British spouse visa to permanent residence: 5-year ILR conditions and £29,000 income red line

Many people have been holding a spouse visa (Spouse Visa) for almost five years. They are about to get ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain, permanent residence), but they are not sure: How much income is needed? Will the accumulated number of days I have left the country for funerals, childbirth, and family visits in the past few years cause all my efforts to be wasted? A bunch of "new regulations" will be announced in 2026. Which ones are related to me?

Today, the path of converting a spouse visa to permanent residence will be broken down into 5 checkpoints and explained clearly based on the logic of reviewing materials on the day of application. Each step is compared with the current rules in 2026, and the algorithm will be given to you where possible.

Converting spouse visa to permanent residence: How many years does it take to stay?

The standard path is 5 years of continuous residence in . Usually, you first get a 33-month initial visa, and then renew it for 30 months. When the two periods add up to five years, you can submit ILR (form SET(M)). This is different from the 10-year Long Residence route, which is still 5 years for the spouse route.

Regarding the statement that the 2025 Immigration White Paper will generally extend the "settlement to 10 years": The white paper clearly retains the family members (family route) of British citizens for 5 years and is not included in the extension. Therefore, for those who are serious about applying for a spouse visa, the 5-year figure has not changed for the time being.

Income threshold for permanent residence: £29,000 or £18,600

This is the most likely step in getting a spouse visa off the ground. The key depends on the date you first applied for a spouse/fiancée visa: :

📌 Those who apply for the first time on or after on April 11, 2024 - income threshold £29,000;
📌 Those who apply for the first time on before April 11, 2024 and take the 5-year route - enjoy the transitional arrangement (transitional), still according to the old threshold £18,600.

As for the £38,700 that has been discussed, as of today has not implemented . The government is suspending the threshold at £29,000 based on a June 2025 MAC (Migration Advisory Committee) report, with further comment likely to be made in 2026. So don’t let the agent tell you that the price will soon rise to £38,700 to scare you into spending money randomly. Please refer to the GOV.UK announcement.

Income can be achieved through salary (Category A/B), self-employment, pension, etc. If it is met purely by cash savings, the algorithm for the ILR stage is different from the initial application - ILR only requires "the threshold corresponding amount minus £16,000", and no longer divides it by 2.5. Roughly speaking, the £29,000 threshold corresponds to a deposit of approximately £88,500, and the £18,600 transition threshold corresponds to a lower deposit amount. Deposits must be held continuously for 6 months before submission. Depending on your situation, it is recommended that you ask a lawyer to review it.

Number of days to leave the country for permanent residence: How to calculate the 180-day red line?

If a spouse visa is converted to permanent residence, cannot leave the country for more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period. Note that it is a "rolling 12-month period" and is not cut into pieces by visa year or natural year - the case officer can count out any 365-day window within your five years.

Many people fall into the trap of "not feeling great". A two-month trip back home to visit relatives, a few business trips, and a round trip during vacation. The little bits and pieces add up and can easily approach the red line. recommends recording each entry and exit date from the first day you get the visa. The departure day and entry day are generally counted as overseas. If you don’t know what to expect, use the 永居计算器 APP to accurately calculate each 12-month window, which is much more reliable than patting your head on your own.

Don’t just give up if it gets too much. If it is a serious illness, death of a family member due to serious illness, maternity leave, or other explainable special reasons, keep the hospital certificate, air tickets, family relationship documents, and attach an explanatory letter when submitting to have a chance of being considered.

English and life test for permanent residence: B1 and Life in the UK

Two hard conditions are indispensable:

① English must meet CEFR B1 (mainly listening and speaking), pass a recognized SELT examination institution, or be exempted with a recognized English degree;
② pass Life in the UK Test, and pass 18 of 24 questions correctly (75%).

It should be noted that the 2025 white paper proposes to raise the English requirements for family paths to B2 in the future (relevant arrangements are expected to be implemented around 2027). If you can submit ILR this year or next year, just prepare as the current B1; if you still have to wait two or three years, it is recommended to improve your English level to B2 as soon as possible, so as not to be in a hurry.

Relationship authenticity and permanent residence fees

At the ILR stage, you still need to prove that the relationship between you and the guarantor is genuine and subsisting (real and ongoing) , and you are still living together. Prepare evidence of cohabitation spanning five years: bills in both names, leases/properties, joint accounts, photos of joint travel, correspondence, etc. The timeline should be as continuous as possible. At the same time, adequate housing (accommodation) requirements must be met and overcrowding must not be allowed.

In terms of fees, the ILR application fee will be £3,226 from April 8, 2026 (per person, children are included). If you are in a hurry, you can pay Super Priority for accelerated service. Please check the exact figures on the GOV.UK official page before submitting. The government adjusts prices frequently.

Pre-submission self-check list

Tick ​​these 5 items one by one before submitting: 5 years of continuous residence ✔ Income/deposit corresponding threshold met ✔ Exit abroad for each 12-month window ≤180 days ✔ B1 English + Life in the UK passed ✔ Real evidence of relationship + adequate housing ✔. If any item is vague, it is better to postpone it for a month or two than to submit it with flaws - being rejected will not only cost you the application fee, but may also affect subsequent visa arrangements.

This article is for reference only. For specific questions (especially income calculation, exit remedies, and whether transition arrangements are applicable), please consult a licensed attorney. If you are not sure which level you are stuck at, you can add our lawyers on WeChat to chat first.

💬 Let’s talk about in the comment area: Did you apply for your spouse visa for the first time before or after April 11, 2024? Stuck on the income threshold or 180 days out of the country? Tell us about the level you are most worried about, and we will answer typical questions.