Has the conversion of spouse visa to permanent residence changed in 2026? The English threshold needs to be raised to B2
The most frequently asked question backstage is, "I have been on a partner visa for almost five years. Have the conditions for permanent residence changed this year?" The anxiety is very real - after all, the British immigration rules have changed in the past two years to make people dizzy. Today I will use an article to explain clearly: What has not changed in , what will change, and what you should do now.
How many years does it take to convert a spouse visa to permanent residence? The five-year path remains unchanged until 2026
Let me give you some reassurance: when applying for permanent residence (ILR/Indefinite Leave to Remain) as a British citizen or spouse of a permanent resident, the mainstream path is still (30-month initial visa + 30-month renewal + permanent residence application after 5 years) "". As of July 2026, the core structure of this 5-year family path has not been cancelled, nor has it been forcibly extended.
There is a detail about the application time that many people stumble upon: the earliest you can submit is 28 days before that meets the five-year residence requirement, and you may be rejected even one day earlier. Don’t wait until your visa is about to expire before taking action. If your visa expires first, you must renew it first before talking about permanent residence.
5 Hard Conditions for Spouse Visa Permanent Residence (current in 2026)
According to the current Immigration Rules, you need to pass the following steps to apply for permanent residence as a spouse:
① The relationship is genuine and continuing (genuine and subsisting), and they are still living together;
② Meet financial requirements, current threshold £29,000;
③ Pass Life in the UK Test (24 questions answered correctly and 18 questions passed);
④ English level B1 and above (listening, speaking, reading and writing);
⑤ The continuity of residence is reasonable and there is no serious bad record (suitability).
There is an "old man's trick" that is easily overlooked about the financial threshold: if you have held a 5-year spouse/fiancé visa or submitted an application before April 11, 2024, , and have been taking this path with the same partner, you can continue to be reviewed according to the old £18,600 standard in the future, and do not need to be raised to £29,000. If you are not sure which level is suitable for you, it is worth checking separately.
English requirements for spouse visa permanent residence will be upgraded to B2 in 2027
This is the most important change to remember in 2026. According to Statement of Changes HC 1691 submitted on March 5, 2026, the English threshold for permanent residence will be raised from B1 to B2, which is applicable to applications submitted by from March 26, 2027. The family path is also covered.
In other words: If your permanent residence window falls after March 26, 2027, you must prepare according to B2, which is really difficult. Friends who have average English skills, don’t wait until the last minute to take the exam – sign up for Trinity or IELTS Life Skills early, and you’ll be most assured of holding the certificate in your hand.
Will Earned settlement turn 5 years into 10 years?
You may have heard the rumor that “permanent residence needs to be changed to 10 years”. This refers to the earned settlement (earned permanent residence) reform proposed by the government, which plans to set the base period of permanent residence for most immigrants to 10 years, and superimpose conditions such as English, Life in the UK, tax payment and law-abiding records.
The point is: the consultation ended on February 12, 2026, and received more than 200,000 responses, but has not yet announced the official draft Immigration Rules. The official signal is that relevant reforms "may be advanced in the autumn of 2026", and how the family path will eventually be included remains undecided. So there is no need to panic now, but keep an eye on it - once the policy is implemented, the sooner those who meet the current conditions, the more initiative they will have.
The current permanent residence fee is £3,226 per person, and the result is usually available within 6 months; do not leave the United Kingdom, Ireland and related islands during the review period, otherwise the application will be deemed to have been withdrawn. Please refer to GOV.UK’s latest announcement for specific figures.
Regarding the number of days of residence: how to calculate the spouse’s path
The spouse route is not as mechanical as the work visa, which "no more than 180 days per 12 months", but leaving the country too frequently will make the visa officer question "whether the relationship is genuine and whether the UK is your main residence." Safe approach: Keep evidence of shared living, such as shared accommodation, joint accounts, utility bills, etc., and do not let long-term separation leave hidden dangers. If you want to be precise, you can use 永居计算器APP to sort out the 5-year timeline and departure records.
This article is for reference only. Please consult a licensed attorney for specific cases.
💬 Chat about your progress
Does your partner visa permanent residence window fall before or after March 26, 2027? What level of English are you ready for? Tell us about your timeline in the comment area, , and we will help you see if you have fallen into the pitfalls of "28 days in advance" and "B2 upgrade". If you find it useful, bookmark this article so you can check the conditions again before applying.
[Data source] GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/indefinite-leave-to-remain-family/partner-family-visa; Statement of Changes HC 1691 (2026-03-05).