UK Spouse Visa Extension — FLR(M)
Extending your permission to stay in the UK as a spouse or partner. If you hold leave under the Appendix FM Partner route, you normally need a further application before it expires — unless you are already eligible for settlement. Approval of your original visa does not guarantee an extension.
Further leave as a partner
In-country application
Depends on immigration history
Qualifying partner leave
On this page
In brief
- Extending permission as a spouse or partner on the Appendix FM route normally needs a further application before it expires — unless you are already eligible for settlement.
- The 28-day rule affects when you should apply — the guide explains the timing.
- Approval of your first visa does not guarantee an extension.
- It re-checks the relationship and evidence, and which route (5- or 10-year) applies.
What is a Spouse Visa extension?
A Spouse Visa extension is an application for further permission to stay in the UK as a partner under Appendix FM. It is commonly made by someone who:
- entered the UK with Partner Visa entry clearance;
- previously switched to the Partner route from another qualifying category;
- switched from fiancé(e) or proposed civil-partner permission after marriage;
- already holds leave as a spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner; or
- otherwise has Appendix FM partner permission that requires renewal.
For applicants on the standard 5-year route, the extension is normally the second major period of Partner Visa permission before an application for settlement (ILR). The Home Office reassesses whether the requirements are met at the extension stage, so your original approval does not automatically guarantee an extension — your circumstances may have changed since the first application (employment, income, accommodation, relationship, English, sponsor status, children, immigration history, or receipt of specified benefits).
Spouse Visa extension at a glance
| Question | General position |
|---|---|
| Where is the application made? | Inside the UK |
| Usual grant | Up to 30 months |
| Must the relationship still continue? | Yes |
| Financial requirement | Yes, on the standard 5-year route |
| Accommodation requirement | Yes |
| English-language requirement | Yes, unless an exemption applies |
| Can the applicant's UK income count? | Potentially, subject to the financial rules |
| Does the original visa guarantee extension? | No |
| Can specified benefits change the financial test? | Yes |
| Can EX.1 become relevant? | Potentially, in qualifying circumstances |
| Standard settlement route | Normally 5 years of qualifying partner leave |
When should I apply? The 28-day rule
Timing matters. The Home Office Family Life guidance advises eligible applicants to apply no more than 28 days before their existing leave expires — or no more than 28 days before completing 30 months of qualifying Partner leave. Applying within that 28-day window can allow you to be treated as having completed the 30-month continuous-residence period for that stage.
Applying significantly too early can affect how much qualifying Partner leave you accumulate before settlement.
What happens to unused leave?
Where you still have valid Appendix FM Partner leave at the date of the extension application, the guidance provides for up to 28 days of that remaining leave to be added to the new period granted. This is designed to help you apply shortly before expiry without needlessly losing a small amount of qualifying leave. It does not apply in the same way to fiancé(e) or proposed civil-partner leave.
How long is the extension — and which route?
Where the requirements for leave to remain as a partner are met, permission is granted for a period not exceeding 30 months. This can apply on either the 5-year or the 10-year Partner route, depending on the basis on which the application succeeds — and the route matters because it affects the qualifying period required before settlement.
The 5-year Partner route
The 5-year route is for a partner who satisfies the relevant suitability and eligibility requirements at each stage. The usual progression is:
Initial permission
The first grant of Partner leave.
Further permission
The extension — this stage.
Settlement (ILR)
After the required qualifying period.
This is distinct from the 10-year route, where EX.1 or exceptional circumstances may become relevant.
Do I automatically qualify because my first visa was approved?
No. An extension is a new immigration application, and the Home Office must assess the circumstances applying to it. Since the original visa, for example: the sponsor may have changed jobs; you may now be working; the couple may have moved; children may have been born; the sponsor may now receive PIP; the relationship evidence may have changed; different English evidence may be needed; or an immigration or suitability issue may have arisen. The application should be prepared on your current circumstances — not by re-uploading the previous documents.
Relationship requirement & evidence
The relationship must continue to satisfy Appendix FM. Depending on the relationship relied upon, this includes a genuine and subsisting relationship; a valid marriage or civil partnership where applicable; previous relationships having permanently broken down; and an intention to continue living together permanently in the UK. For an extension with the same partner, the focus is on whether the relationship remains genuine and continues to subsist.
