cover letter for flr m application

FLR M Visa 2024 Guidance: Spouse Visa Extensions & Renewals

A complete 12-step guide you can follow to process your own flr(m) application.

Check that the FLR(M) visa is right for you and your partner 

What is an flr (m) visa.

An FLR(M) visa is essentially a UK partner visa application that is being made from inside the UK.

It is for applicants who are already currently in the UK on a long term visa (or a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partnership visa).

If the applicant does not currently have a long term visa, an application will have to be submitted from  outside the UK (in which case, this Spouse visa UK 2024 guidance article will be relevant).

#1 An FLR (M) visa allows the applicant (the person applying) to REMAIN with their sponsor (the UK partner) in the UK for 30 months.

In other words, an FLR (M) application can only be submitted by those who are already inside the UK.

If you want to make a spouse visa application from  outside of the UK, feel free to check out our out-of-country spouse visa UK guide .

#2 An FLR M visa will allow the applicant to work in the UK.

Please note that if an applicant is currently on a  UK fiance visa  or proposed civil partnership visa and is applying for an FLR M visa, they will  not be allowed to work until the applicant receives notification from the Home Office that their FLR M application has been approved.

#3 An FLR M visa can lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) as well as British Citizenship.

Generally speaking, the applicant will need to be granted two spouse/FLR M visas .

This is because 5 years is the standard qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and:

• Out-of-country partner visas are granted for 33 months;
• In-country partner visas are granted for 30 months.

Time spent in the UK on a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partnership visa does not count towards the 5 year period to settlement.

#4 An FLR M visa will not allow an applicant to claim most benefits, tax credits or housing assistance that are paid by the state.

Those who are in the UK on an FLR(M) visa are not permitted to receive  ‘public funds ‘.

‘Public funds’ are defined in paragraph 6 of the Immigration Rules and include:

• Disability living allowance;
• Carer’s allowance;
• Attendance allowance;
• Child tax credit;
• Housing benefit;
• Income support;
• Council tax benefit;
• Severe disablement allowance;
• State pension credit;
• Jobseeker’s allowance;
• Working tax credit;
• Personal Independence Payment; and
• Council tax reduction.

Who can apply for an FLR M visa?

In addition to satisfying the requirements discussed in this article, the applicant (the person applying) will need to be in a relationship with:

• A British or Irish citizen;
• A person who has Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or Permanent Residency under EU law ;
• A person who has been granted Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme ;
• A person from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (& started living in the UK before 1 January 2021); or
• A person who is in the UK with refugee leave or with humanitarian protection.

In addition to this, the relationship must fall within one of the following to apply for an FLR(M) visa:

• Married partners (including those who were recently granted a UK fiance visa );
• Civil partners (including those who were recently granted a proposed UK civil partnership visa)
• Unmarried partners (those who have been in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least two years before submitting the FLR(M) online application).
• Fiancé(e)s or proposed civil partners who have been unable to get married during the validity period of their 6-month fiancé(e) or proposed civil partnership visa but intend to do so within the next 6 months. For such fiancé(e)s or proposed civil partners, the FLR(M) application will only result in a 6-month visa being issued.

Therefore, the following are the typical types of FLR(M) visa applicants:

#1 A person who has been previously been granted a partner visa where they first applied outside the UK.

This includes same-sex couples and applicants who apply as unmarried partners .

If you want to submit an unmarried partner visa application from outside the UK, you may be interested in our  Unmarried partner visa UK 2024 guidance article.

#2 A person who is in the UK on a non-partner visa who wants to switch into the partner visa category without leaving the UK.

To submit an application from inside the UK, the applicant must not be in the UK:

• As a visitor;
• With valid leave granted for a period of 6 months or less (unless they are in the UK with leave as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner; or
• In breach of immigration laws.

Therefore, those currently in the UK on the following  non-partner visas  can consider applying for an FLR(M) visa:

• Tier 1 visas
• Tier 2 & skilled worker visas
• Tier 4 & long-term student visas
• Tier 5 visas, including those on a Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme visa which was issued for a period which exceeds 6 months  

Please note that the above list is not exhaustive.

If the applicant is in the UK on one of the above visas and applies for an FLR(M) visa, this is technically known as ‘switching’ to the partner visa category.

It is important to note that   if they switch   to the partner visa category by submitting an ‘FLR(M) visa’ application,   the 5-year Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) qualifying period will reset.

Switching from a Skilled worker visa example

Jess, a Ghanian national, was issued a Skilled worker visa in 2022.

In 2024, however, she married her British husband and is now wondering whether to apply for an FLR(M) visa or not.

She can either:

• Wait until she has been in the UK for 5 years on a Skilled worker visa and then apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain; or
• Make an FLR(M) application under the partner visa route.

If Jess switches to the FLR(M) visa route, she will then have to wait another 5 years before being able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain – the time spent in the UK on a Skilled worker visa will not count.

“What are the advantages of switching into the partner visa category using an FLR(M) visa?”

The biggest consideration for those switching is that they no longer have to abide by the requirements and conditions of their current non-partner visa .

Continuing from the above example, Jess will no longer have to limit her employment to companies that can sponsor her (which is a Skilled worker visa requirement).

#3 A person who has previously applied for an FLR M visa and is seeking to extend their FLR(M) visa

Before the applicant submits their FLR(M) application, they should check whether they are eligible for   Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

When a spouse visa or FLR(M) visa is issued, a decision letter is normally issued which states whether the applicant was granted a visa on the   5-year route   to Indefinite Leave to Remain or the   10-year route   to Indefinite Leave to remain.

“What does the typical route to Indefinite Leave to Remain for partners look like?”

Generally, an Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application is made after:

• An out-of-country spouse visa UK application (which is normally valid for 33 months) + an FLR(M) visa (which is normally valid for 30 months); OR
• Two FLR(M) visas.

“When will I be granted a partner visa on the 10-year route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)?”

It is usually the case that partners who were granted a partner visa on the 10-year route did not meet all of the requirements in a previous application.

Usually, they overlooked a financial requirement or were granted based on their private or family life.

Please also note:

Partners who have submitted a spouse visa extension too early may have to make a third spouse visa application to meet the 5-year qualifying period.

We discuss this further in step 3 below.

#4 A person who entered the UK on a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner visa, and is now seeking to obtain a further 30-months in the UK.

It should be noted here that time spent in the UK on a fiancé visa does not count towards the 5-year qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

How much will an FLR M visa cost?

#1 The FLR M Home Office fee is £1,048. 

This £1,048 fee will increase to £1,258 on 24 July 2024.

For a more detailed account of the FLR(M) spouse visa extension fees and costs in 2024 , check this article here .

#2 The cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge is currently £2,587.50.

This is a compulsory fee that provides applicants with access to the National Health Service (NHS) for the duration of their FLR M visa.

As we discuss in our FLR(M) spouse visa extension fees and costs in 2024 article, the IHS increased on 6 February 2024.

#3 The average immigration lawyer fee varies between £1,000 and £3,000+. 

We charge a fixed fee of £2,250 for full legal representation .

Ed Lowe provides this service alongside Wendy Foy and Matthew French – all of whom previously worked in the heart of the Home Office.

For those who want to apply for the FLR (M) application themselves, we offer a unique DIY Application Pack service for £435 .

Our DIY Application Pack service will provide you with a clear and detailed written guidance that is continually developed by our team.

The written guidance will be custom tailored according to the information you provide us.

#4  If you would like the ‘super-priority’ decision service, this will cost an additional £1,000. 

The super-priority service will normally provide you with a decision  the next working day after attending the visa appointment.

Please note that the priority service which is listed for £500 is not currently available for purchase.

How long will an FLR M visa take?

#1 Collecting all the required documents required can take some time – often longer than expected.

This is especially the case with financial documentation and is something that should be planned well in advance.

#2 Once received, the Home Office generally take between 6-8 weeks to process FLR(M) visa applications.

Applicants do not have to worry about their current visa expiring and becoming an overstayer due to the 6-8 week processing time – as long as the applicant submits the application (by paying the Home Office fees) before their current visa expires. This is because of  section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971 .

Read the FLR M ‘Suitability’ requirements

It is quite rare for one of the suitability requirements to be directly applicable to an application.

It is, however, important to ensure that none of the below applies to your application.

Click here for a list of reasons that WILL result in an application being refused

#1 An applicant has been given a DEPORTATION ORDER.

#2 An applicant has been convicted of an offence for which they have been sentenced to JAIL for a significant amount of time. For more information on this point, check  S-LTD.1.3 & S-LTD.1.4 of Appendix FM .

