# Partner visa eligibility for Indian applicants, 2026

Who qualifies for the Partner visa (spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner) from India, the thresholds that apply in 2026 and the tools to check before you pay.

Source: https://ukvisadesk.com/visas/spouse-visa/eligibility · Updated 2026-10-08 · Reviewed by UK Visa Desk counselling team, licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024 · UK Visa Desk, a brand of Pro Lifeset Overseas Private Limited, Patiala, India. WhatsApp +91 91155 80911, Mon to Sat, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM IST.

- Your partner is a British citizen, settled in the UK (ILR or settled status), or holds refugee or humanitarian protection status
- You are married or in a civil partnership recognised in the UK, or have lived together in a relationship like marriage for at least 2 years
- The relationship is genuine and subsisting, you have met in person, and you both intend to live together permanently in the UK
- Financial requirement: the sponsor earns at least £29,000 gross a year (the £18,600 figure still applies to applicants already on the route before 11 April 2024), or you hold enough cash savings
- Cash savings can replace income: £16,000 plus 2.5 times the shortfall, held for 6 months; for example £16,000 plus £72,500 if there is no income
- English at CEFR A1 for the first visa, from an approved Secure English Language Test, unless you hold a degree taught in English with an Ecctis confirmation
- Adequate accommodation that is not overcrowded, owned or occupied exclusively by the family
- A clear tuberculosis certificate from a Home Office approved clinic in India, and no Part 9 suitability issues

Minimum income £29,000 a year (effective 2024-04-11); cash savings floor £16,000. Verified 2026-10-08.

## FAQ
**What is the total cost of a UK spouse visa from India in 2026?**
The Home Office fee is £2,064 plus £3,105 health surcharge for the 33-month visa, so £5,169 before the TB test, the A1 English test, VFS add-ons and any priority fee. Our fee calculator converts the total to rupees at today's rate.

**My husband earns less than £29,000. Can we still apply?**
Yes, if cash savings cover the gap: £16,000 plus 2.5 times the shortfall, held for 6 months in either partner's name. On £24,000 income the shortfall is £5,000, so you need £28,500 in savings. Use the spouse income checker to run your own figures.

**Does the £18,600 rule still apply to anyone?**
Only to people who were already on the partner route before 11 April 2024, when they extend or settle. A first application from India today must meet £29,000. The Migration Advisory Committee suggested £23,000 to £25,000, but the government has not changed the rule.

Full guide: https://ukvisadesk.com/visas/spouse-visa.md

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UK Visa Desk is a brand of Pro Lifeset Overseas Private Limited, a visa consultancy licensed by the Government of Punjab, India. We are a private company, not affiliated with the UK Government, and we are not regulated by the UK Immigration Advice Authority. We serve applicants who are in India; applicants already in the UK are referred to a regulated UK adviser. We do not handle work visas. Information here is general, not legal advice, and no visa outcome is guaranteed.
We do not handle UK work visas. Applicants already in the UK are referred to a regulated adviser.