must demonstrate your English language proficiency. This can be done in three ways:

  • Passing an English language test: You will need to pass a Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) English test from an approved testing centre. This must be at least level A1 in speaking and writing.
  • Academic qualifications: You will meet the requirements if you have a degree or other academic qualification which was taught in English.
  • Exemption: You will not need to meet the requirements if you are over 65, have a physical or mental condition that prevents you from meeting the requirement, or are a citizen of the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, the USA, or Ireland (for citizenship only).

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Accommodation requirements

To qualify for a UK Fiancé Visa, you must provide evidence of adequate accommodation for yourself and any dependents. This means that you must prove that:

  • You will have a suitable place to live that is safe and meets the required housing standards.
  • There is sufficient space for you and your dependents.
  • The accommodation is owned or occupied exclusively by you and your family members.
  • The accommodation is obtained without recourse to public funds.
  • The accommodation meets public health and safety regulations.

Exclusive Occupation

You must provide evidence that the accommodation you intend to live in with your partner and children in the UK is owned or rented just for you and your immediate family. If the property is not owned or rented for your exclusive use, you will need to prove that you have adequate space that is only for you, your partner, and your children.

No Recourse to Public Funds

The accommodation guidelines state that the place where you intend to live in the UK must not be publicly funded. If your partner receives benefits that they use to pay towards the accommodation, you may still be eligible for a Fiancé Visa. If you are applying from within the UK and will be jointly entitled to benefits with your partner, you may still meet this requirement.

Overcrowding

You must prove that your accommodation will not be overcrowded. To do this, you need to:

  • Count the number of people who will be living in the accommodation, including anyone not included in the visa application. Children under the age of 1 are not counted, and children between the ages of 1 and 10 count as half a person.
  • Count the number of rooms available for sleeping. This includes rooms greater than 50 square feet where suitable sleeping arrangements can be made. Bathrooms and kitchens cannot be included.
  • Check how many people can live in the accommodation based on the number of rooms available for sleeping.

Public Health and Safety

The accommodation must meet public health regulations. A property inspection report by a chartered surveyor or local authority can confirm that the accommodation meets public regulations.

Exemptions

If you are unable to satisfy all of the accommodation requirements, it may be possible to apply on the basis of your right to private and family life in accordance with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. To do so, you must show that there would be "insurmountable obstacles to family life with a partner outside of the UK".

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Relationship requirements

The UK Fiancé Visa is for immigrants who intend to get married or enter into a civil partnership in the UK with a British citizen or a person who is settled in the country. To qualify for the visa, you must meet the following relationship requirements:

  • You and your partner must be at least 18 years old.
  • You must be planning to get married or enter into a civil partnership within six months of your arrival in the UK.
  • Your partner must be a British or Irish citizen or have settled status in the UK (for example, through indefinite leave to remain or EU settled status). Alternatively, your partner may hold a UK Turkish Businessperson or Worker Visa or have refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK.
  • You and your partner must intend to live together in the UK once you are married or have entered into a civil partnership.
  • You must be able to financially support yourselves as a couple and must not become a financial burden on the state. You must have a combined income of at least £29,000 annually.
  • You must demonstrate that you have suitable accommodation to live in with your partner and any dependents.
  • If you are from a non-English-speaking country, you need to take an approved SELT test to prove that you can understand and communicate in English at level A1 as set by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
  • You must provide sufficient evidence to prove that you are in a genuine relationship with your UK-based partner. This may include bank statements of joint accounts, documents showing details of accommodation which you have lived in together, birth certificates of any children you have together, divorce certificates (if applicable), and reference letters from family, friends, and professionals who can vouch for your relationship.
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Visa extension

A Fiancé Visa is valid for six months, during which time you must get married or enter into a civil partnership with your UK-based partner. If your marriage or civil partnership does not take place before your Fiancé Visa expires, you can apply to extend your stay for another six months. This extension is granted only if there is a good reason for the delay and evidence that the ceremony will take place within the next six months.

To apply for a Fiancé Visa extension, you must submit Form FLR(O), which is intended for purposes not covered by other forms. In Section 3 of the form, you need to explain the purpose of your extension and the reasons for it. The fee for this application is £550 by post.

It is important to note that the UK Border Agency is unlikely to approve an extension request if the reason is simply that more time is needed to arrange the marriage. Legitimate reasons for an extension include illness or a family emergency, supported by relevant documents. If you do not have a compelling reason, it is advisable to get married within the time left on your visa or return home and reapply for a fresh visa when you are ready.

When applying for a Fiancé Visa extension, remember that this visa does not permit holders to work in the UK. Therefore, you must demonstrate that you have enough savings to last the entire period of the extension.

Switching to a Spouse Visa

After your wedding, you will be eligible to switch to a Spouse Visa without leaving the UK. This visa will be valid for an initial period of 30 months and can then be extended for another 30 months. To be granted a Spouse Visa, you must apply before your current Fiancé Visa expires.

Indefinite Leave to Remain

Once you have resided in the UK for five years on a combination of your Fiancé and Spouse Visas, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). This status allows you to stay in the UK permanently without being subject to immigration control. To obtain ILR, you must meet certain requirements, including proving that you have lived with your partner since your last visa renewal and that your relationship is genuine and ongoing.

Frequently asked questions

The Fiancé Visa is valid for 6 months.

No, you are not allowed to work or study during your engagement.

The minimum income requirement is £29,000.

The application fee for a Fiancé Visa is £1,846 in 2024.

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