UK Spouse Visa from India 2026: £29,000 Income Rule, Fees, English Test & Checklist for Punjab Applicants
To get a UK spouse visa from India in 2026, your partner must be a British or Irish citizen or have settled status (or another qualifying status), you must both be 18 or over and in a genuine relationship, and you must meet a £29,000 a year financial requirement or use savings instead. You also need English at CEFR level A1 or above and must pay a £2,064 application fee plus the Immigration Health Surcharge. Decisions from outside the UK usually take around 12 weeks.
Many families in Jalandhar and the wider Doaba region have relatives who are settled in the UK, so the spouse visa is one of the most asked-about family routes in Punjab. It is also one of the most document-heavy. This guide explains each requirement using official GOV.UK partner visa guidance, with a checklist and a step-by-step plan for Punjab applicants.
UK Spouse Visa Requirements at a Glance
Requirement | What GOV.UK says (October 2026) |
|---|---|
Who can sponsor you | A British or Irish citizen, a person with settled status, or certain others such as EU pre-settled status, protection status or a Turkish worker or businessperson visa |
Age | Both partners must be 18 or over |
Relationship | Married, in a civil partnership, living together for at least 2 years, or engaged (fiancé visa) |
Financial requirement | At least £29,000 a year, or savings instead (see below) |
English | CEFR A1 or above for the first application |
Visa length | Up to 2 years 9 months, then extend for up to 2 years 6 months |
Settlement | Usually after 5 years continuously on the partner route |
Decision time (from outside the UK) | Usually within 12 weeks |
Who Can Sponsor You
Your UK partner is your sponsor. According to GOV.UK, they must be one of the following:
A British or Irish citizen.
A person settled in the UK, for example with indefinite leave to remain or settled status.
A person with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, in certain cases.
A person with a Turkish Businessperson or Turkish Worker visa, or with protection status (such as refugee status or humanitarian protection).
If your partner is in the UK on a work or student visa, the spouse visa is not the right route. You would normally apply as their dependant instead. Our UK Skilled Worker visa guide covers dependants of skilled workers.
Relationship Requirements
The Home Office must be satisfied that your relationship is genuine and that you intend to live together permanently in the UK. You must also have suitable accommodation for your family without using public funds. Useful evidence includes:
Your marriage certificate, translated if it is not in English.
Photographs from your wedding and from different times in your relationship.
Evidence of contact while living apart, such as call logs, messages and travel records.
Proof of any time spent living together, and evidence of where you will live in the UK.
If you are engaged rather than married, you would apply for a fiancé visa, which lasts 6 months and requires you to marry in the UK within that time.
UK Spouse Visa from India: The £29,000 Financial Requirement
The GOV.UK income guidance sets the minimum at £29,000 a year for new partner applications. When you apply from India, the requirement is usually met through your UK partner's income, cash savings or a combination of both. Income you earn in India generally does not count for an application made from outside the UK.
If you first applied as a partner before 11 April 2024, you can extend using the older rule of £18,600, plus £3,800 for the first child and £2,400 for each additional child, up to a maximum of £29,000.
Using savings instead of income
Cash savings above £16,000 can make up a shortfall in income. For applications from outside the UK, every £2.50 of savings above £16,000 covers £1 of shortfall, and the money must have been held for at least six months before you apply. Two worked examples:
Your partner earns £24,000. The shortfall is £5,000, so you would need £16,000 plus £12,500 (2.5 × £5,000) = £28,500 in savings.
You rely on savings only. You would need £16,000 plus £72,500 (2.5 × £29,000) = £88,500.
The government asked the Migration Advisory Committee to review the family income rules in 2025 and has said the requirement is under review, but GOV.UK still lists £29,000 as of October 2026. Check the official page before you apply in case the threshold changes.
English Language Requirement
According to the GOV.UK English guidance, you must prove English at CEFR level A1 or above for your first application, then at least A2 in speaking and listening when you extend after 2 years 9 months. If you pass B1 or above first time, you can reuse that result later.
You can meet the requirement with a Secure English Language Test from an approved provider taken at an approved test centre, or with a degree taught in English that is confirmed as equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree or higher. A normal IELTS score taken for university admission may not be accepted, so book the correct test for UK visa purposes. Our IELTS tips for Punjab students can help if you need to prepare.
