New rules for Spouse Visa permanent residence in the UK: the 5-year path is maintained, and B2 English is coming
Let’s talk about a real anxiety first. As soon as the news of "earned settlement" came out in the second half of last year, the backstage was immediately crowded with spousal visa holders: "I married/married a British person for almost 5 years. Do I have to change it to 10 years before I can get permanent residence?" Some people are afraid to even date Life in the UK Test - they are afraid of losing the test.
Today is June 2026, it’s time to speak clearly. Conclusion first: As of now, the partner visa (Spouse Visa, that is, the partner path for British citizens/permanent residents) is still a 5-year permanent residence, and has not been changed to 10 years. However, the "boots" of reform have not yet fully landed. There are several new changes that everyone waiting for permanent residence should pay attention to.
Spouse Visa permanent residence: Is the 5-year path to 2026 saved?
The 2025 Immigration White Paper proposes a general direction: lengthening the "basic period" for permanent residence (ILR/Indefinite Leave to Remain) for most visas from 5 years to 10 years. The supporting public consultation ended on February 12, 2026. The government stated that it would announce the final rules "later this year" - the original time for implementation in April 2026 has passed, and the new regulations have not taken effect.
The good news is: in the white paper and consultation documents, the British citizen spouse/partner line is listed as "retained for 5 years starting from 5 years" . Like BN(O) holders, it belongs to the group that will not be extended to 10 years (provided there are no bonus points such as overstaying). In other words, the logic of the 5-year path you took to marry/marry a British person has not changed.
In a word: The 5-year "door" is still open, but there may be a few more "assessments" at the door. Before the final text of the policy is released, everything is subject to the official announcement of GOV.UK.
Five Hard Conditions for Spouse Visa Permanent Residence (2026 Current Version)
No matter how noisy the reform is, the following five items cannot be avoided when applying for ILR now:
① Continuous residence for 5 years : Continuous legal residence for 5 years under the spouse visa route, can be submitted as early as 28 days before meeting the conditions.
② 180-day exit red line : Within any rolling 12-month period, the total number of departures from the UK shall not exceed 180 days . In principle, if it exceeds the limit, it will not pass unless there is a "serious or unavoidable" reason such as serious illness and the evidence can be provided. Many people fall into this trap - returning home to visit relatives, being stranded due to the epidemic, and being assigned work overseas. The line is broken if they are not careful.
③ Financial threshold : The minimum income requirement is £29,000/year (implemented from 2024; there is a transitional arrangement of £18,600 for older cases that apply earlier). Deposits can also be used instead - to meet the £29,000 requirement with pure deposits, approximately and £88,500 are required and have been deposited for 6 months before application.
④ B1 English : Permanent residence requires reaching CEFR’s B1 level (higher than A1 for first entry). If you have already passed B1 during the last renewal, you usually do not need to retake the exam.
⑤ Life in the UK Test: Must hold a valid passing certificate, 24 questions test British history, culture and values. It is recommended to make an appointment for the exam as early as possible and not wait till the end.
B2 English + "earned settlement": New thresholds that visa reform may bring
This is the most easily misread part. The spouse is "exempted for 10 years", and does not mean that other assessments are also exempted from . Several law firms have interpreted the consultation text as follows: The "exemption" for family members of British citizens is mainly reflected in the fact that the starting period for is still 5 years instead of 10 years for , but new "minimum requirements" may still be met, including:
· English proficiency may improve from B1 to B2;
· Reach certain "contribution" standards (such as income, no crime, no dependence on public welfare, etc.) within a few years.
These are still proposals in the consultation stage of and have not yet been written into the immigration rules . But the direction is clear: the government has repeatedly emphasized that "settlement must be earned, not assumed (permanent residence must be earned, not assumed)." If you still have one or two years until your fifth year, it is recommended to prepare your English in the direction of B2, and take the initiative to keep tax forms and salary records to be prepared.
Permanent residence fee and time: £3,226, 28 days and expedited
From April 8, 2026, the ILR application fee is £3,226 per person (previously £3,029). The standard channel usually produces results within 6 months; if you need it faster, you can consider the expedited or super priority (Super Priority) service, and the fee is subject to the current announcement of GOV.UK.
Remember two key points in terms of time: must be submitted 28 days in advance at most 5 years ago; and after obtaining permanent residence, you can usually consider naturalization after living for another year (total "5+1"). If you are not sure when you will reach 5 years or 180 days, you can use 永居计算器APP to calculate to and record every entry and exit. It is more reliable than hand calculation.
Reminder: The forms and financial certificates used for spouse visa renewal and permanent residence application are not exactly the same. Do not copy the materials from the last time. This article is for reference only. Please consult a licensed attorney for specific questions.
For you who are waiting for permanent residence: 3 ways to avoid pitfalls
is the first, keep an eye on it for 180 days. uses a rolling 12-month caliber for self-examination, do not use the natural year. If the situation is critical, I would rather postpone my return trip.
Secondly, make plans for B2 in English as early as possible. Even if the current status is B1, one level of preparation will be made in advance so that the reform will be implemented without panic.
Third, keep a good chain of financial evidence. pay stubs, bank statements, employer letters, and deposit records for 6 months are organized in the system. Don’t wait to rummage through boxes before submission.
Five years of waiting is not a short time, but as long as the path is still there and the conditions are clear, this "long-distance race" can be completely won. Once the final text of the reform is released, we will update our interpretation as soon as possible.
💬Interactive topic: How many years does it take for your spouse visa to reach permanent residence? is most worried about 180 days, financial costs of £29,000, or the upcoming B2 English? Let’s talk about your progress and stuck points in the comment area. We will pick typical questions to answer.
If you find it useful, please forward it to your friends who are also applying for permanent residence in the UK - one less pitfall to step on, and one less year to wait.
[Data source] GOV.UK "Indefinite leave to remain if you have family in the UK" https://www.gov.uk/indefinite-leave-to-remain-family/partner-family-visa; House of Commons Library "Changes to UK visa and settlement rules after the 2025 immigration white paper" https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10267/. The policy is still evolving, please refer to GOV.UK’s latest announcement.