This page explains what the Immigration Rules say about husbands, wives, fiancées or fiancées coming to the United Kingdom with, or to join someone who is settled here. They are only a guide and aim to answer frequently asked questions.
Can my husband, wife, fiancé or fiancée come to the United Kingdom?
Your husband, wife, fiancé or fiancée may apply to come with you or join you in the United Kingdom as long as:
- you currently live and are settled in the United Kingdom; or
- you are returning to the United Kingdom with them to live here permanently
- you are aged 18 or over
How does my husband or wife qualify?
He or she must also show that:
- you are legally married to each other;
- you are going to live together permanently as man and wife;
- you have met each other;
- you can support yourselves and any dependants without help from public funds;
- you have adequate accommodation where you and your dependants can live without help from public funds; and
- he or she is not under 16.
If you have more than one husband or wife, only one of them will be allowed to join you here as your husband or wife.
Your husband or wife must get entry clearance before they travel to the United Kingdom.
When your husband or wife arrives in the United Kingdom, they will be given permission to stay and work for 2 years. Near the end of the 2 years, if you are still married and plan to live together, your husband or wife may apply to remain here permanently. Or;
In some cases, the Home Office can grant settlement entry clearance. This gives your husband or wife permission to settle in the UK permanently as soon as he or she arrives. To get settlement entry clearance, you must:
- have married four years ago
- have spent that four years living together outside the United Kindgom; and
- now be returning to the UK to settle here together
How does my fiancé or fiancée qualify to come to the United Kingdom?
Your fiancé or fiancée must show that:
- you plan to marry within a reasonable time (usually six months);
- you plan to live together permanently after you are married;
- you have met each other;
- there is somewhere for him or her and any dependants to live until you are married without help from public funds; and
- he or she and any dependants can be supported without working or having to get help from public funds.
The Home Office will give your fiancé or fiancée permission to stay here for six months but they must not work. When you are married, your husband or wife may apply to stay here. If the Home Office approves the application, they will give your husband or wife permission to stay and work for 2 years. Near the end of 2 years, your husband or wife may apply to stay here permanently.
Your fiancé or fiancée must get entry clearance before they travel to the United Kingdom.
How does my husband or wife apply to stay in the United Kingdom permanently?
You will need to complete an application form. Applications, except those for asylum and work permits or under European Community law, will not be valid unless they are made on the appropriate application form. You can get copies of application forms from the IND website.
To apply for further leave to remain, get form FLR(M) from the applications forms page.
To apply for indefinite leave to remain, get form SET(M) from the applications forms page.
If you are in any doubt as to which form you should use you could telephone the Immigration and Nationality Enquiry Bureau on 0870 606 7766 or ask in our forums.
You should send the completed form, by post, before your permission to stay ends. The application form will give you details of all the documents you will need to send with your application and where you should send it.
If you need to travel urgently you can apply in person at one of the Home Office public enquiry offices.
All documents should be originals unless you have a good reason why you cannot produce them with your application. The Home Office will not normally accept photocopies.
Can my husband, wife, fiancé or fiancée's children join us?
There is a separate page giving details about children coming to the United Kingdom.
What are public funds?
If you come to live or stay in the United Kingdom, you must be able to support and accommodate yourself without claiming certain state benefits. These are:
- Income-based jobseeker's allowance (JSA);
- Income support;
- Child tax credit
- Working tax credit;
- a social fund payment;
- Child benefit;
- Housing benefit;
- Council tax benefit;
- State pension credit;
- Housing and homelessness assistance;
- Attendance allowance;
- Severe disablement allowance;
- Carer's allowance;
- Disability living allowance;
What is entry clearance?
Entry clearance is a visa or entry clearance certificate you are given so you can travel to the United Kingdom. You must apply for entry clearance to the British Embassy, High Commission or other British Diplomatic Mission (known as British Diplomatic Posts) in the country where your husband, wife, fiancé or fiancée lives.
You can get advice about which British Diplomatic Posts can issue entry clearance any British Diplomatic Post abroad.
You can get guidance leaflets and information about visas from UK visas. Write to:
Visa Correspondence Section
UKvisas
London
SW1A 2AH
United Kingdom.
General enquiries: +44 (0)20 7008 8438
Application forms: +44 (0)20 7008 8308
Fax numbers: +44 (0)20 7008 8359/8361
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