The guidance sets out a tiered, non-exhaustive list of evidence. Higher-value evidence includes tenancy agreements, Council Tax bills, utility bills and marriage certificates; other appropriately dated documents at the couple's UK address, and weaker material such as message transcripts, can also be considered. The evidence should show the couple's life together since the previous grant.
Cohabitation evidence
Useful documents include tenancy or mortgage papers, Council Tax, utility bills, bank statements, and HMRC, DWP, NHS, driving-licence or insurance correspondence addressed to the couple at home. Documents needn't all be jointly addressed — separate official documents can establish cohabitation where they place both partners at the same address over corresponding periods.
You don't need every bill from the last 2½ years. A clear, chronological spread of reliable documents is usually more useful than every household document. Aim for evidence that is relevant, chronological, consistent and proportionate.
What if we changed address, or lived apart?
Changing address is not normally a problem — present a clear chronology and keep dates consistent across tenancies, Council Tax, banks, HMRC, employment records and the application form:
| Period | Address |
|---|---|
| July 2024 – April 2025 | 12 High Street, Liverpool |
| April 2025 – present | 24 Castle Road, Liverpool |
Temporary periods apart (work, study, caring responsibilities, family emergencies, travel) don't automatically mean the relationship has ended. After a significant separation, explain why, when it began, how long it lasted, how the relationship continued, how often the couple saw each other, and whether they've resumed — or intend to resume — living together. If the relationship has permanently broken down, an extension based on it shouldn't be submitted as though the couple remain together; other options (children, long residence, private life, domestic-abuse provisions where applicable, or another route) may need considering. Accuracy remains essential.
Financial requirement at extension
On the standard 5-year route you must meet the applicable financial requirement — but the threshold depends on your immigration history.
Not every extension needs £29,000. Applicants who first entered the Partner route on or after 11 April 2024 generally face the £29,000 minimum income requirement. But transitional arrangements are preserved for people who first applied successfully as a fiancé(e), proposed civil partner or partner before 11 April 2024 and continue with the same partner. Identify the threshold from your immigration history — don't assume £29,000.
A practical difference from the overseas application is that you may now be living in the UK and working lawfully. Depending on the category, qualifying UK income may therefore form part of the assessment — the couple may rely on income from the sponsor, the applicant, or both, subject to the Appendix FM-SE rules. You can estimate the headline figures with our financial requirement calculator.
Which financial category?
- Category A (employment) — where the person relied upon has been with their current employer for the required period; evidenced with payslips, corresponding bank statements and employer confirmation. Salaried and non-salaried employment are calculated differently.
- Category B (employment) — potentially relevant where a job changed recently, employment is under 6 months, or Category A is not satisfied. It is a different assessment (current + historic income) and should not be approached by simply adding up recent payslips.
- Category D (cash savings) — qualifying savings can cover a shortfall or, if sufficient, meet the requirement on their own, subject to the ownership, control, six-month holding, permitted-account and source-of-funds rules. See our cash savings guide.
- Categories F & G (self-employment / company) — for self-employed applicants or company directors/shareholders, with HMRC records, accounts, business bank records, CT600, salary and dividend evidence and proof of ongoing trading. The financial year relied upon must be chosen carefully — an owner-director's salary is not automatically ordinary Category A income. See self-employment & company income.
What if the sponsor now receives PIP or another specified benefit?
The financial test may change. Where the sponsoring partner receives a specified benefit (such as Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance or Carer's Allowance), a 5-year-route applicant can be required to meet adequate maintenance instead of the minimum income requirement — an adequate-maintenance calculation is still required. See our adequate maintenance guide.
PIP before, but not now? If the qualifying benefit is no longer received at the next stage, a 5-year-route applicant must meet the applicable minimum income threshold. A previous adequate-maintenance approval does not permanently exempt later applications — reassess the financial regime at every extension.
