Most people extending their stay in the UK on family grounds will use either FLR(M), the partner route under Appendix FM, or FLR(FP), the family and private life route. FLR(M) generally suits couples who meet the financial requirement and usually leads to settlement on the five-year route, whilst FLR(FP) covers private life and some family claims that typically lead to settlement after ten years.
TL;DR:
- New FLR(M) applicants from April 11, 2024, generally need £29,000 in qualifying income; some earlier applicants retain the £18,600 threshold under transitional rules.
- FLR(M) applicants should organize relationship records and income evidence; specified disability benefits may replace the standard threshold with an adequate maintenance test.
- Children under 18 may qualify for the private life route after seven UK years if leaving is unreasonable; adults need 20 years of continuous residence.
- The standard FLR(M) fee is £1,407, and applicants who cannot afford either form’s fee must seek a fee waiver before submitting the main application.
- Applicants who meet FLR(M)’s relationship and income rules can switch; otherwise, established family or private life may support an FLR(FP) claim.
Table of Contents
- FLR(M) and FLR(FP) at a glance
- How FLR(M) works under Appendix FM
- FLR(FP) and the family or private life test
- What the 2026 fees and MIR mean for your budget
- Settlement timelines and when switching routes makes sense
- Preparing and submitting your FLR application
- Why legal advice matters in borderline cases
- How we help with FLR(M) and FLR(FP) applications
- FAQ
- Sources
FLR(M) and FLR(FP) at a glance
If you are in a genuine relationship with a settled partner and can meet the financial threshold, FLR(M) is almost always the correct form. If your case rests on long residence, Article 8 family life that does not fit the partner category, or the welfare of a child, FLR(FP) is the route decision-makers expect to see.
- FLR(M) suits partners and dependent children of someone settled, a refugee, or a person with humanitarian protection, and needs relationship evidence plus proof of meeting the minimum income requirement.
- FLR(FP) suits long-residence claims, family life that does not meet Appendix FM partner rules, and private life cases, supported by residence history, school or medical records, and welfare arguments.
- Settlement timing differs sharply: FLR(M) typically leads to indefinite leave after five years, whilst FLR(FP) commonly runs on a ten-year clock.
- Both routes are applied for using the relevant online FLR form, and both now sit under the 2026 fees regulations.
How FLR(M) works under Appendix FM
FLR(M) is the extension form for partners and dependent children of a person who is settled in the UK, recognised as a refugee, or granted humanitarian protection. It sits inside Appendix FM, which sets out both the relationship criteria and the financial test that decide most applications.
The financial element is usually the deciding factor. For new applicants from 11 April 2024, the Appendix FM financial requirement guidance confirms the minimum income requirement rose to £29,000, with transitional arrangements letting some applicants who applied before that date continue to rely on the earlier £18,600 threshold, plus child additions in certain cases. Where a sponsor receives specified disability benefits, an adequate maintenance test can apply instead of the standard income figure, though this still demands precise financial evidence.
Typical documentary evidence includes marriage or civil partnership certificates (or proof of cohabitation for unmarried partners), employer letters, payslips and bank statements covering the relevant period, and tenancy agreements or mortgage statements showing a shared home. Anyone approaching settlement after a grant under this route should also note the English language requirement that applies at that later stage. Our FLR(M) requirements checklist sets out the specific evidence list in more detail, and our guide to the spouse visa financial requirement explains what counts as qualifying income when a couple’s circumstances are not straightforward.
FLR(FP) and the family or private life test
FLR(FP) covers a broader and more varied set of circumstances than FLR(M). It applies to people relying on family life as a partner or parent outside the strict Appendix FM partner category, and to those relying on private life built up through years spent in the UK.
Decision-makers weigh these cases against Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, balancing the applicant’s family and private life against the public interest in immigration control. The Immigration Rules Appendix Private Life guidance sets out specific thresholds for the private life route, including children under 18 who have lived in the UK for at least seven years where it would be unreasonable to expect them to leave, and adults who have accumulated 20 years of continuous residence. Where a child’s circumstances are central, the best interests of that child carry real weight in the assessment.
Evidence for FLR(FP) looks different from an FLR(M) bundle. Continuous residence records, school attendance letters, medical records for children, and a clear account of family ties and welfare considerations typically matter more than payslips. This is also the route some applicants turn to when they cannot meet the minimum income requirement but have established genuine family or private life in the UK. Our guide on avoiding Part Suitability refusals on the private life route covers the evidential pitfalls that most often sink these applications.
What the 2026 fees and MIR mean for your budget
Cost and eligibility are closely linked, since the financial requirement and the application fee both need planning for well before you submit. The standard FLR(M) application fee rose to £1,407, up from £1,321, under the 2026 fees regulations.
- The £29,000 minimum income requirement applies to new FLR(M) applicants from 11 April 2024 onwards, with transitional protection for some earlier applicants relying on the previous £18,600 threshold.