#3 An applicant’s previous BEHAVIOUR makes it undesirable to grant them a spouse visa. For more information on this point, check  S-LTD.1.5 & S-LTD.1.6 of Appendix FM .

#4 An applicant has failed without reasonable excuse to comply with a requirement to- (a) attend an interview; (b) provide information; (c) provide physical data; or (d) undergo a medical examination or provide a medical report.

#5 An applicant’s permission to remain in the UK is deemed to be bad for the public good because of reasons relating to the Refugee Convention. For more information on this point, check  S-LTD.1.8 of Appendix FM .

Click here for a list of 'suitability' reasons that MAY result in an application being refused

#1 An applicant’s application has previously included FALSE INFORMATION, REPRESENTATIONS or DOCUMENTS or did NOT include IMPORTANT FACTS.

#2 A maintenance and accommodation undertaking has NOT been provided

#3 An applicant has a bad CRIMINAL HISTORY

#4 An applicant has failed to pay LITIGATION COSTS awarded to the Home Office

#5 An applicant has NOT paid NHS charges that exceed £500

Make sure you know when  to submit the application

Knowing when to submit the FLR(M) application is  important to know.

Not knowing can lead to your application being refused and it can cost you several thousand £s extra in Home Office fees.

When is the ‘date of application’?

This is something that is very important to know .

It is the date that you pay for the Home Office fees on the online FLR(M) application website.

#1 The date of application for the FLR(M) application should be before the expiration of the current UK visa.

Remember, not all applicants can submit an FLR(M) application.

If the applicant’s current UK visa does not allow them to submit an FLR(M) application (e.g., if they have a UK visitor visa), the applicant will be expected to their home country (or country of legal residence) and submit the application the out-of-country application there.

In such a case,  this out-of-country guide here will be relevant to you.

“Does my appointment at the visa centre have to be before my visa expires?”

As long as you submit and pay  the Home Office fees on the online FLR(M) application before the expiration of your current visa , then your appointment at the visa centre can be one, two or even three weeks after the expiration of your visa.

This is because the ‘date of application’ will be before the expiration of your visa.

There is no strict time limit with regards to the date of your appointment at the visa centre, although we would recommend not leaving it too long.

“What if my visa expires whilst I am waiting for the Home Office to make their decision?”

As long as you submit and pay the Home Office fees on the FLR(M) online application before the expiration of your current visa, then this is not something that you should worry about.

This is because of a law called ‘section 3C leave’ which will extend the applicant’s current visa until the FLR(M) application has been decided (or is withdrawn).

#2 If the applicant is currently in the UK on a spouse or non-fiancé(e) or proposed civil partnership visa , the date of application should often  not  be more than  28 days before your current spouse visa expires

This is because if you apply earlier than this (e.g. you apply on the 1 November when the spouse visa expires on the 31st December), then you may have to submit another (unnecessary) FLR(M) visa to reach the 5-year qualifying period.

The 5-year qualifying period (which is essentially 2 spouse visas) is the amount of time that is required to make the application for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), assuming that in those two applications, all of the requirements are met.

I like to use this website to calculate days between dates.

I would also suggest treating the 28-day rule as a 26-day rule (just so you are on the safe side in the unlikely event of a miscalculation).

#3 If the applicant is currently in the UK on a UK fiancé(e) visa or on another type of visa (i.e. a skilled worker visa), the date of application can be at any time before the expiration of the current fiancé(e) visa.

This is because these visas (including fiancé(e) visas) do not count towards the 5-year qualifying period that is required to obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) under the partner route.

Make sure that you meet these FLR M relationship requirements

#1 The applicant and sponsor must have met in person.

#2 Both the applicant and sponsor must be aged 18 or over at the date of the application.

#3 Both the applicant and sponsor  must intend to live permanently in the UK together. 

#4 The sponsor must be one of the following :

• A British or Irish Citizen; or
• ‘Present’ and ‘Settled’ in the UK; or
• Someone who has been granted Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme; or
• Someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (& started living in the UK before 1 January 2021); or
• In the UK with refugee leave or with humanitarian protection.
• Someone who has been granted limited leave as a worker or business person under Appendix ECAA Extension of Stay

#5 The applicant and sponsor must not be in a relationship that is prohibited.

Here is the very lengthy list!

The Marriage Act 1949

The Marriage Act 1949 prohibits marriages between the following relationships:

Prohibited relationships for a man :

• Father’s mother;
• Mother’s mother;
• Son’s daughter;
• Daughter’s daughter;
• Father’s sister;
• Mother’s sister;
• Brother’s daughter; and
• Sister’s daughter.

Prohibited relationships for a woman :

• Father’s father;
• Mother’s father;
• Son’s son;
• Daughter’s son;
• Father’s brother;
• Mother’s brother;
• Brother’s son; and
• Sister’s son.

The Marriage (Prohibited Degrees of Relationship) Act 1986 prohibits marriage between the following:

• Mother of former wife, until the death of both the former wife and the father of the former wife;
• Father of former husband, until after the death of both the former husband and the mother of the former husband;
• Former wife of son, until after the death of both his son and the mother of his son;
• Former husband of a daughter, until after the death of both her daughter and the father of her daughter.

#6 The relationship between the applicant and sponsor must be ‘genuine’ and ‘subsisting’.

The Home Office caseworker will make this decision in light of all of the circumstances.

#7 The relationship between the  applicant and sponsor must fall within the definition of a ‘partner’ in the Immigration Rules

The Immigration Rules define partners as:

• Married partners
• Civil partners
• Unmarried partners who have been in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least two years before the date of application

Fiancé(e)s and proposed civil partners also fall within the definition of a partner in the Immigration Rules, however, it is only applicants who have been granted a UK fiancé(e) visa or proposed civil partnership visa who have been unable to get married or enter into a civil partnership during the 6 months UK fiancé(e) visa or proposed civil partnership visa who can apply for an FLR(M) application   as a fiancé(e) .

Such applicants can then apply for a 6-month extension to their current UK fiancé or proposed civil partnership visa.

The vast majority of applicants who were granted a UK fiancé(e) visa will be applying for a 30-month FLR(M) visa as a married or civil partner since they will have married or entered into a civil partnership prior to submitting the application.

#8 The previous legally recognised relationships of the applicant and sponsor must have broken down permanently 

As long as the previous relationship(s) does not fall within one of the very few exceptions, you will need to evidence that the previous relationship(s) have legally ended.

This can be done, for instance, by providing a decree absolute – or overseas equivalent – for previous marriages.

Make sure that you meet the English language requirement for FLR M visas in 2024

#1 Where the applicant is from any of the following countries, they will just need to include their passport to satisfy the English language requirement:

• Antigua and Barbuda;
• the Bahamas;
• The British Overseas Territories;
• New Zealand;
• St Kitts and Nevis;
• St Vincent and the Grenadines;
• Trinidad and Tobago; or
• the United States of America.

The reason for this is that applicants will be deemed to be a national of a Home Office-designated majority English-speaking country.

#2 Where any of the following apply, an applicant will NOT have to take the English language test:

i) If the applicant is 65 years or over at the date of application; OR

ii) If the applicant has a disability (either physical or mental ) that stops them from taking the English language test; OR

iii) If the applicant has  exceptional & compassionate circumstances that stop them from satisfying the English language requirement. Please note that this is a rather high threshold and you should be careful relying on this.

#3 Where an applicant has an academic English-taught degree, Master’s degree or PhD from a UK university inside the UK, this degree certificate will satisfy the English language requirement.

#4 Where an applicant has an equivalent to a Bachelor’s, Master’s degree or PhD that was taught in English outside the UK, this can be used to satisfy the English language requirement.

However, unlike degrees that were obtained from UK universities in the UK (discussed at #3 above), you will also need to accompany this with documentation from Ecctis (previously UK NARIC).

With this being said, most partners prefer just to sit the English language test as opposed to going through the Ecctis process.

#5 If none of the above applies, the applicant must pass an approved English language test.

As we discuss in part 1 of our free video series , this test must be on the list of Home Office Approved Secure English language tests (SELT) in 2024 .

First-time partner visa applications

For partners who are applying for leave to remain for the first  time as a married, civil or unmarried partner, the test must be at least A1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Agnes is currently in the UK on a Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) visa.

Agnes recently married Pete, a British national.

Since this will be the first time she is applying for leave to remain ‘as a married partner’, the minimum required level of English test she will need to meet is A1 level.

