Extending your UK Partner Visa is a major milestone in your journey to settle in the United Kingdom with your partner. After navigating the stress of your first application, you have likely built a life together, settled into a routine, and started to feel at home. But with your initial visa approaching its expiry date, you now face the challenge of making sure your legal right to remain in the UK continues seamlessly. This is where the Partner Visa extension comes in — and it is essential to get it right.
In 2025, the rules will be more demanding than in previous years. The Home Office has increased the financial requirement, raised the application fees, and continued to apply strict scrutiny to supporting documents. Couples who do not prepare properly risk delays, refusals, and unnecessary stress. The good news is that extending your Partner Visa is very achievable if you understand what the Home Office expects and plan your application carefully.
This comprehensive guide explains everything you need to know about extending your UK Partner Visa in 2025, including the eligibility requirements, the financial threshold, how to complete the online application, which documents to provide, and what happens once your application is submitted. By the end, you should feel confident about how to prepare and what to expect.
Your initial Partner Visa lasts for two years and nine months if granted from outside the UK, or two years and six months if granted while switching from within the country. Before this period runs out, you must apply for an extension, which will grant you another two years and six months to remain in the UK. Once you have completed five years in total on this visa route, you will usually be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which is permanent settlement.
Think of the extension as the second stage in a three-part journey: the first was securing your initial visa, the second is successfully extending it, and the third will be applying for ILR. Each stage builds on the last, so preparing thoroughly at this step will not only protect your right to remain now but will also strengthen your long-term settlement application later.
Timing is everything when it comes to immigration applications. The Home Office makes it very clear that you must apply before your visa expires. You are allowed to submit your application up to 28 days before the expiry date, but it is wise to begin preparations three to six months in advance.
Starting early gives you the breathing room to organise your finances, book and pass your English test, gather the right documents, and deal with any unexpected problems. Couples who leave it until the final weeks often find themselves rushing, and mistakes at that stage can be costly. Missing the deadline altogether is even worse, as it can result in an extension and create serious problems for both your extension and any future ILR application.
The eligibility criteria for extending your Partner Visa are set out under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. They are broadly the same as when you applied for your first visa, with one important difference: the Home Office now expects clear proof that your relationship has continued genuinely and consistently since you were first granted leave.
The relationship requirement means that you and your partner must still be living together permanently in the UK and committed to your life as a couple. If you are married or in a civil partnership, your marriage certificate will still be valid, and you do not need to provide it again. Still, you do need to demonstrate that you have lived together continuously. For unmarried partners, the expectation is the same, with proof of at least two years’ cohabitation. Short absences for work or travel can be explained, but the Home Office must be satisfied that your relationship has not broken down.
The financial requirement is often the biggest challenge. From April 2024, the minimum income threshold increased significantly, and in 2025, you must show a combined gross annual income of at least £29,000. This income can be from employment, self-employment, pensions, or savings, and in some cases, a combination of these sources. If you rely on employment income, you must usually provide six months of payslips and matching bank statements, along with a letter from your employer. If relying on savings alone, you will need at least £88,500 held for six months or longer. Where income and savings are combined, the first £16,000 of savings is disregarded. The Home Office pays close attention to these figures, and even small inconsistencies between documents can result in refusal.
There is also an English language requirement. For your first extension, you must pass an English speaking and listening test at A2 level or higher, taken with an approved test provider. For later stages, including ILR, the level rises to B1. Certificates must be valid at the time of application, so it is worth booking your test early to avoid last-minute problems.
Finally, you must show that you and your partner have adequate accommodation in the UK. This means your home must not be overcrowded and must be owned, rented, or otherwise legally occupied by you or your partner. Tenancy agreements, mortgage statements, or landlord letters are normally sufficient evidence.
The process of applying for a Partner Visa extension is straightforward in theory but detailed in practice. It begins with preparation. Before you even log into the application system, you should make sure you have all the necessary financial, relationship, accommodation, and English language evidence ready to upload.