Accommodation requirement
You must continue to show adequate accommodation which the family owns or occupies appropriately, is available without recourse to public funds, is not overcrowded, and does not contravene public-health regulations. The assessment includes other household members even where they are not part of the application. You do not have to stay at the same property — living with parents, relatives or friends can satisfy the requirement, provided the accommodation meets the rules. Evidence the current accommodation rather than an old property. See our accommodation guide.
English-language requirement
An applicant seeking leave to remain on the 5-year Partner route must meet the relevant English-language requirement, or show that an exemption applies, with evidence complying with Appendix FM-SE.
A previous exemption does not last forever. Someone who was previously exempt must meet the requirement at the further-leave stage unless they qualify for an exemption again — on the same basis or a different one. Check this before applying.
Suitability & overstaying
The Home Office also considers suitability — potential issues include criminal convictions, deception, false documents, failure to disclose relevant facts, and immigration breaches. Don't assume an issue that arose after the first visa can safely be omitted — answer every question accurately.
An application made after your permission has expired can become significantly more complicated, engaging the suitability provisions and the rules on exceptions for overstayers. An expired visa should not be treated like an ordinary in-time extension — if your leave has already expired, get your circumstances and timing assessed immediately.
EX.1, exceptional circumstances & the 10-year route
If you cannot meet the financial requirement, first confirm it has been calculated correctly — the right threshold, transitional provisions, your own UK income, the correct Category A/B calculation, non-employment or pension income, cash savings, the correct self-employment period, or adequate maintenance. Only then should exceptional-circumstances provisions be considered.
Where the ordinary requirement is not met but refusal could engage Article 8, certain other credible and reliable resources (such as sustainable third-party support, prospective earnings, or other reliable funds) may be considered — but a grant on this basis places you on the 10-year Partner route, not the 5-year route. This is not a routine alternative financial category.
EX.1
For certain in-country Partner applications, EX.1 may become relevant:
- EX.1(a) — qualifying child: a genuine and subsisting parental relationship with a qualifying child, and whether it would be reasonable to expect that child to leave the UK.
- EX.1(b) — partner: whether there are insurmountable obstacles to family life continuing outside the UK — defined as very significant difficulties that could not be overcome or would entail very serious hardship. The threshold is much higher than simply preferring to remain.
EX.1 is not a blanket waiver: even where it applies, you must still meet the other suitability and eligibility requirements of the relevant 10-year-route provision. Where children are involved, their best interests are a primary consideration (though not the only one).
Documents for a Spouse Visa extension
There is no universal checklist — it should be tailored to your circumstances at the date of extension. Depending on the case, documents can include:
Passport / ID; current immigration status; English evidence where required; immigration-history information; other personal documents.
Passport or qualifying status; employment or financial documentation; specified-benefit documentation where relevant; other supporting evidence.
Marriage / civil partnership evidence; tenancy or mortgage; Council Tax; utilities; bank statements; official correspondence; explanations for periods apart.
By category: payslips, employer letter, bank statements, savings, pension, rental income, self-employment, company accounts, CT600, salary/dividends, or adequate-maintenance evidence.
Tenancy or ownership evidence; family consent where relevant; occupant information; other evidence of adequate accommodation.
Some historic documents remain relevant (marriage/divorce certificates, children's birth certificates), but old payslips, tenancies and relationship evidence do not show the current position — update them.
Common extension mistakes
Extension applications commonly go wrong where: the application is submitted too early, or after the visa has expired; the wrong financial threshold is used or transitional rules are overlooked; the applicant's qualifying UK income is ignored; Category A/B is miscalculated; current savings don't satisfy Category D; self-employment uses the wrong financial year; a company is treated as ordinary employment; PIP/adequate maintenance is misidentified or miscalculated; relationship evidence is outdated; a period of separate residence is left unexplained; the current address is poorly evidenced; accommodation has become overcrowded; English evidence or a previous exemption is assumed to continue without checking; immigration breaches are not disclosed; EX.1 is assumed to apply automatically; or the extension is assumed to be guaranteed because the first visa was granted.
Get your extension reviewed before your visa expires
We can confirm your timing, the correct financial threshold, whether settlement may already be available, and prepare a tailored checklist and application.