Spouse visa extensions

For partners who have already  been granted a UK visa as a partner and are extending  it after 2.5 years, the test must be at least A2 level .

Henry is currently in the UK on a UK spouse visa.

The first UK spouse visa application was made from outside the UK.

Henry was successfully granted a UK spouse visa 2 years and 3 months ago.

By the time Henry will want to submit his application (within 28 days of his current UK spouse visa expiring), he will technically be extending this visa after 2.5 years.

Like many partners who apply for their first UK spouse visa, Henry passed an A1 English language test and will therefore have to sit another test which is at least A2 level.

However, Henry will need to pass an A2 test before he submits his FLR(M) application .

Fiancé(e) -> FLR(M) visa applications

For married partners who are currently in the UK on a fiancé(e) visa and are applying for an FLR(M) visa, the same English language test (at A1 level or above) can be used – you do not have to sit another English language test for this application.

Jenny was granted a UK fiance visa 3 months ago and is currently in the UK.

As she is not from a majority English speaking country, she sat the A1 test to satisfy the requirements for her UK fiancé(e) visa.

Jenny can use the same A1 test that she used in her fiancé(e) visa application – she does not need to sit another English language test for this application.

Gather the documents relating to the FLR M accommodation requirement  

The documents that you will need to submit to meet the FLR(M) accommodation requirement will  depend  on you and your partner’s accommodation circumstances.

Furthermore, it is extremely important to know that accommodation cannot be prospective – we discuss this in part 3 of our free 3-part video series .

Our FLR(M) DIY Application Pack service tend to break this down into four categories :

i) Partners who rent the UK accommodation where they live/intend to live;

ii) Partners who own the UK accommodation where they live/intend to live;

iii) Partners who live at a family or friend’s UK accommodation which is rented ; and

iv) Partners who live at a family or friend’s UK accommodation which is owned .

It is important to note the following two things regarding the accommodation requirement:

i) You should provide evidence that you have a legal right to reside in the accommodation that you choose to rely on.

ii) Accommodation must be ‘adequate’.

Accommodation will not be adequate here if it is either ‘overcrowded’ (as defined by the Housing Act 1985) or if it does not meet public health & safety regulations.

Make sure that you satisfy the FLR M financial requirements in 2024

The spouse visa UK financial requirement in 2024 is, unfortunately, the biggest cause of refusal for FLR(M) applications.

Because of this, we have recently created an article that focuses more on this in (even) greater detail here .

We also discuss numerous financial requirement related mistakes that you should avoid making in our free video series .

It is first important to note four things in particular: 

i) Applicants can normally include their income towards satisfying the financial requirement. An exception are those in the UK on a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partnership visa who cannot include their employment or self-employment income towards the financial requirement.

ii) The applicant does NOT necessarily have to satisfy the financial requirement via their income alone. It is fine if the sponsor  satisfies the financial requirement alone.

iii) Likewise, the sponsor does NOT have to satisfy the financial requirement alone. It is fine if the applicant meets the financial requirement alone.

iv) It is also ordinarily fine if the financial requirement is met by combining the applicant and sponsor’s income. On this point, as we discuss here , certain incomes cannot be combined.

You should ask yourself these five questions: 

#1 What is the required total annual income amount that needs to be evidenced?   

i) If one of the following is received, the adequate maintenance test will apply:

• Personal Independence Payment;
• Disability Living Allowance;
• Severe Disablement Allowance;
• Attendance Allowance;
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit;
• Carer’s Allowance;
• Constant Attendance Allowance, Mobility Supplement or War Disablement Pension under the War Pensions Scheme;
• Police Injury Pension;
• Armed Forces Independence Payment or Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme;
• Adult Disability Payment; or
• Child Disability Payment.

In short, the adequate maintenance test will typically require you to show much less income than would ordinarily be required.

Where the adequate maintenance test applies, applicants will be unaffected by the upcoming increase of the minimum income threshold from £18,600 to £29,000 on 11 April 2024.

A sponsor receives Personal Independence Payment (a “permitted benefit”).

It does not matter whether the application is submitted on or after 11 April 2024 – the same adequate maintenance test will apply.

ii), iii) and iv) below will therefore not be applicable.

We discuss the adequate maintenance test here .

ii) First-time partner visa applications submitted on or before 10 April 2024 .

The starting point is that the minimum income threshold will be £18,600.

This £18,600 figure will increase by £3,800 for the first dependant child applying and £2,400 for each additional child that applies.

On 5 April 2024, Jessica submitted an FLR(M) application.

Jessica was in the UK on a Youth Mobility Scheme visa.

Jessica must satisfy the minimum income threshold of £18,600.

When extending the visa in 2026, the starting point is that a minimum income threshold of £18,600 will apply.

iii) First-time partner visa applications submitted on or after 11 April 2024 .

The starting point is that the minimum income threshold will be the relevant minimum income threshold in force when the application is submitted.

Currently, the minimum income threshold for applications submitted on or after 11 April 2024 will be £29,000.

Whilst the minimum income threshold is intended to increase to £34,500 and £38,700 subsequently, specific timeframes for this have not yet been announced. Instead, £34,500 is expected to take effect at some point later in the year, whilst “early 2025” has been stated in relation to the £38,700 increase.

On 12 April 2024, Marlene submitted an FLR(M) application.

Marlene was in the UK on a Graduate visa.

Marlene must satisfy the minimum income threshold of £29,000.

iv) Partner visa extensions submitted on or after 11 April 2024.

Where the applicant made their first application as a fiancé(e), proposed civil partner or as a partner before 11 April 2024 and was granted permission on the five-year route to settlement, the starting point is that the minimum income threshold will be £18,600.

The £18,600 figure will increase by:

• an additional £3,800 for the first applying child; and
• an additional £2,400 for each additional child – up to a maximum minimum income threshold of £29,000.

Henry submitted his UK spouse visa application on 1 April 2024.

The minimum income threshold for that application was £18,600.

When Henry submits an FLR(M) application to extend his spouse visa, the starting point is that he will also need to satisfy a minimum income threshold of £18,600.

This also applies to those in the UK on a fiancé(e) visa submitted before 11 April 2024.

Sarah submitted her UK fiancé(e) visa application on 1 April 2024.

When Sarah submits an FLR(M) application to extend her spouse visa, the starting point is that she will also need to satisfy a minimum income threshold of £18,600 when she submits the FLR(M) application within the validity period of her 6 month UK fiancé(e) visa.

#2 What sources of income can be included in the financial requirement? 

The financial requirement can be met using the following sources of income:

Employment (Salaried)

Employment (non-salaried), cash savings.

Salaried employment is usually paid at a minimum fixed rate amount annually and is contracted to a minimum amount of hours that have to be worked.

Non-salaried employment is usually paid at an hourly or another rate, or paid a fee which differs depending on the work undertaken. Unlike that of someone in salaried employment, the number and/or pattern of hours required to be worked may vary.

It is open for cash savings to contribute towards the financial requirement when £16,000 has been held in the applicant or UK partner’s bank for longer than 6 months.

Note: Cash savings can’t be combined with the gross annual income received from self-employment.

We have made a separate post about cash savings here .

“Which employment income category?”

For you to ensure that you meet the financial requirement via employment income, you need to know which Category you will be including it under.

Getting this wrong can result in refusal because:

• The calculation of the gross annual income is completely different ;
• The supporting documents are completely different ; and
• Some categories of income will allow you to combine certain income sources whilst others do not.

Employment income can be included under four categories – categories A, B, F and G.

To find out exactly what income you should rely on, read our article Category A or B, F or G? [UK Visa Financial Requirements Guide] .

If you prefer information in a video format, we provide a step-by-step breakdown to identifying whether a company is a specified limited company (in which case Categories F and G are relevant) in part 2 of our free video series .

Income from self-employment

Pension income, permitted benefits.

Self-employment under the Immigration Rules specifically relates to those who are self-employed as a sole trader, as a partnership or in a franchise.

Self-employment income is not the same as income from a company that you or a family member owns

This is incredibly important to know and is a common mistake that results in refusals.

Check our Specified Limited Company Guidance [Sole Directors, Owners and Employees] article and part 2 of our free video series which discusses this in more detail .

More information about pension income can be found in our spouse visa UK financial requirement in 2024 guidance article.

A comprehensive step-by-step account of the adequate maintenance requirement can be found in our  Adequate Maintenance Guidance for UK visas [2022 REQUIREMENTS] article.

