Last reviewed: 18 October 2026
The five-year and ten-year partner visa routes describe different paths towards settlement in the UK. They do not mean that you receive a visa lasting five or ten years in a single grant.
Your route affects the requirements you must meet, future applications and when you may qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
Unsure Which Route You Are On?
Our UK office can review your circumstances and advise on in-country partner applications, extensions and settlement.
WhatsApp Our UK OfficePlease tell us your visa expiry date and what your latest Home Office decision letter says about your route.
Five-Year and Ten-Year Routes Compared
| Feature | Five-year route | Ten-year route |
|---|---|---|
| Basis of permission | Meets the applicable standard partner requirements. | Qualifies under relevant exceptions or exceptional circumstances. |
| Settlement period | Normally five qualifying years on the five-year partner route. | Normally ten qualifying years, with permitted combinations of leave where the rules allow. |
| In-country grants | Normally 30 months at a time. | Normally 30 months at a time. |
| Overall application costs | Usually fewer extensions before settlement. | Usually more extensions and higher cumulative costs. |
| Automatic settlement? | No. A separate application and eligibility assessment are required. | No. A separate application and eligibility assessment are required. |
What Is the Five-Year Partner Route?
This is the standard route for applicants who meet the relevant eligibility and suitability requirements, including the relationship, financial, English-language and accommodation requirements.
A standard overseas spouse grant is normally 33 months; in-country partner grants are normally 30 months. Individual circumstances can affect the permission granted.
The usual minimum income threshold for new applicants is £29,000. Transitional rules may apply to qualifying applicants who first applied before 11 April 2024, while specified benefit cases can be assessed under adequate maintenance rules.
What Is the Ten-Year Partner Route?
The ten-year route can apply where the standard requirements are not all met but the relevant family life exceptions or exceptional circumstances justify permission.
Depending on the case, this may involve a qualifying child, insurmountable obstacles to family life continuing overseas, or circumstances in which refusal would produce unjustifiably harsh consequences.
It is not an automatic alternative for anyone who falls short of the income requirement or fails an English test. The applicable legal test and supporting evidence still need to be addressed.
How Do You Check Your Current Route?
Read the Home Office letter or email approving your latest application. The length of your grant alone will not reliably distinguish the routes because both can involve 30-month permission.
We recommend keeping every decision letter alongside a dated record of your applications and grants. These records help establish your settlement history.
Can You Switch from Ten Years to Five Years?
You may be able to apply to move to the five-year route when you meet its full requirements. A change in income or an English test pass does not automatically change your existing route.
The five-year qualifying period normally starts when permission on that route is granted. Previous time on the ten-year route does not normally count towards those five years.
However, earlier qualifying permission may still count towards ten-year family settlement. We recommend comparing both possible settlement dates before deciding whether to switch.
Can You Combine Different Periods of Permission?
Under Appendix Settlement Family Life, qualifying partner, parent and certain other family or private life permissions can be combined for ten-year settlement.
Some time on other routes leading to settlement may also count, subject to additional conditions. Continuous residence, suitability and the relevant relationship requirements must still be met.
This is different from settlement under the separate Long Residence rules. Do not assume every period of lawful stay counts in the same way under both routes.
Does Failing A2 Automatically Put You on Ten Years?
No. First check whether the test is required, whether previous evidence remains usable and whether an exemption applies. If the standard requirement cannot be met, any alternative application needs an assessment of its legal basis.
Read our spouse visa extension and A2 English test guide.
Partner Extension Fees
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Home Office application fee | £1,407 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | £2,587.50 |
| Government fees | £3,994.50 |
Fees checked on 18 October 2026. These exclude professional fees, dependants, tests, translations and optional services. Eligible applicants may qualify for a fee waiver. Future application fees can change, so this is not a fixed lifetime cost for either route.
When Can You Apply for Settlement?
Settlement depends on your qualifying permission and the requirements in force when you apply. Time as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner does not count towards the usual five-year partner period.
English-language and Life in the UK requirements normally apply at settlement unless an exemption applies. Ten-year family settlement does not automatically remove those requirements.
We recommend reviewing your full immigration history before choosing a settlement application date.
Preparing for Your Next Application
- Check your current route and expiry date.
- Keep decision letters and previous application records.
- Organise evidence of your continuing relationship and shared home.
- Check the financial and English requirements applicable to your case.
- Identify any absences, gaps or changes needing explanation.
Related Partner Visa Guides
Official Guidance
This guide provides general information. Your route, qualifying residence and available options depend on your circumstances, immigration history and the applicable rules.