- A higher financial threshold applies in certain cases under the Appendix HM Armed Forces financial requirement rules for Ministry of Defence sponsors.
- FLR(FP) applicants are not generally tested against the same minimum income figure, but still need to show adequate maintenance or avoid reliance on public funds where the rules require it.
- Savings, employment income, self-employment accounts, pension income, and rental or dividend income can all count towards meeting the financial requirement where properly evidenced.
Getting this evidence right the first time avoids delays, since gaps in financial documentation are one of the most common reasons FLR(M) applications stall.
Settlement timelines and when switching routes makes sense
FLR(M) sits on the five-year partner route to settlement under Appendix FM, meaning a person who meets the relationship and financial requirements throughout can apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years, as confirmed in the settlement family and private life guidance. FLR(FP) more commonly runs on a ten-year route, whether through the private life rules or the ten-year family route that applies in specified family cases.
Processing times vary with complexity. Straightforward FLR(M) renewals with clear financial evidence tend to move faster than FLR(FP) cases built on long residence or contested Article 8 arguments, which often need detailed legal submissions. Switching between routes is possible: someone who later meets the Appendix FM financial and relationship requirements can move onto FLR(M), whilst someone who cannot meet the minimum income requirement may still have a viable FLR(FP) claim if genuine private or family life in the UK is established.
Preparing and submitting your FLR application
Both forms are completed online, and the sequence of steps is broadly the same whichever route applies to you.
- Confirm which route fits your circumstances: relationship and income evidence point to FLR(M), residence and welfare evidence point to FLR(FP).
- Gather the specified evidence bundle for your route before starting the form.
- Apply for a fee waiver first if you cannot afford the fee, since GOV.UK guidance for both FLR(FP) and FLR(M) requires the waiver application before the main form.
- Complete the correct online FLR form and pay the fee if no waiver applies.
- Book and attend your biometrics appointment.
- Await the decision and respond promptly to any evidence requests.
For FLR(M), prioritise a tidy chronology of income and relationship evidence; for FLR(FP), build a clear residence timeline supported by independent records. Our 2026 guide to UK family visa documents sets out what to prepare for each category.
Pro Tip: Lay your financial or residence evidence out in date order before you start the form; caseworkers raise fewer queries when the chronology is obvious on first read.
Why legal advice matters in borderline cases
Edge cases are where applications usually go wrong: a sponsor’s income that falls just short of £29,000, or a private life claim resting on patchy residence records. Solicitor-led preparation catches these gaps before submission rather than after a refusal.
We handle every enquiry from the first call with a qualified solicitor, never a trainee, which means financial and Article 8 evidence gets scrutinised by someone who has seen how caseworkers assess it. Clear fixed pricing and preparation options matter when a visa is close to expiry and the paperwork still needs sorting.
— michelle
How we help with FLR(M) and FLR(FP) applications
We prepare both FLR(M) and FLR(FP) applications directly with you, from the first assessment of which route fits your circumstances through to submission and biometrics. Every case is handled by a qualified solicitor from the outset, with fixed fees agreed upfront so there are no surprises partway through.
- Initial Consultation (1 hour) to assess your route and evidence gaps.
- Spouse, fiancé or child settlement preparation for FLR(M) cases, and settlement work once you reach the five or ten-year mark.
- A fast-track service can help prepare urgent applications when your current leave is close to expiry.
If your visa is approaching its deadline or your financial evidence looks borderline, book an initial consultation and bring the documents listed above so we can give you a clear answer on your route and your evidence straight away.
FAQ
What is FLR(M) in the UK visa system?
FLR(M) is the form used to extend stay in the UK as the partner or dependent child of someone settled, a refugee, or a person with humanitarian protection, under Appendix FM rules. It requires relationship evidence and proof of meeting the minimum income requirement, and usually leads towards settlement on the five-year route.
What is FLR(FP) in the UK visa system?
FLR(FP) is the form used to extend stay on the basis of family life as a partner or parent outside the standard Appendix FM partner category, or on the basis of private life built up in the UK, as set out in the FLR(FP) guidance. It typically relies on residence history and Article 8 arguments rather than the minimum income requirement.
Is FLR(M) a ten-year route to settlement?
No, FLR(M) is generally aligned with the five-year partner route to settlement under Appendix FM, provided the relationship and financial requirements continue to be met throughout. The ten-year route more commonly applies to FLR(FP) cases based on private life or specified family circumstances, as explained in the settlement guidance.
How many types of FLR are there in the UK?
The main categories are FLR(M) for partners and dependent children, FLR(FP) for family and private life claims, and other specific forms used for different circumstances such as asylum-related leave. Our overview of UK family visa categories explains where each form fits within the wider system.
Sources
- The Immigration, Nationality and Passports (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
- Family Migration Appendix FM Section and Appendix HM Armed Forces Financial Requirement
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