You can also include certain “non-employment” income under Category C

This includes:

• Income from investments, stocks and shares, trust funds or bonds
• Maintenance payments from former partners
• Undergraduate or postgraduate maintenance stipends or grants
• Property rental
• Interest from savings
• Ongoing royalty payments, insurance payments and payments from a structured legal settlement
• UK Maternity Allowance, Widowed Parent’s Allowance, Bereavement Allowance and Bereavement Payment
• Payments under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, the Armed Forces Attributable Benefits Scheme & War Pensions Scheme

#3 What is the relevant period that the above amount needs to be earned? 

This depends on how the applicant and/or UK partner meet the financial threshold.

Applicant and/or UK partner are currently employed

Applicant and/or uk partner are self-employed, applicant and/or uk partner are sole directors of a limited company.

You  need to know if the employing company is a specified limited company or not – more information on this can be found here .

Income from a ‘specified limited company’

The relevant financial period will be the ‘last full financial year’, which is the year the company prepares the accounts that get submitted to the HMRC and Companies House. It is also the same period as covered by a form CT600, which corresponds to the 12-month accounting year of the UK partner’s company.

The term ‘last full financial year’ here means the most recent year. It does NOT mean the ‘last full financial year’ that is required to submit by UK tax law . Therefore, the UK partner may be required to submit the accounts earlier than he or she necessarily would have otherwise done.

Income from a non-specified limited company

i) Where the applicant or UK partner has been employed for 6 months or longer

That person can choose to base their gross annual income over the past 6 months (under Category A ), or over the past 12 months (under Category B ).

ii) Where the applicant or UK partner has been employed for fewer than 6 months

That person MUST base their gross annual income over the past 12 months (under Category B ).

The difference between Category A and B is discussed in detail here .

That person must have met the financial requirement either in the last full financial year (under Category F ), or in the last two full financial years (under Category G ).

The relevant financial year(s) will be that covered by the self-assessment tax return and in the UK this runs from 6 April to 5 April the following year.

More information about including income from self-employment can be found here .

The ‘last full financial year’ will be the relevant period.

This is the year that the company submits the accounts to  HMRC .

It is also the same period as covered by a form CT600 , which is the same period as the 12-month accounting year of the applicant’s or UK partner’s company.

The term ‘last full financial year’ in terms of the Immigration Rules means the most recent year.

Contrary to popular belief, it does NOT mean the ‘last full financial year’ that is required to submit by UK tax law .

The result of this is that the applicant or UK partner may be required to submit the accounts earlier than he or she necessarily would have otherwise done.

More information relating to this can be found in this article  here  and in part 2 of our free video series .

Relying solely on cash savings

The uk partner receives a permitted benefit.

The cash savings must have been held for 6 months.

During these 6 months, the cash savings must NOT drop below the required amount.

We discuss cash savings in part 3 of our free video series .

This depends on what sources of income are being relied on to meet the adequate maintenance test .

#4 How do the Home Office calculate the gross annual income?

The methods differ according to the applicant’s or UK partner’s employment status.

Salaried employment

Salaried employment for longer than 6 months, salaried employment for fewer than 6 months.

Salaried employment is paid at a minimum fixed rate (usually annually) and is subject usually to a contractual minimum number of hours to be worked.

The gross annual income will be the gross total of the salary and/or dividends received in the company’s last full financial year, or if the applicant/sponsor prefers, the ‘mean’ average of the last two full financial years.

There are two options that the applicant or UK partner can choose from.

Option 1 (Category A)

They multiply the lowest level of annual salary received in the 6 months before the date of application.

This is the income from salaried employment that can be counted towards the financial requirement.

Option 2 (Category B)

Here, the financial requirement must be met and evidenced in two parts.

Part 1: Your gross annual salary, when you apply, must be higher than the financial requirement that applies (usually £18,600).

• If the salary is received every month , they multiply the last salary received by 12
• If the salary is received every  week , they multiply the last salary received by 52
• There is no required period for this current employment

Part 2: The applicant or UK partner must have received, in the past 12 months before the date of application, more than the financial requirement that applies.

Here, the financial requirement must be met and evidenced in two parts under Category B.

• If the salary is received every week , they multiply the last salary received by 52

Part 2: The applicant or UK partner (combined) must have received in the past 12 months before the date of application more than the financial requirement that applies to them.

Non-salaried employment

Non-salaried employment for longer than 6 months, non-salaried employment for fewer than 6 months.

Non-salaried employment is generally paid at an hourly or another rate, rather than an annual rate. The amount which he or she will receive will differ depending on the amount of work undertaken. Unlike that of salaried employment, the number and/or pattern of hours required to work will differ.

If you choose to base the application on 6 month’s employment earnings (under Category A):

#1 They combine up all the gross (before tax) income from employment in the 6 months before the application is submitted

#2 They then divide this total by 6

#3 They will then multiply this number by 12

This amount is the income from non-salaried employment that can be counted to meet the financial requirement.

If the company that employs the applicant or UK partner IS owned by either the UK partner, the applicant or by the UK partner or applicant’s family AND any remaining shares are held by fewer than five other persons

If the company that employs the applicant or UK partner is NOT owned by either the UK partner, the applicant or by the UK partner’s or applicant’s family

Two requirements need to be met under Category B.

Requirement 1: Your ‘annualised average’ for non-salaried employment must be higher than the financial requirement that applies (normally £18,600).

To calculate the ‘annualised average’, Home Office caseworkers do the following:

#1 They combine up all the gross (before tax) income from employment in the period before the date of application for which employment has been held

#2 They then divide this total by:

i) the number of months that the person has worked there (if payment is received every month); or

ii) the number of weeks the person has worked there (if payment is received every week); or

iii) the number of days the person has worked there (if payment is received daily).

#3 If the above number was divided by the number of months , they will then multiply the result by 12.

If the above number was divided by the number of weeks , they will then multiply the result by 52.

If the above number was divided by the number of days , they will then multiply the result by 365.

This amount is the ‘annualised average’ from non-salaried employment that must be higher than the financial requirement that applies.

Requirement 2: In the past 12 months before the date of application, the income received must be higher than the financial threshold that applies to the application.

Self-employed as a sole trader or partner

Sole directors of a limited company.

The total income that can be used towards the financial requirement will be the gross taxable profits from the share of the business in the relevant financial year(s).

It is important to note that neither the applicant nor UK partner can include any expenses, deductible allowances or liability that may be applied to the gross taxable profits to establish the final tax liability.

Make sure that this is clarified with an accountant.

As we discuss in part 2 of our free video series , it would be a mistake to rely on something other than the salary and/or dividends (such as the company’s revenue/profits or director’s loan repayments).

#5 What financial documents have to be submitted?

The financial documents that you are required to submit depend entirely on how you meet the financial requirement .

Not only does the source of income determine the required documents, but certain peculiarities can  completely change the documentation that the Home Office state that you ‘must’ submit .

“How do I find out what documents I need to include?”

Two main Home Office documents absolutely should be read.

Reading these documents will not only tell you what financial documents you need to submit, but it will also tell you the rules that apply to each of these financial documents.

Since the main cause of partner visa refusals is not including the correct financial documents, but the financial documents not complying with specific supporting document rules, it is incredibly important that you read Appendix FM-SE , Appendix FM 1.7. & Appendix FM 1.7a (if the adequate maintenance test applies) in detail.

What is Appendix FM 1.7?

Appendix FM 1.7. is a document published by the Home Office that discusses the financial requirement as it applies to FLR(M) applications (as well as out of country spouse visa applications).

This is where you will want to start because it is phrased in much more understandable language when compared to Appendix FM-SE .

Appendix FM 1.7. will discuss two important aspects of the financial requirement:

• Financial documents that should be submitted; and
• Specific rules regarding financial documentation.

Where the information in Appendix FM 1.7.  is different to Appendix FM-SE, it is the rules in  Appendix FM-SE that will be applied in your application.

What is Appendix FM-SE?

Appendix FM-SE is part of the Immigration Rules , which is why what is said here will override any inconsistencies between this and Appendix FM 1.7.

This is the most important material that discusses the financial requirements of FLR(M) visas that partners are expected to read.

Similarly to Appendix FM 1.7, Appendix FM-SE talks about:

What is Appendix FM 1.7a?

With regards to the financial requirement, Appendix FM 1.7a is only relevant to your application if the UK partner receives one of the following benefits:

• Disability Living Allowance.
• Severe Disablement Allowance.
• Industrial Injury Disablement Benefit.
• Attendance Allowance.
• Carer’s Allowance.
• Personal Independence Payment.
• Armed Forces Independence Payment or Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.
• Constant Attendance Allowance, Mobility Supplement or War Disablement Pension under the War Pensions Scheme.
• Police Injury Pension.
• Adult Disability Payment.

