UK Spouse Visa New Rules 2026

Section A: UK Spouse Visa Changes

In UK immigration law, the rules that apply are those in force on the date of application. Threshold increases, revised settlement conditions or new earnings requirements can therefore alter eligibility. Applicants are assessed under the Immigration Rules in force at the date of application, regardless of when planning began.

April 2025 saw a significant tightening of the UK spouse visa framework, with the minimum income requirement rising from £18,600 to £29,000 for new applicants. That change alone excluded many potential sponsors and reshaped the financial calculations for families.

In 2026, potential spouse visa new rules could come into force as a result of the government’s earned settlement proposals. Any such ILR reforms are likely to embed individual economic contribution as a qualifying condition, which could result in further restrictions affecting family migration.

Section B: UK Spouse Visa New Rules in 2025

The most significant recent reform to the spouse visa route took effect in April 2025.

The financial threshold for sponsoring a spouse increased from £18,600 to £29,000 per year for new applicants.

Not all spouse visa holders are subject to the £29,000 requirement. Applicants who first applied under the previous £18,600 threshold benefit from transitional arrangements, provided they remain on the same route. Their extensions and settlement applications continue to be assessed under the earlier financial level.

Alongside the income increase, the Home Office strengthened suitability and refusal frameworks across immigration categories in late 2025. While these changes did not rewrite the core spouse visa eligibility rules, they reinforced closer scrutiny of compliance history, past immigration breaches and evidential standards.

Taken together, the 2025 reforms tightened entry and extension requirements for spouse visa applicants.

Proposals to increase the threshold further to £38,700 have not been implemented, and no confirmed timetable for further increases has been published. As such, for many British sponsors, the income requirement remains the primary eligibility barrier at entry and extension stage, with possible future uplifts a source of uncertainty.

Section C: Will there be new UK spouse visa rules in 2026?

Despite wider immigration reform proposals, the confirmed position for spouse visa applicants in 2026 as yet remains relatively contained. There has been no further increase to the minimum income requirement beyond the £29,000 threshold introduced in April 2025. There has been no change to the core relationship requirements and no confirmed extension of the five-year settlement route for partners of British citizens.

That said, the ongoing transition to digital immigration status and eVisa systems continues in 2026. This only affects how status is evidenced and managed, and does not alter the substantive eligibility criteria for spouse visa applicants. Visa holders are advised to check their UKVI account and ensure their status and information are correct on the Home Office system to avoid issues when checks are made, such as when re-entering the UK under stricter rules from 25 February 2026.

Much of the concern for spouse visa applicants surrounds whether the government’s earned settlement reforms could change the position for spouse visa holders at ILR stage.

The earned settlement consultation proposes extending the default qualifying period for many work visa holders to ten years and linking settlement to economic contribution. A key element under discussion is a mandatory earnings requirement for dependants of workers, requiring a record of taxable income above £12,570.

That proposal has prompted concern that non-working partners could be prevented from settling alongside the main visa holder.

1. Does the £12,570 earnings proposal apply to British spouse visas?

As at 2026, the proposed £12,570 individual earnings requirement does not apply to spouses of British citizens. The consultation proposal relates to dependants of workers on economic routes, including Skilled Worker visas. It does not amend the family visa route for partners of British citizens.

Under the current Immigration Rules, spouses of British citizens continue to qualify for settlement after five years, provided they meet the residence, relationship and suitability requirements. There is no independent personal earnings threshold at ILR stage. The financial requirement is assessed at entry and extension stage by reference to the sponsoring partner’s income, not the applicant’s own salary.

There has been no confirmed legislative amendment introducing a £12,570 earnings condition into the British spouse visa route. Any suggestion that such a requirement is already in force is incorrect.

2. Why is the reform still relevant to spouse visa discussions?

Although the proposal does not currently rewrite the British spouse visa framework, it reflects a wider policy emphasis on economic contribution as a condition of settlement. That emphasis has already shaped family migration policy at entry stage. The April 2025 increase in the sponsorship threshold to £29,000 demonstrated that family routes are not insulated from broader economic migration reform.

The earned settlement consultation extends contribution-based criteria to settlement for workers and their dependants. While there is no confirmed proposal to impose an individual earnings test on British spouse visa holders, the policy direction is toward linking long-term residence more closely to measurable economic activity.

For applicants, the relevance lies in forward planning. Settlement rules are determined by the Immigration Rules in force at the date of application. Where reform is under active consideration, households need to consider timing, route structure and long-term eligibility with care.

The current legal framework for British spouse visas remains unchanged. The consultation outcome will determine whether contribution-based settlement remains confined to economic routes or expands further.

3. Dependants of Skilled Workers

Where the sponsoring partner holds a Skilled Worker visa rather than British citizenship, settlement planning operates under a different risk profile.

Under the government’s earned settlement consultation, dependants of workers could be required to demonstrate a personal record of taxable earnings above £12,570 in order to qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain. That requirement does not currently exist. At present, dependants settle at the same time as the main visa holder, without an independent income test.

If introduced in its current form, the proposal would change that alignment. A non-working spouse could remain on limited leave even where the main applicant qualifies for settlement. In practical terms, families could find themselves on staggered timelines, with one partner settled and the other required to continue extending their visa.

This has implications beyond status alone. Delayed settlement can affect access to student finance for children, long-term security and future citizenship eligibility. For households relying on a single income, the proposal introduces a potential exposure that does not currently form part of settlement strategy.

It is important to be clear about the present position. The £12,570 earnings proposal applies to dependants of workers and remains under consultation. It does not amend the five-year settlement route for spouses of British citizens, and no independent earnings requirement has been imposed on that route.

However, the consultation signals a clear policy emphasis on individual economic contribution. For families sponsored under work routes, early assessment of settlement timelines and income structure may become increasingly important should the reform proceed.

The final position will depend on the outcome of the consultation and any subsequent Immigration Rules.

Section E: Need Assistance?

If you are planning a spouse visa application in 2026, or assessing how recent and proposed rule changes may affect your eligibility or settlement timeline, early legal advice can help you make informed decisions. Book a fixed-fee telephone consultation to speak with one of our UK immigration advisers, who can review your circumstances.

Section F: UK Spouse Visa Changes 2026 FAQs

Have there been new UK spouse visa rule changes in 2026?

No new entry-stage rule changes have been introduced in 2026. The minimum income requirement remains £29,000 for new applicants not covered by transitional protection. The five-year settlement route for spouses of British citizens remains in place.

Did the spouse visa income requirement increase to £38,700?

No. Although a higher threshold was proposed, it was not implemented. The current minimum income requirement remains £29,000.

Does the £12,570 earnings requirement apply to spouse visa holders?

No. The proposed £12,570 individual earnings requirement relates to dependants of economic migrants under the earned settlement consultation. It does not currently apply to spouses of British citizens.

Is the five-year spouse visa settlement route being extended to ten years?

Not for partners of British citizens. The ten-year default settlement proposal applies to many economic migration routes under consultation, but no confirmed change has been made to the British spouse visa settlement timeline.

Could earned settlement reforms affect spouse visas in future?

There is no confirmed proposal to introduce an individual earnings requirement into the British spouse visa route. However, settlement reform is under consultation, and future changes cannot be ruled out. Applications are assessed under the rules in force at the date of submission.

What should applicants consider when planning a spouse visa in 2026?

Applicants should ensure they meet the current £29,000 income requirement, review whether transitional protection applies and consider timing carefully where future rule changes are being debated. Early planning reduces exposure to eligibility risk.

Section G: Glossary

Section H: Useful Links