Bringing your partner after ILR or citizenship: sponsor conditions, the £29,000 income requirement, visa fees, the health surcharge and the 5 years to ILR
Published: Last checked: October 20264 min read
Short answer
GOV.UK: for a partner visa the sponsor can be a British or Irish citizen or settled (ILR). Combined income must be at least £29,000 a year. Fees are £2,064 from abroad and £1,407 from within the UK; the health surcharge is £5,175 per adult for 5 years. ILR needs 5 continuous years on a partner visa.
In short
- This post is general information and does not assess anyone's personal situation. It is based on GOV.UK and the other official pages as they were on 18 October 2026. Amounts are updated each April and rules can change.
- A British citizen or an ILR holder can act as sponsor for a partner visa to bring a partner to the UK. According to GOV.UK, both ILR and citizenship count as a sponsor.
- The applicant's and sponsor's conditions are checked together with the income requirement. Fees and the health surcharge are high.
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Official sources
This answer is based on the pages below. Check the source yourself before you decide.
- GOV.UK: Partner or spouse visa
- GOV.UK: Financial requirements for a partner or spouse
- GOV.UK: Family visas, fees and surcharge
- GOV.UK: Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 October 2026
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