This is because, where one of the benefits is received, the minimum income threshold (£18,600+) no longer applies and instead the relevant test is the ‘adequate maintenance’ test .

Write supporting letters for your FLR (M) visa

You should write supporting letters and include these in your application.

There are two main benefits of writing comprehensive supporting letters.

i) It provides an overview of how you meet the requirements (which makes the Home Office caseworker’s job easier); and

ii) Supporting letters will allow you to provide relevant information and elaborate on your FLR(M) application form answers.

In these support letters, among other things, applicants and UK partners can write about the following:

• How the financial requirement is met
• How the accommodation requirement is met
• How the relationship requirement is met
• The development of the applicant and UK partner’s relationship

If you would like to save time and receive professionally written supporting letters, these are included in our DIY Application Pack service .

Start completing the online FLR M application form

The latest online FLR(M) application form will be found under the headings ‘How to apply’->’In the UK’ on this page here . 

Make sure you submit the right supporting documents – The FLR M document checklist for 2024

The good news is that the online application website, as you progress through the application, will provide you with a list of documents that can be submitted in the application.

However, the biggest mistake that partners make is simply providing these documents without reading into Appendix FM 1.7. and Appendix FM-SE .

Not reading Appendix FM 1.7. and Appendix FM-SE before submitting your application is taking a huge and unnecessary risk for two reasons.

Reason 1 – The FLR(M) document checklist given to you on the online application website is not always comprehensive.

As we discuss in part 1 of our free video series , since the document checklist is not an exhaustive list, in some instances, it will not list documents that will be required.

Additionally, it will not always list documents that should be submitted to have the strongest application possible.

Reason 2 – The FLR(M) document checklist given to you on the online application website does not inform you of the rules that apply specifically to certain documentation.

Unfortunately, the Home Office have strict rules regarding specific documents.

It is for this reason that we would strongly recommend reading Appendix FM 1.7 and Appendix FM-SE in detail.

“Can you tell me what documents I should submit based on my circumstances, as well as the specific rules that apply to the documents I have to submit?”

We do just this in our FLR(M) visa DIY application pack service .

With this service, we will provide you with a detailed document checklist (& a set of letter templates that you can use) based on the information you provide us. We also provide other written guidance relevant to your application.

Our DIY Application Pack service is clear, and comprehensive and have been relied on successfully in thousands of applications.

Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

The Immigration Health Surcharge is a compulsory fee (i.e. this must be paid) and amounts to £2,587.50 .

Submit (& pay) for the FLR M application

The FLR M application is submitted by paying the Home Office fee on the FLR M application website.

After payment has been made, you will then be sent to the UKVCAS/Sopra Steria website which will allow you to book your appointment to attend the visa centre in person.

For more information about this process, check out our article “ UKVCAS / Sopra Steria Guidance [STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE FOR 2024] “.

At this visa centre appointment, you will provide your biometric information.

“How do I submit the supporting documents?”

There are two options.

Firstly, you can choose to upload the supporting documentation online, via the official website.

Secondly, you can choose to scan the supporting documents at the UK visa centre for an added fee.

Out of the two options, I’d recommend the former – uploading the supporting documentation.

Whilst the online uploading portal used to have an insufferable amount of issues, it now tends to run comparatively smooth.

“Do we get to keep our original documents?”

Fortunately, yes .

Gone are the days that you have to lose possession of your original documents, which is a huge relief as the Home Office have been known to lose thousands of partner visa’s original documentation in the past.

Even though you will normally be able to keep your passports whilst the Home Office process the visa, the applicant, in particular, should avoid travelling as this may result in the FLR(M) application being withdrawn.

“How long will I need to wait to get a decision?

This depends on whether you choose to pay for the super priority service.

If you do opt for the standard service , you should expect to hear back from the Home Office within 6-8 weeks .

If you pay an extra £1,000 for the super priority service, the expected time frame depends on whether your visa centre appointment is on a weekday or weekend .

If your visa centre appointment is on a weekday (Monday-Friday), you should hear back from the home office by the end of the next working day.

If your visa centre appointment is on a weekend, you should hear back from the home office within 2 working days.

“What will happen after the visa appointment ?”

Once a decision has been made, the Home Office will sometimes send you an email (to the same email you provided on the online application form).

Regardless of whether you get an email or not, you will get a decision letter in the post that will look something like this:

At or around the same time as receiving the decision letter, you will also probably receive a letter notifying you that your Biometric Residence Permit (which is essentially your visa on a purple plastic card) will normally be sent to you within 7-10 working days of the date of decision (which can be seen on the decision letter that was sent to you).

The standard BRP notification letter looks like this:

Frequently Asked Questions

What flr(m) visa requirement causes the most difficulties.

It is the financial requirement that is the biggest cause of FLR(M) visa refusals. Because of this, you really must take the time to learn the relevant Immigration Rules as they apply to your application (our free guides will certainly help with this).

Is an immigration lawyer required to submit an FLR(M) visa application?

No – an immigration lawyer is not required. With this being said, you need to make sure that you are fully aware of the relevant FLR(M) visa requirements (which are discussed in detail on this website).

Is original supporting documentation required?

The good news is that recent changes in the Immigration Rules mean that original supporting documentation is not required for the majority of applications. Rather, you are perfectly able to submit copies of supporting documents in your application.

How are the supporting documents submitted?

There are normally several options that are presented to you. Most commonly, you will be able to choose to upload the documents via the online application website or use the Assisted Document Scanning service at one of the UK visa centres.

Need any help?

We hope you found our guide helpful.

If you would like us to help you with your application from start to finish, we offer a  full legal representation service .

Our full legal representation service is offered by Ed Lowe, Matthew French and Wendy Foy. All three have worked in the heart of the Home Office for many years.

Since we are also unique in that we only offer services relating to UK partner visas, we are extremely well placed to help our clients in the most efficient way possible.

If, on the other hand, you want to deal with your application yourselves, our DIY Application Pack Service is currently priced at £435.

Related Articles

7 HIDDEN FLR(M) & Spouse Visa Extension Fees & Costs in 2024

UKVCAS / Sopra Steria Guidance [STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE FOR 2024]

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• Entering and staying in the UK
• Visas and entry clearance
• Family visas
• Extend your stay in the UK as a partner or dependent child: form FLR (M)
• UK Visas and Immigration

Apply online (form FLR (M))

Updated 13 December 2018

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-to-extend-stay-in-the-uk-as-a-partner-or-dependent-child-form-flrm/apply-online-form-flr-m

Use this online form to extend your stay in the UK as the partner or dependent child of someone who is settled here or who is a refugee or under humanitarian protection.

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FLR M Form: Spouse, Partner or Child Extensions

Anne morris.

• 15 February 2024

IN THIS SECTION

You will need to complete the FLR M form if you want to make an application to extend your stay in the UK on the basis of your family life and relationship to either:

• A British citizen
• A person who is present and settled in the UK with indefinite leave to remain, or
• A person with refugee status or who has been granted humanitarian protection in the UK.

FLR stands for Further Leave to Remain, which means an extension to stay in the UK for 30 months as either:

• Civil partner
• Unmarried partner
• Same-sex partner

The extension application to remain must be made by someone already in the UK who is looking to extend an expiring visa in certain categories, such as a spouse visa, or in some cases, where the person is switching from another category due to a change in circumstances.

An unmarried partner includes anyone who can evidence they have been living in a relationship akin to a marriage or civil partnership for at least two years prior to the date of application for an extension of leave.

You can also apply using the FLR M form to extend your stay as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner in circumstances where you came to the UK with the intention of entering into a marriage or civil partnership but have yet to do so.

Note that this form should not be used to apply to settle in the UK.

Who should use the FLR M form?

You can apply to remain in the UK if you and your partner or relative are both over the age of 18, and they satisfy the required immigration status as either a British citizen, indefinite leave to remain in the UK, or have refugee status or humanitarian protection.

Children under the age of 18 can be included in your application using the FLR M form. Dependent children aged 18 or over may not apply with you on this form, unless they were initially granted leave in this category at a time when they were under 18.

When making an application to extend your UK spouse visa you and your spouse/partner must be in the UK and intend to live together permanently. In other words, your relationship must be genuine.

When using the FLR M form you must also meet the following two requirements:

The financial requirement

The english language requirement.

