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This is about the Spouse Visa. And then staying for good with ILR. ILR is like a forever home pass.

First Steps: The UK Spouse Visa

The UK Spouse Visa is for you. You must be married to a British citizen. Or in a civil partnership. Or your partner must have settled here. This visa lets you live with them in the UK. You can stay for about 30 months at first.

Then you can ask to stay longer. You can obtain an additional 30 months. This means you can stay in the UK for up to five years.

Your relationship needs to be real. It must be ongoing. You and your partner need to show you have enough money. This is a combined income of at least £29,000. You also need to understand English.

How Long to Wait? Spouse Visa in 2025

Waiting can be hard.

Here's a general idea of the time.

• Applying from outside the UK? It usually takes around 12 weeks.
• Applying from inside the UK? Expect about 8 weeks.

Need a faster decision? There might be options if you apply outside the UK.

• The Priority Service might help. It aims for a decision in 30 working days.
• The Super Priority service costs extra. You might get a decision the next working day.

This is not always available.

Remember that things can take longer. Missing papers can cause delays. Busy periods too.

Next: Staying Permanently with ILR

After 5 years in the UK on a Spouse Visa, you can apply for ILR. The term ILR refers to Indefinite Leave to Remain. It's similar to the United States Marriage Green Card. You can stay in the United Kingdom indefinitely.

Why is ILR good?

ILR gives you more freedom.