---
title: "United Kingdom Fiancé visa requirements 2026: £29k+/yr needed"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/fiance-visa/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-12
---

United Kingdom · Spouse visas

# United Kingdom Fiancé visa

**Income needed:** £29k+ a year ≈ $38k

Family visa as a fiance, fiancee or proposed civil partner

Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/)

- **Income needed:** £29k+ a year ≈ $38k (Income of at least GBP 29,000 a year (≈ $38,300) · Combined income of applicant and partner; savings can be used instead of income. Different rules apply if the partner gets certain disability or carer benefits. A fee of GBP 2,064 (≈ $2,730) · Application fee when applying from outside the UK; the same fee applies to each dependant added.)
- **First stay:** 6 mo (Six months; after marriage or civil partnership the holder applies to extend as a partner.)
- **Who can apply:** Most passports (Non-British, non-Irish nationals needing permission.)
- **Work:** No (No work or study is allowed during the engagement.)

## Key facts

Fiancé visa is a spouse visas route for United Kingdom. Applicants need income of £29k+ a year ≈ $38k. You can stay 6 mo. You can't take local work. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.

- **Money needed:** £29k+ a year ≈ $38k
- **Government fees:** £2,064 ≈ $2,730
- **First stay:** 6 mo

## Cost, time and long term

To apply: government fee £2,064 ≈ $2,730; income to show £29k+/yr ≈ $38k. No lawyer or agent fee is included.

**Government fees: £2,064 ≈ $2,730**

- GBP 2,064 (≈ $2,730) Application fee when applying from outside the UK; the same fee applies to each dependant added.

**Shown, not spent: £29k+/yr ≈ $38k**

- GBP 29,000 a year (≈ $38,300) Combined income of applicant and partner; savings can be used instead of income. Different rules apply if the partner gets certain disability or carer benefits.

**Renewal: 6 months max, no extension**

The visa lasts 6 months and cannot be extended; after marriage or civil partnership you apply to extend as a partner.

[GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/partner-spouse)

## Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

- Can't be renewed: 6 months in total at most
- Work isn't allowed on this route
- Not open to passports from Ireland

### What you'll need

#### Who can apply

- Applicant and partner are both aged 18 or over.
- The partner is a British or Irish citizen or is settled in the UK.
- Applicant and partner intend to live together permanently in the UK.
- The couple plans to marry or become civil partners within 6 months of the applicant arriving in the UK.
- Any previous marriages or civil partnerships of both partners have ended.
- The applicant has a good knowledge of English at CEFR level A1 or equivalent.

#### What you must show

- The couple has a combined income of at least GBP29,000 (≈ $38,300) a year, or savings that can replace income.

#### Steps

1. Apply online from outside the UK.

#### After you arrive

- The holder cannot work or study during the engagement.
- After the marriage or civil partnership the holder applies to extend and then gains the right to work or study.
- Time on the fiance visa does not count towards the 5 years needed for settlement.

## When you become tax resident

How United Kingdom decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.

- **Stay on this route:** **Up to 6 months in total**
- **Tax residence:** Statutory Residence Test.
- **Foreign-source income:** **New-resident relief (4 years)** Qualifying new UK residents can claim relief on eligible foreign income and gains for their first four tax years of UK residence after at least ten years of non-UK residence; regime replaced the remittance basis on 6 April 2025.

[All tax rules for United Kingdom](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/tax/) Tax records checked 12 Oct 2026

**Full official text**

For the partner of a British citizen or settled person who will marry or enter a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months. It allows a 6-month stay, after which the holder applies to extend as a spouse. (sources 1, 2, 3)

#### What you must show and pay

- Income of at least GBP 29,000 a year (≈ $38,300) · Combined income of applicant and partner; savings can be used instead of income. Different rules apply if the partner gets certain disability or carer benefits. (source 2)
- A fee of GBP 2,064 (≈ $2,730) · Application fee when applying from outside the UK; the same fee applies to each dependant added. (source 4)