If you are looking to extend your stay in the UK indefinitely, you cannot use the FLR M form. Applying for indefinite leave to remain in the UK requires a different form with different rules and criteria.

To satisfy the financial requirement you must meet a minimum income threshold. For a partner applying under Appendix FM , without dependent children, the threshold is a gross annual income of at least £18,600 for applications submitted before 11 April 2024. From 11 April 2024, the financial threshold for the UK spouse visa is increasing from £18,600 to £29,000, and will rise again to £38,700 by early 2025.

The minimum salary threshold also increases for every dependent child you have who is not a British or Irish citizen or is not permanently settled in the UK. If you are applying with a dependent child, you must prove an additional £3,800 for the first child, together with an increase of £2,400 for each additional child.

You can meet this financial requirement through either income from the employment or self-employment of your spouse/partner, or your own income where you have permission to work in the UK.

You can also rely on any pension, maternity allowances or bereavement benefits received in the UK, as well as cash savings over £16,000.

You are exempt from meeting the financial requirement in the form of a minimum income threshold if your spouse/partner is in receipt of a specified benefit or allowance. Instead, you will need to provide evidence of adequate maintenance for you and any dependents.

In addition, you must also have adequate accommodation for you and any dependents that live with you.

Unless you are a national of a majority English-speaking country, for example, Canada or New Zealand, in most cases you will need to demonstrate that you have a good knowledge of the English language.

You can do this by either having an academic qualification that was taught in English and is recognised as being equivalent to a UK bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD or, alternatively, you will need to pass an approved English language test in speaking and listening.

How to make an application using FLR M form

You can apply to extend your UK Spouse visa using the FLR M form at any time before your current permission to stay in the UK expires. In most cases, you will need to complete the application process online.

You (and any children under 18 applying with you) must be in the UK to apply.

As part of the application process, you will be required to provide your personal details, as well as those of any dependent children applying with you.

You will also be required to provide the details of your sponsor and the nature of your relationship with them. Your ‘sponsor’ refers to your spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, fiancé(e), proposed civil partner or same-sex partner.

You will also be required to provide detail of your ability to meet the financial and English language requirement.

To make a valid application, ensure:

• You are using the correct and current version of form FLR M
• That you have paid the correct fee
• You submit photographs of all applicants in the required format
• Complete all relevant sections of the form as required such as section 4 if you and/or your sponsor have any dependent children in the UK
• The relevant declarations in section 14 are signed by you and your partner

Issues with the completed form can result in a delayed or refused application, which may impact your lawful status if your visa expires before a valid application is made.

What are the FLR M supporting documents?

You will be required to submit various documents in support of your application for a UK Spouse visa using the FLR M form.

These include your current passport or travel document, any previous passports or travel documents and any valid Biometric Residence Permit. If you have a current grant of leave on a Biometric Residence Permit, you must provide this for your application to be complete and valid.

You will also need to provide proof of your sponsor’s immigration status and your relationship, as well as documentary evidence of your finances and ability to understand and speak English to the required level.

The supporting documents must be originals, or if this is not possible, certified copies may be provided along with an explanation in a covering letter as to why originals could not be submitted. Documents which are not in English must be accompanied by a reliable English translation.

How long does it take to process an application using the FLR M form?

Having submitted the FLR M form, a decision to extend your stay in the UK will usually be made within a few weeks , although if your application is complex it may take longer.

Your application could be delayed, for example, if you have not provided all the documentary evidence that the Home Office needs or you are required to attend an interview.

Any criminal history or immigration violations that require careful review may also delay your application, if not result in any extension of stay being denied.

How much does it cost to submit an application using the FLR M form?

If you are a single applicant using the FLR M form there is a fee of £1048 to apply from within the UK, with an additional handling fee for enrolling your biometric information. This fee applies for each applicants, such as dependant children, included in your application.

Should I apply for a biometric residence permit with the FLR M form?

Everyone applying for an extension of stay in the categories for which form the FLR M form is used must also apply for a Biometric Residence Permit.

As part of your application process a digital photograph will need to be taken of your face, and your fingerprints will need to be scanned. This is known as enrolling your biometric information.

However, you do not have to apply separately for a Biometric Residence Permit as the FLR M form includes an application for a permit.

In the event that your application for an extension of your UK Spouse visa is approved, you will automatically be given a permit containing your biometric information.

Need assistance?

If you are currently residing in the UK with your spouse or partner and want to extend your stay, you will need to make an application using the FLR M form. Ensuring you complete all relevant sections fully and accurately, and providing all required supporting documents, will be crucial to making a successful application.

DavidsonMorris is a law firm specialising in UK immigration. We help individuals with all their UK immigration needs, and can guide and support you through any Home Office process, including the application to extend your stay and remain in the UK with your loved ones using form FLR M. If you have a question, please contact us .

What is FLR M?

You would use the FLR M form to apply to extend your stay in the UK as a spouse, partner or dependent child of a British citizen or someone with UK ILR. settled person. FLR M stands for Further Leave to Remain in the Marriage category.

What Documents do I need for FLR M?

Among the supporting documents you will need to submit your valid passport, as well as evidence of your UK accommodation, that your relationship is genuine and that you meet the language and financial requirements.

What is the difference between FLR M and FLR FP?

While FLR M relates to marriage, partners and dependent children, FLR FP is for Further Leave to Remain, in the 'F and P' categories, ie based on the Family Life under the Appendix FM or Private Life under the Part 7.

Last updated: 15 February 2024

Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified solicitor and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.

She is a recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on business migration and compliance risk management as well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient processing of applications.

Anne is an active public speaker, immigration commentator , and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals

• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ Family Visa UK: Explore Ways to Apply
• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ Ukraine Refugee Aid in UK
• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ Understanding British Values
• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ Family Reunion and Immigration

About DavidsonMorris

As employer solutions lawyers, DavidsonMorris offers a complete and cost-effective capability to meet employers’ needs across UK immigration and employment law, HR and global mobility .

Led by Anne Morris, one of the UK’s preeminent immigration lawyers, and with rankings in The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners , we’re a multi-disciplinary team helping organisations to meet their people objectives, while reducing legal risk and nurturing workforce relations.

Legal Disclaimer

The matters contained in this article are intended to be for general information purposes only. This article does not constitute legal advice, nor is it a complete or authoritative statement of the law, and should not be treated as such. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information is correct at the time of writing, no warranty, express or implied, is given as to its accuracy and no liability is accepted for any error or omission. Before acting on any of the information contained herein, expert legal advice should be sought.

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FLR M Visa 2023 Supporting Documents

by Whytecroft Ford | Sep 25, 2020 | Fiancé Visa , Further Leave to Remain , Spouse Visa , Spouse Visa Extension , UK Immigration , Unmarried Partner Visa

Last updated: 05 January 2023

Once in the UK with leave as a spouse , fiancé or if you are switching from within the UK from another eligible visa, you can apply to extend your leave to remain, also known as Further Leave to Remain or FLR M Application, providing that you meet the requirements set out in Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. This post discusses the supporting documents required for an FLR M Spouse Visa Extension application.

To qualify, you must meet three main requirements: the financial requirements, the accommodation requirement, and the ‘genuine relationship’ test. Please visit our Spouse Visa Extension page for further information about extending your spouse visa.

The Immigration Rules contain strict requirements in terms of the supporting documents that you must provide in support of your spouse visa extension FLR M application, as well as the content and format of the documents.  All documents will be submitted in their original form. Depending on your situation, some of the information which you will need to provide includes:

Proof of address

Correspondence addressed to both the applicant and the sponsor spanning the applicant’s stay in the UK, evidencing that you are both in a genuine relationship and have been living together before applying for further leave to remain as a spouse. The items of correspondence should be addressed to you jointly or in both your names:

• Letters or documents from government departments or agencies, e.g. HM Revenue and Customs, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), DVLA or the Home Office
• Letters or other documents from your Doctor/GP or a hospital about appointments, medical treatments or follow-up matters
• Council Tax Bills
• Utility Bills or Statements, e.g. water rates bills, electricity bills or gas bill
• Telephone Bills
• Mortgage Statements and/or mortgage agreement(s)
• Tenancy Agreement(s).

You must also prove that you have exclusive use of the property where you and your family reside to meet the FLR M Visa accommodation requirement .