UK Spouse Visa Fees and Costs from India
Cost | Amount listed on GOV.UK (October 2026) |
|---|---|
Application fee, outside the UK | £2,064 |
Application fee, inside the UK | £1,407 |
Immigration Health Surcharge, 2 years 9 months | £3,105 per adult (£1,035 a year) |
English test | Set by the test provider |
TB test | Required for applicants from India coming for more than 6 months; set by the approved clinic |
Fees usually change each year, so confirm the current amounts on the GOV.UK family visa page when you apply.
UK Spouse Visa Document Checklist
Valid passports for you and proof of your partner's British citizenship or settled status.
Marriage or civil partnership certificate, with translations where needed.
Relationship evidence: photographs, communication history and travel records.
Your partner's financial evidence: payslips, bank statements, employer letter and P60, or 6 months of savings statements.
Accommodation evidence: tenancy agreement or property documents, and permission from the owner if you will live with family.
English test certificate or qualifying degree evidence.
TB test certificate from a Home Office approved clinic in India.
Any previous UK or other visa refusals, explained honestly.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply from Punjab
Check that your partner qualifies as a sponsor and that you meet the financial requirement through income, savings or both.
Collect six months of financial documents and your relationship evidence.
Book and pass an approved English test at CEFR A1 or above.
Take a TB test at a Home Office approved clinic in India (see the GOV.UK TB test page).
Complete the online application on GOV.UK and pay the fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Book your biometrics appointment at a UK visa application centre and upload or submit your documents.
Wait for a decision, which usually takes around 12 weeks from outside the UK.
Common Reasons UK Spouse Visas Are Refused
Financial evidence that does not match the specified documents or does not cover the required period.
Savings that were not held for the full six months before applying.
Taking the wrong type of English test, or a test at a centre that is not approved.
Weak or inconsistent evidence of a genuine relationship.
Accommodation that is overcrowded or not proven.
Not declaring previous refusals or immigration history.
Many of the same documentation mistakes appear in student refusals too. Our visa rejection reasons guide explains how to present a consistent file.
After You Arrive: Extension and Settlement
Your first visa lasts up to 2 years 9 months. You then extend for up to 2 years 6 months and can usually apply for settlement after 5 continuous years on the partner route. The UK government has consulted on wider settlement reforms, so check GOV.UK for the current rules when you reach that stage. For an overview of other UK routes, see our UK visa guide for Jalandhar applicants and our post on sponsoring family members.
Book a UK Spouse Visa Consultation in Jalandhar
World Immigration Terminal in Jalandhar can check whether your partner's income or savings meet the financial requirement, review your relationship and accommodation evidence, and help you prepare a complete, consistent application. Book a consultation with our team before you pay any fees. No consultant can guarantee approval, as decisions are made by UK Visas and Immigration, but a well-prepared file avoids the most common mistakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum income for a UK spouse visa in 2026?
GOV.UK lists a financial requirement of at least £29,000 a year for partner and spouse applications. People who first applied as a partner before 11 April 2024 can use the older £18,600 threshold, plus extra amounts for children, when they extend.
Can I use savings instead of income for a UK spouse visa?
Yes. For an application from outside the UK, savings above £16,000 can be used to cover a shortfall at a rate of 2.5 to 1. The savings must have been held for at least six months before you apply. With no income at all, that means savings of £88,500.
Which English test do I need for a UK spouse visa from India?
You need to show English at CEFR level A1 or above for your first application, usually through a Secure English Language Test from a Home Office approved provider at an approved test centre. A degree taught in English that meets UK requirements can also count.
How much does a UK spouse visa cost from India?
As listed on GOV.UK in October 2026, the application fee from outside the UK is £2,064, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £3,105 for a 2 year 9 month visa. You will also pay for your English test and TB test.
How long does a UK spouse visa take from India?
GOV.UK says you should usually get a decision within 12 weeks when applying from outside the UK. Plan for extra time to gather documents, sit your English test and attend your biometrics appointment.
Does my income in India count towards the £29,000 requirement?
Generally not when you apply from outside the UK. The requirement is usually met through your UK partner's income, cash savings or a combination of both. Check the GOV.UK financial requirement guidance for your exact situation.
Last verified: October 2026. UK immigration rules, fees and financial thresholds can change. Always confirm the current requirements on the official GOV.UK partner visa page or consult World Immigration Terminal before applying. This article is general information, not legal advice.
Comments