HomeFamily & Partner VisasPartner Visa - Leave to Remain
Partner & Spouse Visa - Leave to Remain
For couples already in the UK who need to switch into, or extend, the partner and spouse route. We will assess your current leave, prepare the relationship and financial evidence, and submit the leave-to-remain application in-country. Fixed-fee packages start from £358.33 + VAT.
Written by Dipendra Fakira, Supervising Immigration Caseworker · Reviewed by Georgette Thomas, Principal Solicitor · Last reviewed 7 September 2026
At a glance
Home Office fee
Home Office publishes current fees
Decision time
Standard in-country service
Income you must show
Or savings instead
Length of grant
On the five-year partner route
Home Office fees and thresholds change - check gov.uk for the current figures. We confirm them in writing when we quote you.
Who can apply for leave to remain as a partner
Leave to remain is the in-country application you make once you are already in the UK. It covers two common situations - switching to the partner route from a different visa, and extending your existing partner or spouse visa when it is nearing expiry.
You can apply if your partner is a British citizen, has settled status, indefinite leave to remain, refugee status or humanitarian protection, and you meet the relationship, financial and English-language requirements. If you have just married on a fiancé(e) visa, this is the application you make straight after the ceremony - the fiancé(e) route explains the switch.
You cannot apply for leave to remain on this route from a visitor visa. If you are here as a visitor, contact us before you do anything - the wrong application closes doors.
What you need to show
Evidence you live as a couple in the UK
£29,000, or savings instead, or exempt on eligible benefits
A2 test from an approved centre, unless exempt
Suitable for you, your partner and any dependent children
Visitor visas cannot switch to this route in-country
How the financial requirement works
You must show a combined income of at least £29,000.00 a year. That can come from employment, self-employment, pensions, or other permitted sources. If your income is lower, savings can make up the difference.
An example. Your partner earns £24,000. You are £5,000 short. Savings of £28,500, held for six months, would cover the gap. We work this out for you before anything is submitted.
If you are in receipt of an eligible benefit, you may be exempt from meeting the financial requirement. We will tell you whether your circumstances qualify.
Documents you will need
We send you a checklist tailored to your circumstances - not a generic list.
How we handle your application
We check your current leave, the switch or extension route, and identify the risks
We tell you exactly what to gather, then check every document
We complete the forms and write the legal submission
We deal with the Home Office and tell you as soon as it arrives
What it costs
| Service | Our fixed fee |
|---|---|
Full application package Merits assessment, advice on documents, forms completed, application submitted, regular updates - until the initial Home Office decision | £1,998 + VAT |
Single services Application checking, form filling, document perusal, one hour of general advice | £358.33–£936 + VAT |
Initial consultation A single service - the quickest way to find out where you stand | from £50 + VAT |
If you instruct us on a full package we ask for an advance payment, usually £500–£1,200 + VAT. VAT applies if you are "belonging" in the UK for HMRC purposes; if not, you are exempt. Home Office fees, the immigration health surcharge, English tests, TB screening, interpreters and expert reports are not included - those are paid separately.
Leave to Remain Questions
Entry clearance is the first application you make from outside the UK. Leave to remain is the application you make from inside the UK - either to switch into the partner route from another visa, or to extend a partner or spouse visa that is nearing its expiry.
An in-country grant on the five-year partner route is usually 30 months of leave. You apply to extend once during the five-year period, and then apply for indefinite leave to remain after five continuous years on the route.
You can apply up to 28 days before your current leave expires. Do not let it lapse - overstaying, even briefly, causes real problems for future applications. Book the initial assessment two to three months before your expiry date and we will manage the timing with you.
For the first extension you must meet English at Level A2 from a Home Office approved provider, unless you are exempt. This is a step up from the A1 test required for the initial partner visa. We tell you whether your existing qualifications count before you book a test.
Yes. Every application on the five-year partner route needs to satisfy the financial requirement, including extensions. The figure is the same - £29,000.00 - and can be met through income, savings, or a combination. If you are in receipt of an eligible benefit you may be exempt.
Yes, dependent children can usually be included. We confirm this when we assess your case, because the child's own immigration status and citizenship affects the shape of the application.
No. Visitors cannot switch in-country to the partner route. You would need to leave the UK and apply for entry clearance from abroad. Contact us before you take any action - a wrong application on a visitor visa can affect future applications.
Processing times are set by the Home Office and vary by service level. We tell you the current published time at the point you instruct us, and whether the priority services are worth the extra fee for your circumstances.
About to switch or extend into the partner route?
Book an initial consultation, from £50 + VAT. We will tell you plainly whether to apply now, wait, or take a different route.