Spousal Visa

Hi everybody,

I hope someone can give me the best advise for my query below:
I am a British Citizen and have been living and working in the UK for the past 5 1/2 years. I was born in South Africa and lived there for 60 odd years. The query I have is my wife of 20 years is South African and has traveled here with no problems. She now wants to move here permanently. I am try to find out if she can apply for a spousal visa while she is here on a tourist/holiday visa. If she can, what is the best way to go about this and any idea as to approximately who long does it take. If the spousal visa is not ready by the time her tourist/holiday visa expires, what is her legal position staying on until the spousal visa is issued?
I would appreciate any ideas, please.

Many thanks,
Doug.

I am try to find out if she can apply for a spousal visa while she is here on a tourist/holiday visa

No she cannot, she cannot switch to any other visa category if she is in the UK on a tourist visa.

She must apply for a spouse visa from South Africa and meet all the requirements, English A1 (if under 65) and you must meet the £18,600pa.