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Spouse and partner visa solicitors in St AlbansBuild your life together in the UK.
A fixed fee, agreed before we start.
- Fixed fees, agreed upfront
- Solicitor-led, St Albans office
- Reply within 1 working day
Spouse or partner visa application
£1,950+ VAT
£2,340 including VAT
- Included
- Check you qualify
- Build your evidence
- Prepare the application
- Submit and keep you updated
- After the decision
- Not included
The Home Office application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge are paid directly to the Home Office.
- Typical timescale
- Home Office times are its published service standards and some applications take longer.
- Award-winningBest Immigration Lawyer in St Albans, Quality Business Awards 2023 (opens in a new tab)
- 4.9 out of 5From 100+ Google reviews (opens in a new tab)
- Since 2009SRA-regulated, no. 635480 (opens in a new tab)
- Fixed feesAgreed in writing before we start
- 1 working dayTo reply to every message
- English, বাংলা, اردو, हिन्दीLanguages we speak
What it costs
A fixed fee, agreed before we start. Home Office fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge are extra.
| Service | Our fee | Including VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse or partner visa application | £1,950+ VAT£2,340 incl. VAT | £2,340 |
Express serviceFor when your deadline is close.What's included
Timescale: Ready to submit within 5 working days of receiving all your documents | + £500+ VAT+ £600 incl. VAT | + £600 |
Document check (if you're making your own application)What's included
Timescale: Feedback within 5 working days of receiving your documents | £395+ VAT£474 incl. VAT | £474 |
| Immigration consultation (30 minutes)With a solicitor. Credited against our fees if you instruct us. | £150+ VAT£180 incl. VAT | £180 |
Our fees are + VAT at 20%. They don't include Home Office fees, which you pay directly to the Home Office.
Other costs you'll pay
- Partner or fiancé(e) visa application from outside the UK£2,064
Per person. Check on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
- Partner visa application from inside the UK (extend or switch)£1,407
Per person. Check on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
- Immigration Health Surcharge (adult)£1,035 a year
Paid upfront for the whole visa, for example £2,587.50 for 2 years 6 months. £776 a year for children. Check on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
- English language test (if needed)About £150 to £200
Paid to an approved test provider. The price depends on the test and centre. Check on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
- Certified translations (if needed)Usually £30 to £60 a page
Paid to the translator. We'll tell you if any documents need translating.
- Faster Home Office decision (optional)£500 or £1,000
Priority or super priority service, where offered for your visa. Check on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
Official fees have no VAT and are paid directly, not to us. Correct at 27 October 2026; the Home Office usually changes its fees in April and October. Estimates are marked "about" or "usually".
The Home Office application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge are paid directly to the Home Office. You may also need to pay for an English language test and certified translations of documents.
Key stages and timescales
- Free call and fixed-fee quote: Usually within 2 working days of your enquiry
- Preparing your application: Usually 2 to 4 weeks after we receive your documents, or 5 working days with our express service
- Home Office decision, applying from outside the UK: Usually 12 weeks GOV.UK processing times (opens in a new tab)
- Home Office decision, applying from inside the UK: Usually 8 weeks if you meet the income and English requirements GOV.UK processing times (opens in a new tab)
Home Office times are its published service standards and some applications take longer. If you're in the UK, apply before your current visa runs out.
Your fixed fee, in writing, before we start.
Tell us about your situation on a free call and we'll confirm the fee that applies to you.
Book a free call for your quoteIs this you?
Not sure? Answer 3 quick questions or book a free call and tell us what's happened.
- You're married to, or in a civil partnership with, a British citizen or someone settled in the UK.
- You're in a long-term relationship and want to live together in the UK, or you're engaged and plan to marry here.
- You're already here on a partner visa and need to extend it, or you're getting ready to settle.
What's included
Step 1: Check you qualify
We look at your relationship, your finances, your English, and your accommodation, and tell you if anything could cause a problem.
Step 2: Build your evidence
We give you a document checklist for your case and review your evidence, including proof of your income and your relationship.
Step 3: Prepare the application
We complete the online form and write a cover letter explaining how you meet each requirement.
Step 4: Submit and keep you updated
We submit the application, explain what happens next, and keep you updated until the Home Office decides.
Step 5: After the decision
If you're granted, we explain your eVisa, the conditions of your visa, and when you'll need to extend or apply to settle.
The main requirements
You and your partner must both be 18 or over, have met in person, and plan to live together permanently in the UK. Your partner must usually be a British citizen, settled in the UK, or have refugee status or humanitarian protection.
Your relationship must be genuine and subsisting, which means real and still ongoing. You'll need evidence such as your marriage certificate, proof that you live together or have spent time together, and how you keep in touch when apart.
You must meet the financial requirement. Usually this means showing you meet the minimum income requirement (check the current figure on GOV.UK) through income, savings, or a mix of the two. Some people are exempt, for example if the partner in the UK receives certain disability or carer's benefits.