How ENS Immigration Advice can help
We assist with Spouse and Partner Visa extensions across the full range of circumstances — standard 5-year extensions; fiancé(e)-to-spouse applications; transitional thresholds; Category A and B employment; applicant and sponsor income combinations; cash savings; self-employment; company directors; salary and dividends; specified benefits and adequate maintenance; accommodation changes; periods living apart; children; English-language evidence; previous immigration issues; EX.1; and cases potentially falling onto the 10-year route.
Our assessment can include checking your expiry date and calculating the right application timing; identifying whether settlement may already be available; confirming the financial threshold and calculating qualifying income; reviewing relationship and cohabitation evidence; checking accommodation; identifying the applicable English requirement or exemption; reviewing Appendix FM-SE evidence; spotting gaps or inconsistencies; and preparing a personalised checklist and the application with supporting representations.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a Spouse Visa extension? +
Qualifying leave to remain as a partner is granted for a period not exceeding 30 months.
When should I apply? +
Eligible applicants are advised to apply no more than 28 days before existing leave expires, or before completing 30 months of qualifying Partner leave.
Will unused visa time be lost? +
Up to 28 days of existing qualifying Appendix FM Partner leave can be added to the new grant where the relevant conditions are met.
Do I need £29,000 for my extension? +
Not necessarily. The applicable threshold depends on when you first entered the Partner route and whether transitional provisions apply.
Can my own salary now count? +
Potentially. An applicant lawfully working in the UK may rely on qualifying income, subject to the Appendix FM financial rules.
Do we still need to live together? +
The relationship must remain genuine and subsisting and continue to meet the Partner-route requirements. Temporary periods apart do not automatically end it, but significant separation may need explanation.
Do I need new relationship evidence? +
Normally yes — the extension needs to establish the current continuing relationship, not rely solely on the original application's evidence.
My sponsor now receives PIP — what happens? +
Adequate maintenance may apply instead of the minimum income threshold where the specified-benefit provisions are satisfied.
My sponsor received PIP before but no longer does — can I still use adequate maintenance? +
Where the qualifying benefit is no longer received at the next stage, a 5-year-route applicant must meet the applicable minimum income threshold.
Do I need to meet English again? +
You must satisfy the relevant English-language requirement or exemption for further leave. A previously exempt applicant must qualify for an exemption again or meet the requirement.
Can I apply if my relationship has ended? +
A standard extension normally depends on the qualifying relationship continuing. Different options may need to be considered where it has permanently broken down.
Can I switch from the 10-year route back to the 5-year route? +
Potentially. A person granted on the 10-year route through the exceptional financial provisions can later apply in-country to start the 5-year route where they subsequently meet the ordinary financial requirement through the usual permitted sources.
Does fiancé(e) leave count towards my 5 years? +
No. Fiancé(e), fiancée and proposed civil-partner leave is excluded from the continuous Partner residence required for settlement.
Can I apply directly for ILR instead? +
Potentially, if you have already completed the required qualifying period and meet the settlement requirements. Before submitting FLR(M), it is sensible to check whether settlement is already available.
Related services
Our fees
Fixed fees. Figures are "From" because your exact fee depends on your circumstances — confirmed in writing before we start. These are our professional fees only; Home Office fees and any Immigration Health Surcharge are separate.
Disclaimer. The information on this page provides general information about UK immigration law and does not constitute legal advice on any individual immigration application. Immigration requirements depend on your individual circumstances and may change. You should seek professional advice before making an application or relying on the information provided.
Source basis: the UK Immigration Rules Appendix FM (family life) and the related Home Office family-life caseworker guidance published on GOV.UK. Immigration Rules and guidance change; confirm the current version on GOV.UK before applying.
Eyyup Yaprak
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Founded to make regulated advice honest and accessible.
Before founding the practice, Eyyup spent 10 years teaching English in Turkey and Liverpool, so every stage of an application is explained clearly, in English or Turkish. A BA and MA in English Language Teaching and an Associate Degree in Computer Programming & Technology sit alongside AAT Level 4 in Accounting, giving a strong grasp of the financial evidence many visa categories require.
Casework spans family, work, settlement and Ankara Agreement (ECAA) applications, plus sponsor licence guidance for employers.
Applying to extend your partner visa?
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