Spouse / Family visa: photo and application guide
Long-stay route for the spouse, civil partner or fiancé(e) of a UK citizen or person settled in the UK. Leads to settlement after 5 years.
Quick answer
45 × 35 mm photo · £2,064 to apply from outside the UK, £1,407 to apply inside the UK, and the same amount again for each dependant · biometrics at VAC
Photo specification is the shared UK 45 × 35 mm format. Biometric photo is captured at the Visa Application Centre during your appointment. Fee £2,064 to apply from outside the UK, £1,407 to apply inside the UK, and the same amount again for each dependant; plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £2,587.50 for the 2 years and 6 months the visa lasts. Processing 12 weeks standard; the £500 priority service usually takes up to 30 working days for family visas applied for from outside the UK — not 5 working days as on most other routes. Last reviewed .
Application route
| Full name | UK Spouse Visa (Family Route) |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Long-stay route for the spouse, civil partner or fiancé(e) of a UK citizen or person settled in the UK. Leads to settlement after 5 years. |
| Application route | Online application via GOV.UK with sponsor financial and accommodation evidence |
| Fee | £2,064 to apply from outside the UK, £1,407 to apply inside the UK, and the same amount again for each dependant; plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £2,587.50 for the 2 years and 6 months the visa lasts |
| Processing time | 12 weeks standard; the £500 priority service usually takes up to 30 working days for family visas applied for from outside the UK — not 5 working days as on most other routes |
| Biometric appointment | Yes — at a visa application centre; the same biometric record is reused when you later extend the visa or apply to settle |
| Official portal | GOV.UK — Spouse / Family visa ↗ |
Photo specification
The Spouse / Family visa uses the shared UK biometric photo standard. The digital photo uploaded with the online application is checked against this spec; the biometric capture at the visa application centre takes a fresh photo for the Home Office record.
| Size | at least 600 × 750 px, portrait orientation |
|---|---|
| Head height | head, shoulders and upper body in frame — do not crop |
| Background | plain light-coloured, with your face in clear contrast to it |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed (no smile) |
| Glasses | Only if you have to wear them; not tinted, eyes clearly visible |
| Digital file | jpg or jpeg, at least 600 × 750 pixels, vertically orientated, file from 50KB to 6MB |
What to watch out for with the Spouse / Family visa
The Spouse visa is the highest-volume family-route application. Your status is held as an eVisa in your UK Visas and Immigration account; the biometric record taken at the visa application centre carries through to the extension and to the eventual settlement application (Indefinite Leave to Remain). Take a photo that will still be recognisable 2.5 years later — major hairstyle or weight changes can trigger biometric mismatch flags at renewal.
Frequently asked questions about the Spouse / Family visa
What size photo do I need for a Spouse / Family visa?
at least 600 × 750 px, portrait orientation, file size 50KB to 6MB, in jpg or jpeg. The Spouse / Family visa uses the UKVI digital standard: head, shoulders and upper body in frame — do not crop, background plain light-coloured, with your face in clear contrast to it, neutral expression. The biometric capture itself happens at the visa application centre appointment.
How much does the Spouse / Family visa cost?
£2,064 to apply from outside the UK, £1,407 to apply inside the UK, and the same amount again for each dependant; plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £2,587.50 for the 2 years and 6 months the visa lasts. The visa fee is paid online during the application; the VAC service fee and Immigration Health Surcharge are separate charges.
How long does the Spouse / Family visa take to process?
12 weeks standard; the £500 priority service usually takes up to 30 working days for family visas applied for from outside the UK — not 5 working days as on most other routes. The clock starts after you attend the biometrics appointment, not when you submit the online application.
Is the biometric appointment mandatory for the Spouse / Family visa?
Yes — at a visa application centre; the same biometric record is reused when you later extend the visa or apply to settle.
Will I receive a card with my photo on it?
No. Plastic cards (Biometric Residence Permits) are no longer issued: Spouse / Family visa status is held as an eVisa in your UK Visas and Immigration account. You prove it with a share code through the "view and prove" service — that is what border officers, employers, banks and landlords check.
Other UK visa categories
Prepare your Spouse / Family visa photo
Upload a portrait — Anfas.Pro applies the UKVI 45 × 35 mm format and biometric framing automatically.