English requirement for Spouse visa for ILR

[Master999]

Hi,

I have come to the UK in May 2011 and got my ILR under 10 years route in 2021.

Since then my wife and kids are on the Family route (2.5 year for 1st visa and then an extension of another 2.5 years). They are eligible for thier ILR in Sep 2026, probably with a 28 days earlier application window they can apply in Aug 2026. Children are born in India and hence have to switch to Family dependants from ICT dependants in 2021 once I got my ILR. My wife and kids will be eligible for a 10 year route in May 2017. However they are eligible under Family route in Aug 2026.

Queries:
1. My wife has a degree from India taught in Englis and have the NARIC certificate for it.
Will that be sufficient or should she write any IELTS?

2. What is the finance requirement for the spouse ILR visa, hearing news that a minimun 12,500 per year for the last 3 yaesr have to be shown. Can you please give some clarity in this case as there is some confusion and we want to be prepared.

3. Is the Life in the UK test requirement same or any changes in that as well?

4. Once my kids get thier ILR, can they apply for British passport straight away or should they have to wait for a year and then apply?
They are in the UK since May 2017.

Thanks in Advance.

[Master999]

@Moderators @CR001 @Zimba....Any help on my queries is graetly appreciated, thanks

[Master999]

Hi,

As per proposed Financial requirement for Spouse ILR Family route, we hear that 12500 has to be earned

Can this be shown in the current year in the form of payslips, rental income etc... even before submitting the Self assessment to HMRC?

Or the financial year has to be completed to claim the 12500 earnings.

[zimba]

1. Old NARIC obtained under the red route can be used

2. There is no such requirement as the rules stand. You need min £18,600 and a bit more if you include the children

Read the official guide --> https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... rement.pdf

3. No changes has been announced

4. You cannot get a British passport unless they are a British citizen. Children born outside the UK have no entitlement to British citizenship at all. They can get registered as British (via form MN1) but to be eligible, they should have ILR, one parent must be British and the other should at least settled.

[zimba]

Hi,

As per proposed Financial requirement for Spouse ILR Family route, we hear that 12500 has to be earned

Can this be shown in the current year in the form of payslips, rental income etc... even before submitting the Self assessment to HMRC?

Or the financial year has to be completed to claim the 12500 earnings.

No changes have been announced at all. Income stratification depends all on which category you qualify under. For category F and G, you cannot claim self-employment income without submitting a self assessment or year-end accounts. Read the official guide I linked above

[Master999]

Hi,

My wife is about to apply her ILR in Sep 2026. She is on her 2.5 yrs + 2.5 yrs of the Family dependant as I am ILR holder.

1. Can we apply 28 days earlier(3 Aug 2026) of the 5 year completion date which is 3 Sep 2026?
2. What is the English requirement now? - We had the ECCTIS letter about her degree taught in English in 2021. Can we still us the same certificate as English language requirement while applying her ILR?

[zimba]

1. Yes
2. Yes

[Master999]

Thanks Zimba.

I have one question.

I heard that my chidlren can apply for thier Registration/Naturalisation and then passport as soon as they get their ILR.

Also my wife can also do the same or will she have to wait for 1 more year?

[CR001]

Thanks Zimba.

I have one question.

I heard that my chidlren can apply for thier Registration/Naturalisation and then passport as soon as they get their ILR.

Also my wife can also do the same or will she have to wait for 1 more year?

If you are British, then yes, your wife does not have to wait 12 months on ILR provided she meets all the requirements.

Also please ask your British Citizenship questions in the British Citizenship sub forum. These questions are not relevant to your ILR topic and the ILR sub forum.