What is a fiancé(e) visa?
The fiancé(e) and proposed civil partner visa lets you come to the UK to marry, or form a civil partnership with, a partner who lives here. It is part of the family visa route under Appendix FM. It lasts six months, and the wedding or ceremony must take place within them. You cannot work or study on it, and you cannot claim public funds. After the wedding you apply to switch to a spouse or partner visa without leaving the UK.
Many couples do not need it. If you are happy to marry abroad, you can marry first and apply for a spouse visa from abroad. If you only want to marry in the UK and return home afterwards, a Marriage Visitor visa may be enough. The fiancé(e) route is for couples who want to marry in the UK and then live here.
Fiancé(e) visa requirements in 2026
The requirements are those for a partner visa, applied to a couple who have not yet married:
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Age and freedom to marry | You and your partner are both 18 or over, and free to marry or form a civil partnership. |
| Qualifying partner | Your partner is a British or Irish citizen, or settled in the UK, or holds another qualifying status. |
| A genuine relationship | You have met in person, the relationship is genuine, and you intend to marry within six months of arriving and to live together permanently afterwards. |
| Financial requirement | A gross income of £29,000 a year, or savings that make up a shortfall, or an exception: the same as for a spouse visa. |
| English language | At least level A1 in speaking and listening, unless exempt. |
| Accommodation | A home that is adequate, not overcrowded, and does not rely on public funds. |
The financial requirement is assessed on your partner’s income and savings, or on their and your income combined if you have lawful work in the UK, just as it is for a spouse visa. See our guide to the £29,000 financial requirement for the evidence the Home Office asks for.
How to prove you intend to marry
Alongside the evidence of a genuine relationship you need evidence that the wedding is planned: a booking at a register office or venue, correspondence with the registrar, a date, and the arrangements for guests. A date in the diary and a deposit are more persuasive than a general statement of intent. Evidence of the relationship itself is the same as for a spouse visa: contact over time, visits, photographs, shared plans, and letters from family and friends. See how to prove a genuine relationship.
Fiancé(e) visa fees and costs
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee, from outside the UK | £2,064 |
| Immigration health surcharge | None: it is not charged for a visa of six months or less applied for from outside the UK |
| Switching to a partner visa from inside the UK | £1,407, plus the health surcharge for the new visa |
| Notice of marriage and the ceremony | Set by the register office |
Compare this with marrying abroad first: a spouse visa from abroad costs £2,064 plus the health surcharge of £3,105 for a visa of 2 years and 9 months, and there is one application at that stage. The fiancé(e) route involves two applications, with the health surcharge paid at the switching stage, but lets you marry in the UK, among your family and friends here. See the full fees page and the guide to the immigration health surcharge.
What you can and cannot do on a fiancé(e) visa
- You can live in the UK for the six months of the visa, and travel in and out within it.
- You cannot work, study or claim public funds. Check carefully that you do not breach the conditions: working on a fiancé(e) visa is a breach that can affect later applications.
- You cannot extend the visa. If the wedding does not take place within six months you must leave or find another route.
Marrying in the UK
In England and Wales you give notice of the marriage at a register office, normally at least 28 days before the ceremony. For couples where one partner is subject to immigration control, the Home Office can look into the notice, which can extend the period to as long as 70 days. Give notice as soon as you arrive, because the six-month visa leaves little room for delay. The rules in Scotland and Northern Ireland differ, so check them if you are marrying there.
Switching to a partner visa after the wedding
Once you have married, you apply from inside the UK to switch to a partner visa, before the fiancé(e) visa ends. The application costs £1,407 plus the health surcharge, and requires the same financial, English and accommodation evidence as an application from abroad, with your marriage certificate. If it is granted you can work and study, and you will have permission for 2 years and 6 months. The five-year path to indefinite leave to remain then runs from the partner visa: the six months on the fiancé(e) visa do not count towards it. See our guide to extending a spouse visa and settling.
Common reasons for refusal
- Weak or inconsistent evidence that the relationship is genuine, or that you have met.
- Income evidence that is not in the form the rules prescribe.
- No evidence that the wedding is planned.
- Accommodation not shown to be adequate.
- An earlier refusal or immigration breach that was not explained.
If your fiancé(e) visa is refused
A refusal carries a right of appeal to the First-tier Tribunal on human rights grounds, which you must bring within 28 days if you are outside the UK. See our guide to appealing a refused partner visa and to immigration appeals. A fresh application is often quicker where the cause is a missing document.
How we help
We advise whether the fiancé(e) route, marrying abroad, or a Marriage Visitor visa is right for you, prepare the application and the evidence of your plans, and act for you at the switching stage. A consultation costs from £99.