Once prepared, you will complete the application online using the FLR (M) form, which is available through the government’s official immigration portal. The form must be filled in carefully, as errors can lead to delays or even refusal. Once the form is complete, you will be prompted to pay the relevant fees.
In 2025, the standard application fee is £1,321. On top of this, you must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which is £1,035 per year and therefore £2,587.50 for the 2.5-year visa period. If you want a faster decision, you can also pay an additional £1,000 for priority processing, which aims to deliver a decision within five working days instead of the standard eight weeks.
After submitting the application and fees, you will be directed to upload your supporting documents online. These should cover your identity, your relationship, your finances, your English language qualification, and your accommodation. At this stage, clarity and consistency are crucial. Every piece of evidence should align with the rest of your application.
The next step is to attend a biometrics appointment at a UKVCAS service centre. Here, you will provide fingerprints, a digital photograph, and your signature. This information is used to produce your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) if your application is approved.
Finally, once everything has been submitted and your biometrics have been taken, you wait for the Home Office to make its decision. In most cases, the standard processing time is up to eight weeks, although priority processing reduces this to just five working days. During this period, you are allowed to remain in the UK, continue working, and carry on with your life as normal.
The most common reason for Partner Visa extension refusals is weak or inconsistent documentation. For relationship evidence, the Home Office expects to see letters, bills, or official correspondence addressed to you and your partner at the same address spread evenly across the 2.5-year period. The aim is to demonstrate continuous cohabitation. Bank statements, utility bills, council tax letters, and NHS correspondence are all strong examples.
Financial evidence depends on how you meet the requirement. For employed applicants, six months of payslips and bank statements are required, accompanied by a letter from your employer confirming your job title, salary, and length of employment. For self-employed applicants, documents such as HMRC tax returns, business accounts, and accountant’s letters are needed. For those relying on savings, detailed bank statements covering the full six-month period are essential.
Your English language test certificate at A2 level must also be included, unless you are exempt due to nationality or qualifications. Accommodation evidence can be a tenancy agreement, mortgage statement, or a landlord’s letter, supported by utility bills if necessary.
If your application is approved, you will be granted another 2 years and 6 months on your Partner Visa. Your BRP will be updated, and you must continue to live in line with the visa’s conditions, which means no access to public funds. The extension puts you firmly on track to complete five years on this visa route, after which you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Refusal is always a possibility if the application is not prepared carefully. The most common causes are failing to meet the financial threshold, providing incomplete or inconsistent evidence, or applying after the visa has already expired. In some cases, the Home Office may invite further evidence, but often refusals result in costly reapplications or even appeals. Avoiding these pitfalls is why professional support is so valuable.
Although the process is set out clearly on paper, the reality is that Partner Visa extensions remain complex and unforgiving. The application fees alone now total more than £3,900, once the IHS is included, meaning mistakes are extremely expensive. Professional legal advice provides reassurance and protection against errors.
At First Migration, we have been helping couples secure their visas since 2007 and have overseen more than 45,000 successful applications. We know exactly what the Home Office is looking for and how to prepare your case to maximise your chances of approval. Whether you simply want a checking service to confirm your documents or full representation where we handle every stage for you, our expertise removes the stress and risk from the process.
Extending your UK Partner Visa in 2025 is more than just another form to fill in. It is the crucial step that secures your life in the UK and brings you closer to permanent settlement. By preparing early, meeting the new financial threshold, ensuring your documents are consistent and complete, and submitting a carefully prepared application, you can make this stage smooth and successful.
For many couples, the Partner Visa extension feels like the moment they can finally relax and start planning their future. With approval in hand, you know that your life together in the UK is secure for another 2.5 years, and that you are now only one step away from Indefinite Leave to Remain and, eventually, British citizenship.
If you want peace of mind and expert guidance throughout the process, our team at First Migration is ready to help. With nearly two decades of experience, one of the highest success rates in the UK, and a reputation for professionalism and care, we will ensure your application is in safe hands.
First Migration is a private visa and immigration company offering consultancy services. We are regulated and authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority with the registration number F200700083.
If you want to apply for a UK visa, you can do so directly on the UKVI website.
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