Bank Statements for FLR M Application

The bank statements must correspond to the same periods as the payslips showing that the salary has been paid into an account in the person’s name or in the person’s name and their partner’s jointly before your FLR M application. Also:

• Be on official bank stationary or electronic bank statements, which are either accompanied by a letter from the bank on its headed stationery confirming that the documents are authentic or which bear the official stamp of the issuing bank on every page
• All income and savings must be lawfully derived
• Savings must be held in cash
• Where there is income or cash savings in different foreign currencies, each will be converted into pounds sterling before being added together and then added to any UK income or savings to give a total amount.

Evidence of income from employment in the UK

• Payslips covering a period of 6 months prior to the date of the FLR M application if the person has been employed by their current employer for at least 6 months or any period of salaried employment in the period of 12 months prior to the date of application if the person has been employed by their current employer for less than 6 months 
• The employment or self-employment income of an applicant will be taken into account if they are in the UK, aged 18 years or over and working legally, and prospective employment income will not be taken into account
• A letter from the employer(s) who issued the payslips confirming the person’s employment and gross annual salary and the length of their employment; the period over which they have been or were paid the level of salary relied upon in the application; and the type of employment (permanent, fixed-term contract or agency)
• The latest Annual Return filed at Companies House if the applicant is a director in a limited company
• Where a person appointed as a non-executive director of a limited company based in the UK, is paid a fee instead of a salary, this income may be treated and evidenced as though it were income received for employment in that capacity
• In respect of salaried employment in the UK statutory or contractual maternity, paternity, adoption or sick pay in the UK, or a director’s salary paid to a self-employed person, the applicant may, in addition to the payslips and personal bank statements required under that paragraph, submit the P60 for the relevant period(s) of employment relied upon (if issued).

The documents required to meet the FLR M Visa financial requirement with employment income will depend on the nature and duration of employment. Also, different documents will be required if your British Spouse is working abroad and is returning with you to the UK.

Evidence of property rental income

In respect of non-employment income, all the following evidence, in relation to the form of income relied upon, must be provided. To prove property rental income, it must be dated before you apply for further leave to remain:

• Confirmation that the person or the person and their partner jointly own the property for which the rental income is received through
• A copy of the title deeds of the property or the title register from the Land Registry (or overseas equivalent); or
• A mortgage statement
• Personal bank statements for or from the 12 months before the date of application showing the income relied upon was paid into an account in the name of the person or of the person and their partner jointly
• A rental agreement or contract.

Evidence of income from dividends, investments, etc

To evidence dividends or other income from investments, stocks, shares, bonds or trust funds:

• A certificate showing proof of ownership and the amount(s) of any investment(s)
• A portfolio report (for a financial institution regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (and the Prudential Regulation Authority where applicable) in the UK) or a dividend voucher showing the company and person’s details with the person’s net dividend amount
• Personal bank statements for or from the 12 months before the date of application showing that the income relied upon was paid into an account in the name of the person or of the person and their partner jointly.

Evidence of Cash savings

Appendix FM-SE sets out specific requirements for the required evidence in paragraphs 11 and 11A. Any bank statements provided must be dated no earlier than 28 days before the date of application. When relying on cash savings held in a personal bank account to meet the FLR M Visa financial requirement, the following documentary evidence must be provided:

• Personal bank statements showing that at least the level of cash savings relied upon in the application has been held in an account(s) in the names of the person and their partner jointly throughout six months before the date of application, and 
• A signed declaration by the account holder(s) specifying the source of the cash savings.

Evidence of other income from Allowances and Benefits

You won’t need to meet the financial requirement if you have one or more of the following benefits: Carer’s Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment or Armed Forces Independence Payment or Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme or Constant Attendance Allowance, Mobility Supplement or War Disablement Pension under the War Pensions Scheme, or a Police Injury Pension, all the following evidence must be provided:

• Official documentation from the Department for Work and Pensions, Veterans Agency or Police Pension Authority confirming the current entitlement and the amount currently received
• At least one personal bank statement in the 12-month period prior to the date of application showing payment of the amount of the benefit or allowance to which the person is currently entitled into their account.

Evidence of Dependents

You must provide a full birth certificate, which shows the parents’ names of all your children. This includes children applying for further leave to remain in the UK with you. 

The minimum income requirement will increase by £3800 for the first child dependent and £2400 for each subsequent child dependent.

Evidence of meeting the English Language Requirement

Suppose the applicant has not met the requirement in a previous application for entry clearance or leave to remain as a partner or parent. In that case, the applicant must provide specified evidence that they:

• are a national of a majority English-speaking country, or
• have passed an English language test in speaking and listening at a minimum of level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages with a provider approved by the Secretary of State; or
• have an academic qualification which is either a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree or PhD awarded by an educational establishment in the UK; or, if awarded by an educational establishment outside the UK, is deemed by UK NARIC to meet or exceed the recognised standard of a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree or PhD in the UK, and UK NARIC has confirmed that the degree was taught or researched in English to level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages or above; or
• are exempt from the English language requirement if one of the following applies – the applicant is aged 65 or over; the applicant has a disability (physical or mental condition) which prevents the applicant from meeting the requirement, or there are exceptional circumstances which prevent the applicant from being able to meet the requirement.

To read more on how to meet the English language requirement, please see English Language Requirement for Partner Visa.

How can we help

The documentary requirements for FLR M applications can get complicated. An experienced immigration advisor from our team can assist with your visa extension application. To discuss your application, call our friendly team today at 02087575751 or use our contact form.

FLR M Documents Frequently asked questions

FLR M stands for Further Leave to Remain in the Marriage category.

You must apply for your spouse visa extension before your current visa expires. Usually, this is within 28 days of the expiry date.

To apply for FLR M, both the applicant and sponsor partner must: – Be over 18 – Have met in person – Not be related to each other – Be/Remain in a genuine and subsisting relationship; – If either person was previously married/in a civil partnership, the previous marriage/s must have permanently broken down – Intend to live together permanently in the UK once the visa is granted.

Once received, the Home Office generally takes 6-8 weeks  to process FLR(M) visa applications.

The spouse visa extension will allow you 30 months in the UK. At the end of this period of leave, your combined residency in the UK as a spouse of 5 years will enable you to become eligible to apply for ILR.

You apply online by completing form FLR (M), and submitting evidence to prove you meet the visa requirements, including proof of qualifying relationship, proof that you meet the financial requirement and evidence you meet the English language requirement.

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• FLR(M) Cover Letter

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Author Topic: FLR(M) Cover Letter  (Read 10201 times)

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• Joined: Jan 2010
• Location: United Kingdom

• Joined: Apr 2010
• Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear

Re: FLR(M) Cover Letter

I've gone through the FLR(M) application, which I thought was surprisingly easier and more straight forward than the fiance visa It didn't take me long to finish at all. So i've gathered my documents, and basically all my husband and I need to do is write our covering letters. What content should I include in it? Any examples would be much appreciated. Also, any ideas of how long it might take to get back? Thanks!

Postal FLR(M) applications are taking about 14+ weeks from biometrics being done. I've not heard of anyone doing one recently to have any different time scales. As always with postal applications don't plan on going anywhere out of the country for 6 months (which is the maximum time UKBA can take with processing). It's the SET(M) -- ILR-- applications that have been taking about 4-6 weeks.

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14 weeks? :S my fiance visa expires on the 2nd of Feb so I'm sending it in early this week. I know, cutting it close aren't I? Another question about biometrics, will I need to get them done again? i got them done for the fiance visa, and I noticed on the application it asked if I've had biometrics done before, and i said yes for the fiance visa, and wrote down the place and date that I had them done. Will I need them taken again?

Yes, you will need to get them taken again, even if they were taken for the fiance visa... this is to verify your identity and to make sure you are the same person who applied for the fiance visa. If you are applying by post, I believe you will receive a letter from the UKBA after you have applied detailing how to get your biometrics taken.

Oh ok, so I'll need to take my biometrics AFTER i send in my postal application? So i won't take them before and send them in with the application like I did with the fiance visa?

Applications in the UK are not the same as the ones made outside the UK. So basically forget everything about your previous visa process. A few weeks after you post off your application you will get a letter from UKBA telling you to go do your biometrics. You have to make an appointment and go to that appointment with the letter from UKBA. Once that is done it's about 14 weeks before your visa will be processed. This is all covered on the FLR(M) page you can find here: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/partnersandfamilies/partners/husbandswivescivilpartners/applying-inside-uk/

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do i have to sign the application with the same name that is on my passport then?

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Sponsorship letter necessary for FLR (M)?

