UK Spouse Visa Online Application Form: What It Asks
There is no paper or PDF form for a UK spouse or partner visa from outside the UK. GOV.UK says you must apply online, on the GOV.UK visa application service. The form asks about seven areas:
- You: names, date of birth, passport, previous passports, immigration history, criminal convictions, and your parents' dates of birth and nationality
- Your partner: name, date of birth, nationality, passport, and their right to be in the UK
- Your relationship: how you met, how often you see each other, how long you have lived together
- Previous partners, for you and your partner, with evidence that earlier marriages ended
- Children: all your children and your partner's children, even children who are not applying
- Your life outside the UK: countries you have lived in or visited, and family and friends abroad
- Money and English: proof of income, and proof of your English
After the form, you pay the health surcharge and the application fee. Then you book an appointment for your fingerprints and photo.
All figures and rules were checked on GOV.UK on 12 October 2026. Confirm them on GOV.UK before you pay.
The old VAF4A PDF is gone
Many websites still offer a "VAF4A PDF download". VAF4A was the old paper form for family settlement from outside the UK. The old GOV.UK page for VAF4A now redirects to the general visas and immigration page, and the family visa guide says you must apply online. Copies on other websites are old versions. Do not fill them in. Start the application on GOV.UK instead.
You will need an email address to make the online application. The form is easier if your documents are in front of you before you start.
What each part of the spouse visa application form asks
The table below follows the "Information and evidence you must provide" page of the GOV.UK family visa guide. GOV.UK also says you will be told exactly which documents to provide when you apply online, so treat this as a list to prepare from, not the final list.
| Part of the form | What GOV.UK says you will be asked | Have this ready |
|---|---|---|
| About you | All your names, date of birth, previous immigration applications, criminal convictions, National Insurance number if you have one | Current passport or other valid travel ID |
| Travel history | Previous passports | Copies of the photo page and any visa or entry stamps in previous passports |
| Your parents | Date of birth and nationality of each parent (asked only if you apply from outside the UK) | Your parents' dates of birth and nationality |
| Your partner | Name, date of birth, nationality, passport, right to be in the UK (for example, British citizen) | Partner's passport, or their eVisa share code |
| Partner's past | People your partner was married to, in a civil partnership with, or had children with; anyone your partner supports with money | Divorce or dissolution documents for any earlier marriage |
| Relationship | How you met, how often you see each other, how long you have lived together, things you pay for together, whether you are your partner's carer | Marriage or civil partnership certificate, and documents that show you live together |
| Your previous partners | Anyone you were married to or had children with | Evidence the marriage ended, for example a divorce certificate |
| Children | Name, nationality, date of birth, passport, who the child lives with, others with parental responsibility, contact arrangements, extended family, countries visited | Children's passports and birth certificates |
| Life outside the UK | Countries you have lived in and visited; family and friends in your country of birth or nationality | A list of trips with dates, made from your passport stamps |
| Finances | Your income, your partner's income, or both | Payslips, bank statements, employer letter, or other income evidence |
| English | How you meet the English requirement | English test certificate, UK degree, or Ecctis reference |
| Health | Tuberculosis test results, if you are from a country where the test is required | TB certificate from an approved clinic |
Two small tips. The travel history questions are much easier if you write down your trips from your passport stamps before you start. The partner questions are easier if your partner sends you a photo of their passport photo page and, if they have an eVisa, a share code.
The relationship questions
For the relationship part, GOV.UK says evidence should come from the government, a bank, a landlord, a utility provider or a medical professional, should confirm your relationship, and should be less than 4 years old. Examples GOV.UK gives:
- a marriage or civil partnership certificate
- a tenancy agreement, utility bills or Council Tax bills at the same address
- a joint bank account statement
- a letter from your doctor or dentist confirming you live at the same address
We cover how to choose and arrange this evidence in proof of relationship documents for a UK spouse visa.
The money questions
GOV.UK says partners usually need to show a combined income of at least £29,000 a year. For a salary, GOV.UK lists evidence such as:
- bank statements showing the income
- 6 months of payslips, counting back from the day you apply
- a letter from the employer, dated and on headed paper
Income from self-employment, a limited company, savings or a pension has its own evidence rules. For savings, see UK spouse visa savings requirements. Have the documents for your type of income ready before you reach this part of the form.
Documents not in English or Welsh
Paragraph 39B(f) of Part 1 of the Immigration Rules covers documents like marriage and birth certificates. You provide the original and a full translation. The translation must be dated and include:
- confirmation that it is an accurate translation
- the full name and signature of the translator, or an authorised official of the translation company
- the translator's or company's contact details
After the form: the steps, in order
When you finish the questions, the steps are:
- Pay the health surcharge. For an adult on a 2 years and 9 months visa, it is £3,105. You pay by debit or credit card. You get an IHS reference number by email and on screen. The number can be used only once.
- Pay the application fee. From outside the UK, it is £2,064 for the applicant and £2,064 for each dependant added. See our UK spouse visa fees 2026 breakdown for the full picture.
- Provide your documents. GOV.UK says you will be told how to provide your documents when you apply.
- Attend a biometrics appointment. You give your fingerprints and a photo, and you take your passport. GOV.UK notes the visa application centre could be in another country, so allow time for travel.
GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision within 12 weeks if you apply from outside the UK. If you are approved, you get an eVisa, a digital record of your immigration status.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a PDF form for the UK spouse visa? No. GOV.UK says you must apply online from outside the UK. The old VAF4A paper form page on GOV.UK now redirects to the general visas page.
Can I download the spouse visa application form to look at first? GOV.UK does not publish a downloadable copy. The "Information and evidence you must provide" page lists what you will be asked, so you can prepare from that.
Does my partner in the UK fill in a separate form? GOV.UK says you will be asked about your partner's details, past relationships and right to be in the UK in your application. Your partner's documents, such as their passport and income evidence, go with your application.
Do I need my parents' details? Yes, if you apply from outside the UK. GOV.UK lists your parents' dates of birth and nationality.
How long does the decision take? GOV.UK says usually within 12 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.
How Stratovisa helps
The online form asks the questions. Stratovisa helps with the documents behind the answers. After a few intake questions, it builds a checklist for the spouse and partner visa, with a slot for each document: your passport, your partner's passport or eVisa share code, the marriage certificate, relationship evidence, payslips, bank statements, English evidence and TB results where they apply. You upload as you go and can see what is still missing. You can record your IHS reference and fee payment, and Stratovisa can draft a cover letter from a form. When you are ready, you download one organised package, so each file is easy to find when the application asks for it.