#### Requirements

- Applicant and partner are both aged 18 or over. (source 1)
- The partner is a British or Irish citizen or is settled in the UK. (source 1)
- Applicant and partner intend to live together permanently in the UK. (source 1)
- The couple plans to marry or become civil partners within 6 months of the applicant arriving in the UK. (source 1)
- Any previous marriages or civil partnerships of both partners have ended. (source 1)
- The applicant has a good knowledge of English at CEFR level A1 or equivalent. (source 3)
- The couple has a combined income of at least GBP29,000 (≈ $38,300) a year, or savings that can replace income. (source 2)
- Apply online from outside the UK. (source 1)
- The holder cannot work or study during the engagement. (source 1)
- After the marriage or civil partnership the holder applies to extend and then gains the right to work or study. (source 1)
- Time on the fiance visa does not count towards the 5 years needed for settlement. (source 1)

#### Stay

- Six months; after marriage or civil partnership the holder applies to extend as a partner.
- Initial permitted stay: 6 months.
- Visa validity: 6 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay.
- Not renewable according to our source.

#### Nationality

Non-British, non-Irish nationals needing permission. Not open to: United Kingdom, Ireland.

#### Work

No work or study is allowed during the engagement.

Checked 2026-10-12

## Official sources

1. [Family visas: apply as a partner or spouse](https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/partner-spouse) · GOV.UK (Home Office) · checked 2026-10-11
2. [Family visas: financial requirements if you are applying as a partner or spouse](https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/proof-income-partner) · GOV.UK (Home Office) · checked 2026-10-11
3. [Family visas: knowledge of English](https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/knowledge-of-english) · GOV.UK (Home Office) · checked 2026-10-11
4. [UK family visa: how much it costs](https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/how-much-it-costs) · UK Government (GOV.UK) · checked 2026-10-11

## Fiancé visa and its alternatives

| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fiancé visa | Needs income of £29k+ a year ≈ $38k | 6 mo | No |
| [Spouse or partner visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/spouse-of-citizen/) | Needs income of £29k+ a year ≈ $38k | 2.8 yr, renewable | – |
| [Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/spouse-of-citizen/) Portugal | – | – | – |
| [Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/family-reunification/) Spain | Needs income of €900+ a month ≈ $1,010 | – | Yes |
| [Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) Georgia | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |

## Questions people ask

### How much money do I need for the Fiancé visa?

Income of at least GBP 29,000 a year (≈ $38,300). Combined income of applicant and partner; savings can be used instead of income. A fee of GBP 2,064 (≈ $2,730). Application fee when applying from outside the UK; the same fee applies to each dependant added.

### How long can I stay on the Fiancé visa?

Six months; after marriage or civil partnership the holder applies to extend as a partner.

### Can I work on the Fiancé visa?

No. No work or study is allowed during the engagement.

### Who can apply for the Fiancé visa?

Non-British, non-Irish nationals needing permission. Not open to: United Kingdom, Ireland.

## More in United Kingdom

[Global Talent](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/global-talent/) [High Potential Individual](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/high-potential-individual/) [India Young Professionals visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/india-young-professionals/) [Youth Mobility Scheme](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/youth-mobility-scheme/) [Innovator Founder](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/innovator-founder/) [UK Expansion Worker visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/uk-expansion-worker/) [Health and Care Worker visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/health-care-worker/) [Scale-up Worker](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/scale-up-worker/)

## Spouse and partner visas elsewhere

[🇮🇹 Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) [🇬🇷 Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/spouse-of-citizen/) [🇫🇷 Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) [🇳🇱 Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/netherlands/spouse-of-citizen/) [🇨🇾 Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) [🇦🇱 Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/spouse-of-permanent-resident/)

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

## How this was checked

**Checked on 2026-10-12 against 4 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources.

Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.

1. [Family visas: apply as a partner or spouse](https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/partner-spouse) · GOV.UK (Home Office) · checked 2026-10-11
2. [Family visas: financial requirements if you are applying as a partner or spouse](https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/proof-income-partner) · GOV.UK (Home Office) · checked 2026-10-11
3. [Family visas: knowledge of English](https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/knowledge-of-english) · GOV.UK (Home Office) · checked 2026-10-11
4. [UK family visa: how much it costs](https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/how-much-it-costs) · UK Government (GOV.UK) · checked 2026-10-11

Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.