Switch to a UK Spouse Visa Inside the UK: Documents

Switching to a UK spouse visa from inside the UK uses mostly the same kinds of evidence as a first application from abroad. Some things are different. You prove your current immigration status with an eVisa share code or a BRP. You pay the in-UK fees. You also prove your English for the partner route, even if you already proved it for your Student or Skilled Worker visa. If your earlier proof was an approved test certificate, you may be able to use the same certificate. Below is the full list GOV.UK gives, put into groups.

All figures and rules were checked on GOV.UK on 19 October 2026. Confirm them on GOV.UK before you pay.

The documents list at a glance

You (the applicant)

• Current passport or other valid travel ID
• Copies of the photo page and any visa or entry stamps in previous passports
• Proof of your current immigration status: an eVisa share code, or your BRP
• Details of previous immigration applications and any criminal convictions, plus your National Insurance number if you have one
• Proof of English: a test certificate, a degree certificate or Ecctis code, or details of an exemption

Your partner (the sponsor)

• Proof of their status in the UK, for example a British passport or an eVisa share code
• Evidence that any previous marriage or civil partnership has ended, if either of you was married before

Your relationship

• Marriage or civil partnership certificate, if you are married or in a civil partnership
• Evidence that you live together or share expenses, less than 4 years old

Money and housing

• Payslips, bank statements and employer letter (or other evidence for self-employment, savings or a pension)
• Evidence of the home you will live in

Other

• A certified translation of any document that is not in English or Welsh

The online form tells you exactly what to upload for your case. Use this list to prepare, then check it against the form.

Fees when you apply inside the UK

GOV.UK says that if you switch to this visa, you can stay for up to a further 2 years and 6 months. The surcharge covers that period. From inside the UK you may also be able to pay £1,000 extra for the super priority service. For every stage up to settlement, see our UK spouse visa fees 2026 breakdown.

Your current visa: eVisa share code or BRP

A Student, Graduate or Skilled Worker visa holder already has UK permission. GOV.UK asks you to show it in one of two ways:

• eVisa: online proof of your immigration status, using a share code. A share code lasts for 90 days, and you can get a new one whenever you need it.
• BRP: you can use it for 24 months after the expiry date printed on the card, or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first.

GOV.UK also asks for copies of the photo page and any visa or entry stamps in your previous passports. If your first UK visa was a sticker in an older passport, that page goes in this group.

GOV.UK says you can switch at any time before your current permission to stay expires. The family visa page also lists cases where you usually need to leave the UK to apply, for example if you are in the UK as a visitor or your visa is for 6 months or less. Read that section on GOV.UK. This post covers the documents only.

Your partner's documents

Your partner is the sponsor. GOV.UK lists the kinds of status a partner must have, for example British or Irish citizenship, settled status or indefinite leave to remain. The sponsor's set usually includes:

• Proof of status: a British or Irish passport, or an eVisa share code if their status is digital.
• Previous relationships: if your partner or you were married or in a civil partnership before, evidence that it ended, such as a divorce certificate.
• Income evidence: if the money comes from your partner's job, their payslips, bank statements and employer letter.

GOV.UK says partners prove their "combined UK income". Paragraph E-LTRP.3.2 of Appendix FM lists income of the applicant from specified employment as a source, "unless they are working illegally". So if you both work in the UK, you may have two sets of payslips and statements, one for each earner. The usual published figure is £29,000 a year. Our guide to spouse visa bank statements and payslips shows how to build each set.

GOV.UK also mentions £18,600. That figure is for people extending a partner visa they first applied for before 11 April 2024, so it is about extensions of an earlier partner visa.

The English rule for switchers

You proved English for your Student or Skilled Worker visa, so it can feel like this step is already done. The partner rule is worded differently.

Paragraph E-LTRP.4.1 of Appendix FM says that if the applicant "has not met the requirement in a previous application for entry clearance or leave to remain as a partner or parent", they must provide specified evidence of one of these:

1. Nationality of a majority English-speaking country listed in paragraph GEN.1.6
2. An English test in speaking and listening at level A1 or higher, with an approved provider
3. A Bachelor's, Master's or PhD from a UK institution, or a degree from outside the UK that Ecctis confirms is equivalent and was taught or researched in English
4. An exemption: aged 65 or over, a disability that prevents it, or exceptional circumstances

The rule refers to a previous application as a partner or parent, not to any earlier visa. A university's own assessment of your English for a CAS is not on the list.

What each option looks like as a document:

• Test: the certificate from an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) provider, at A1 or higher. GOV.UK says a pass at B1 or higher can be used again for settlement after 5 years, if the test is still on the approved list and the certificate has not been withdrawn.
• UK degree: the degree certificate only. GOV.UK says this applies to a degree taught in English and awarded by a UK institution.
• Overseas degree: the Ecctis code confirming it is equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree or higher and was taught in English. If you already have an Ecctis assessment, GOV.UK says you can use that certificate.

For which certificate to upload, see our guide to the spouse visa English test certificate.

Relationship and housing evidence

The relationship evidence is the same as for any partner application. GOV.UK says it should come from the government, a bank, a landlord, a utility provider or a medical professional, and be less than 4 years old. GOV.UK's examples include a marriage certificate, a tenancy agreement, utility or Council Tax bills at the same address, a joint bank statement, and a letter from your doctor or dentist.

If you live in student housing or a shared flat now, the housing evidence is for the home you will live in together, such as its tenancy agreement or mortgage statement.

Translations

Paragraph 39B(f) of Part 1 of the Immigration Rules covers documents not in English or Welsh, such as a marriage or birth certificate. You provide the original and a full translation. The translation must be dated and must include confirmation that it is accurate, the full name and signature of the translator, and their contact details. A switch is an application for leave to remain, so 39B(f)(iv) also asks for certification by a qualified translator and details of the translator's credentials.

Frequently asked questions

Does an English test from a Skilled Worker or Student application count for a spouse visa? Appendix FM asks for specified evidence unless the requirement was met in a previous application as a partner or parent. An approved SELT certificate in speaking and listening at A1 or higher is one of the listed types of evidence. The certificate must be from an approved provider and must not have been withdrawn.

Does time on a Student or Skilled Worker visa count towards spouse visa settlement? GOV.UK says you cannot include time spent in the UK on any other visa in the 5 years for settlement as a partner.

How long does a decision take inside the UK? GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision within 8 weeks if you meet the financial and English language requirements. If you do not, it currently takes about 12 months.

Do I need a BRP to switch to a spouse visa? No. You can use an eVisa share code. GOV.UK says a BRP can be used for 24 months after its printed expiry date, or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first.

How Stratovisa helps

A switch means gathering documents from two people, often two sets of payslips, and an English certificate for the partner route. Stratovisa builds the spouse visa checklist from your intake answers and gives each document its own slot: your passport, your partner's proof of status (an upload or an eVisa share code), the marriage certificate, payslips, bank statements, the English certificate and the other documents on your checklist. You can see what is in place and what is still missing. When everything is uploaded, you download one organised package for the online form. See how it works for the spouse and partner visa.