You also need to show your English meets the level required at your stage, usually with an approved test, unless you're exempt. And you need suitable accommodation for your family that isn't overcrowded, without relying on public funds.
Applying from outside or inside the UK
If you're outside the UK, you apply before you travel. If you're already in the UK on another visa, you may be able to switch to a partner visa without leaving. You usually can't switch if you're here as a visitor or on a visa granted for six months or less, unless you came on a fiancé(e) visa.
Your first partner visa usually lasts two and a half to three years. Before it runs out, you apply to extend it, showing you still meet the requirements.
The route to settlement
After five years on the partner route, you may be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. You'll need to meet the requirements again and pass the Life in the UK test. If you were granted outside the usual requirements, the route to settlement is usually 10 years. Settlement rules are under review and may change, so check the current position before you plan around a date.
Who will handle your case
Every matter is supervised by
Sony Sadaf Haroon
Principal solicitor, SRA ID 482574
Your matter is run by one of our SRA-regulated solicitors, with a caseworker preparing documents under their supervision. We'll tell you who your contact is when you instruct us.
Sony supervises our solicitors and caseworkers, and is the firm's Compliance Officer for Legal Practice and for Finance and Administration. She studied at SOAS University of London, was called to the Bar by Lincoln's Inn in 1997, and qualified as a solicitor in 2008.
Check us on the SRA register (opens in a new tab)In our clients' words
I would really recommend Sony Law for their professionalism, efficiency, understanding, and help…
Read the full reviewHide the full review
I contacted Sony to get advice after my settlement application was refused. Her professional advice helped us to decide what would be the best option for the next step. The whole process was very quick and smooth, the correspondence was fantastic, and I received a positive decision from the HO literally a couple of hours after all necessary documentation was sent off. I would really recommend Sony Law for their professionalism, efficiency, understanding, and help, and I will definitely go back in the future if needed. Many thanks, Sony!
Thanks to their expertise and support, I successfully obtained my visa without any issues.
Read the full reviewHide the full review
I am incredibly grateful for the exceptional service provided by this solicitor firm during my UK visa application process. From the very beginning, they demonstrated a thorough understanding of immigration law and offered clear guidance tailored to my specific situation. Their professionalism and attention to detail made the complex application process much smoother. They were always available to answer my questions, providing timely updates and reassurance along the way. Thanks to their expertise and support, I successfully obtained my visa without any issues. I highly recommend their services to anyone seeking assistance with UK immigration matters. Their dedication truly made a difference!
Believe me, I've been through many solicitors, but none comes close to my experience of working with Sony Law.
Read the full reviewHide the full review
Navigating the complexities of immigration law can be daunting. Believe me, I've been through many solicitors, but none comes close to my experience of working with Sony Law. They were an absolute game changer. From the very first consultation, they demonstrated an extraordinary level of expertise, professionalism, and genuine care for my case…
When can I apply to settle?
Work out the earliest date you may be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. Free, with no sign-up.
Use the free ilr date checkerNot sure which service you need?
Answer three questions and we'll point you to the right page, or just call and tell us what's happened.
Guides on this topic
- Spouse visa requirements explainedThe main UK spouse visa requirements: your relationship, finances, accommodation, English language and immigration history, and how each one is assessed.4 min read
- The spouse visa financial requirement explainedThe UK spouse visa financial requirement in plain English: the minimum income, what income and savings count, how to combine them, and the evidence you need.5 min read
- Does a nikah abroad count for a UK spouse visa?When a nikah in Pakistan, Bangladesh, or elsewhere counts for a UK spouse visa, how registration and proxy marriages are treated, and other routes to consider.6 min read
Frequently asked questions
How much do we need to earn?
You need to meet the minimum income requirement. Check the current figure on GOV.UK, as it can change. Income from work, savings, and some other sources can count, and we'll tell you what counts in your case.
Can I switch to a partner visa without leaving the UK?
Often, yes, if you're here on another visa. You usually can't switch from a visitor visa or another visa granted for six months or less, unless it's a fiancé(e) visa.
What is a fiancé(e) visa?
It lets you come to the UK to marry or form a civil partnership within six months. After the wedding, you apply from inside the UK to switch to a spouse or civil partner visa. You can't work while you're on a fiancé(e) visa.
Do we have to be married?
No. Unmarried partners can apply if they've been in a relationship similar to marriage for at least two years. You'll need evidence that the relationship is genuine and ongoing.
What if we don't meet the financial requirement?
You may still have options. Some people are exempt, and in some cases, such as where refusal would breach your right to family life, you may be granted on a longer 10-year route to settlement.
How long does a partner visa last?
Usually two and a half to three years at a time, depending on where you apply from. You then apply to extend it, and after five years on the route you may be able to apply to settle.
Book a free 15-minute call
Tell us a little about your situation and pick a time. Our team will call you, explain how we can help and what it will cost.
It takes about two minutes. If you'd like us to help after the call, we send you a fixed quote in writing. There's no obligation.
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