Frequently asked questions

Short answers, each with its official source and the date we checked it. The guides give the detail.

What is the minimum income for a UK partner visa?

gov.uk says that if you apply as a partner, you and your partner usually need to prove a combined income of at least £29,000 a year, and that savings may be used instead of income in some cases. Different figures apply to people who first applied before 11 April 2024 and to partners receiving certain disability or carer's benefits. Check the financial requirements page on the day you apply. Source: gov.uk, checked 6 November 2026.

Does my partner need to prove her English?

Usually yes. gov.uk says you can prove it with a degree taught in English, or by passing an approved Secure English Language Test. For a first application the minimum is level A1 on the Common European Framework of Reference scale, and a higher level may be required when you extend after two and a half years. Nationals of a short list of mostly English-speaking countries are exempt, and Russia and Ukraine are not on it. Source: gov.uk, checked 6 November 2026.

How much does a UK partner visa cost?

gov.uk gives an application fee of £2,064 when applying from outside the UK and £1,407 when applying from inside the UK for a partner, parent or child joining a family member. Most applicants also pay the immigration health surcharge, for example £3,105 per adult for a stay of two years and nine months. Fee waivers are available in some situations. Source: gov.uk, checked 6 November 2026.

How long does a decision take?

gov.uk says that if you apply from outside the UK you will usually get a decision within 12 weeks. If you apply from inside the UK and meet the financial and English requirements the usual time is about eight weeks, and it is about 12 months if you do not meet them. Source: gov.uk, checked 6 November 2026.

Can my fiancée come to the UK to marry me?

There are two routes. A fiancé or fiancée family visa is for people who will marry within six months of arriving and then plan to live in the UK, and the holder cannot work or study until after the wedding. A Marriage Visitor visa is for people who will marry in the UK and not settle, and it costs £135. A Standard Visitor visa does not allow you to marry or give notice of marriage. Source: gov.uk, checked 6 November 2026.

How long before the wedding must we give notice?

In England and Wales you must give notice at least 29 days before the ceremony, and hold the ceremony within 12 months. If one of you is from outside the UK or Ireland you must usually give notice together at a register office. Source: gov.uk, checked 6 November 2026.

Will the UK recognise a marriage held in Russia or Ukraine?

The Foreign Office publishes letters explaining how marriages from some countries are recognised in the UK, and its list on 6 November 2026 included Russia and Belarus. It does not include Ukraine, which does not by itself mean a Ukrainian marriage is not recognised. A British embassy cannot confirm a foreign marriage's validity in the UK. If a local authority asks for proof, ask exactly what it needs, and consider legal advice. Source: gov.uk (FCDO), checked 6 November 2026.

Do documents in Russian or Ukrainian need translating?

Yes. gov.uk says applications must include a certified translation of any document that is not in English or Welsh. When you give notice of marriage in England and Wales you also need a translation of any document not in English. Source: gov.uk, checked 6 November 2026.

How do I register with a GP?

The NHS website says everyone in England can register with a GP surgery for free, and most surgeries offer online registration. The form takes about 15 minutes for each person, and registration is usually confirmed within five days of the surgery getting your details. Source: nhs.uk, checked 6 November 2026.

Can my partner use the NHS straight away?

gov.uk says you can start using the NHS free of charge from the date your visa starts, provided you have paid the immigration health surcharge if you needed to. You will still pay for some services, such as prescriptions, dental treatment and eye tests. Source: gov.uk, checked 6 November 2026.

When can she apply to settle permanently?

gov.uk says the earliest you can apply for indefinite leave to remain is after five continuous years on a family visa as a partner. Time on other visas, or as a fiancée, does not count. If the financial requirement was not met, the earliest is after ten years. Source: gov.uk, checked 6 November 2026.

Is this site an agency, and do you publish profiles?

No. This site runs no dating service, publishes no profiles or photographs of real women, and does not introduce people. Illustrations are generated with artificial intelligence and do not depict real, identifiable people.

Can you give me advice on my own immigration case?

No. The guides are general information read from official pages. For your own case, use the official gov.uk service, an OISC-regulated adviser or a qualified solicitor. If you find an error, use the contact form and we will correct it and add the source.

Read more: UK partner and spouse visa, foreign marriages, everyday life.