• Add to quote

Such an ending is completely unnecessary. Just say Yours sincerely.  

cover letters 09th April 2016 Home Office Leave To Remain – FLR (M) PO Box 495 Durham DH99 1WR Re ;- Leave to Remain – FLR(M) Mr Brad Pitt (Sponsor) / Mrs Angelina Jolie ( Applicant, IHS surcharge number oo7 ) 10 Downing Street London Le6 2ny Dear Sir / Madam I, Brad Pitt am writing in support of my wife`s, Angelina Jolie application in FLR (M) category. Please find enclosed the following documents with the application FLR (M) Version 04/2016 APPENDIX CONTENTS PAGE 1. Applicants (original) Pakistani Passport 2. A1 trinity grade 2 (GESE) certificate 3. Photographs (Applicant X2 /Sponsor X1) 4. Sponsors` Passport (photocopy in full) 5. Sposorship declaration (sponsor) 6. Letters of support /Cover letter…… 7. Marriage certificates (original X1/ Translated X1) 8. Sponsors wage slips (6 months) dates… 9. Sponsors bank statements (6 months) dates…. 10. Letter confirming sponsors employment. 11. Utility bills (joint names X3)/ Child birth certificate (joint names X1) 12. Evidence X6 Sponsor/ X6 Applicant 13. Letter from parents explaining the lack of evidence 14. ANYTHING ELSE YOU MIGHT NEED If you have any further quieries please do not hesitate to contact me. Yours Faithfully, Brad Pitt ______________________________________________________________ As I requested earlier does anyone have any home office speak they can put in here. Overall do you think this is too little.  

As a letter, it's completely unnecessary. As a document checklist, you are missing accommodation details.  

FLR (m) Accomodation details? Within my parents letter they describe the house and make reference to the home information report we handed in, in our first application (spouse visa application). They also make reference to the lack of correspondence in our names. What, if anything else do you think I need to satisfy the accommodation question. I as the spouse have purchased the property we live in from our social housing landlord, but there is a dely in getting it registered as there is a boundary dispute. So I have no deeds in my name as yet.  

jagatex said: Accomodation details? Within my parents letter they describe the house and make reference to the home information report we handed in, in our first application (spouse visa application). They also make reference to the lack of correspondence in our names. What, if anything else do you think I need to satisfy the accommodation question. I as the spouse have purchased the property we live in from our social housing landlord, but there is a dely in getting it registered as there is a boundary dispute. So I have no deeds in my name as yet. Click to expand...

what if I own an equal share with my parents? Do I need to sign the letter they write as owners?  

Letters of support carry no weight. What's the cover letter about? Sponsorship declaration should be more than enough. That's all I submitted for my wife's visa. Also if you're claiming child benefit, make sure it's on your name and any work/child tax credits are in joint names.  

flr (m) I on the fear the homeoffice called dwp up and told them to remove my wifes name from the child tax credit / child benefit/ etc  

jagatex said: I on the fear the homeoffice called dwp up and told them to remove my wifes name from the child tax credit / child benefit/ etc Click to expand...

sponsorship letter Just on the sponsorship declaration does it have to be attested by a solicitor?? If yes why, Because the letter they are attesting contains info in the application!! I have wondered this ever since applied for a spouse visa and signed the declaration in the presence of a solicitor.  

jagatex said: Just on the sponsorship declaration does it have to be attested by a solicitor?? If yes why, Because the letter they are attesting contains info in the application!! I have wondered this ever since applied for a spouse visa and signed the declaration in the presence of a solicitor. Click to expand...

A sponsorship letter is unnecessary for FLR (M) and nothing needs to be attested by a solicitor.  

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What is the difference between FLR(M) and FLR(FP)?

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Get a FREE Step-By-Step Manual to make your UK Partner Visa Extension/Switch to the 5 Year Partner Route! !

What is FLR?

FLR stands for 'Further Leave to Remain' and is an extension to stay in the UK. It typically applies to individuals extending their existing visa (for example a Spouse Visa ). There are also instances where an applicant can switch visa categories from another valid visa if their circumstances in the UK change. 

If an applicant does not have any valid leave to be in the UK, it may still be possible for them to be granted FLR because of exceptional circumstances. This is covered in more detail further down this article.

Further Leave to Remain, in the ‘M’ category , is used to apply for an extension or switch as a spouse/partner or dependant child of a British citizen or settled person in the UK.   Applicants must show that they meet all of the requirements for Leave to Remain as a Partner, as contained under Section R-LTRP.1.1 of Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules.

Essentially they must currently have valid leave to remain/enter the UK and be able to evidence that all of the following requirements can be met:

• Relationship Requirement
• Financial Requirement
• Accommodation Requirement
• English language requirement

FLR M is granted for 2.5 years, and you would be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) once you have completed 5 years in total under the same visa category.  So if you originally came to the UK on a spouse visa, for example, you should only need to apply for FLR M once before being eligible for ILR.  If it is the case that you are switching from another visa category e.g. a Tier 2 visa, you would need to make 2 FLR M applications to complete 5 years as a spouse/partner to be eligible for ILR.

Further Leave to Remain, in the ‘F and P’ categories, is used to apply for an extension or switch from another visa category based on Family Life under Appendix FM, or Private Life under paragraphs 276ADE(1) and 276ADE(2) of the immigration rules.

Family Life Basis

Family Life includes applications as a partner of a British National or settled person in the UK and/or as a parent of a British or a settled child in the UK. 

Example scenarios of where FLR FP would be granted are where the applicant does not meet the requirements for FLR (M) but qualifies for an exception under Appendix FM e.g. the applicant does not currently have any valid leave to be in the UK, but they have a British spouse/partner and they also have a young child together.  Therefore, it would be deemed unreasonable for the child to have to leave the UK in order for all of them to remain as a family unit. 

Another scenario could be where the applicant has officially separated from their British/settled partner, but they now have sole parental responsibility of the British/settled child(ren) they have together, or they have direct access to the child(ren).  They therefore can no longer qualify for leave as a partner but they do qualify for leave as a parent.

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Want a complete document checklist and cover letter for your application to the 5 year partner route?

If you want to know the exact documents you need to submit and also provide strong supporting letters for your spouse/partner application, checkout our Personalised Visa Application Pack service.

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Private Life Basis

The difference with Private Life over Family life, is that it is solely based on the Applicant's circumstances.  To qualify on the Private Life basis, an applicant must be one of the following:

• An individual who has lived 20 years (continuously) in the UK illegally (or a combination of legally and illegally);
• A child under the age of 18 years who has lived continuously in the UK for at least 7 years;
• An Individual aged between 18 and 24 and has lived continuously in the UK for at least half their life

How Long is the Leave granted for?

If granted FLR FP, the leave lasts for 2.5 years just as with FLR M.  The main difference however, is that it is usually under the "10 year route" (it is possible to qualify for the 5 year route as a parent, but you must satisfy all of the requirements to do so).  Therefore you will only be eligible for Indefinite Leave after 10 years which means you would need to make four applications of FLR FP in total.  It is however, possible to switch to the 5 year route and apply for FLR (M), once you meet all the requirements for the FLR (M) application.

Switching from the 10 year Route to the 5 year Route

It is important to note however, that if you do switch to the 5 year route from the 10 year route, any time spent on the 10 year route cannot be carried forward/will not count towards your qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) on the 5 year route.

That is to say, the clock resets and you must now complete the full 5 years on the 5 year route to be eligible for ILR.

If you are still not clear if you should be making an application for FLR (M) or FLR (FP), the best way to approach it is to first determine whether you meet all of the requirements for FLR (M) and if not, is it/are they something you can easily address? e.g. meeting the minimum income threshold?  If the answer is still no, it is likely that you would need to apply for FLR FP. 

With a complex area of immigration law such as this, it is always recommended that you seek expert legal advice . Not doing so can be a costly and stressful experience.

For the Complete Guide for switching to the 5 Year Partner Route , which covers everything you need to know about the application process and getting a successful outcome, head over here .

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Melanie Wong is a Senior Immigration Solicitor based in London, UK.

With over 20 years of legal experience , she has extensive knowledge and exposure of all areas of UK immigration law, with particular expertise in handling difficult and technically complex cases , including UK Settlement, Human Rights and British nationality law.

While every effort has been made to ensure that the information and law contained in this article is accurate and current as of the date of publication, we accept no responsibility for its accuracy or for any loss or damages arising from accessing, or the reliance, of this guidance.

Please also note that the information does not represent a complete statement of the Law and does not constitute legal advice .

If you would like specific professional advice about your UK immigration matter, please consider booking a consultation or one of my other legal services.

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