Complete UK Spouse Visa Document Checklist

To make sure your application for a spouse visa in the UK is accepted, you need to organise and gather your important papers according to the UK spouse visa document checklist. This checklist is designed as per the Home Office’s guidelines by our professional immigration solicitors. So, here are the important papers you need to provide to support your application for a Spouse or Partner Visa.

Which documents are required for a UK spouse visa?

The Spouse Visa UK has strict standards for how much money you have, where you live, and how well you can prove you are in a real relationship. When someone applies to the UK government, they will need a lot of proof to show that they meet all the requirements and avoid being turned down for small reasons like missing documents or forms that were not filled out properly.

Here is a list of all the papers you will need:

A passport that is still valid or other valid travel papers

Validation of your relationship status (photos, marriage licences, etc.)
Proof that you have enough money to pay the fees
Proof that you can speak and write English well
Proof that you will have a place to stay in the UK
Your TB test results if you live in a country that requires them.
Complete the forms for a UK spouse visa.
Some other papers, based on your situation

Here is a more detailed UK Spouse visa document checklist, along with a description of each one.

If you fill out your application completely, you have a better chance of getting a Spouse visa that is good for 30 months. After that, you can ask for a spouse visa extension and then Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Documents for Non-British Applicants

As part of your UK Spouse Visa document checklist 2024, this area will have your travel documents, like your passport. When applying for a spouse visa, you’ll also need to supply supporting documents, such as proof of English proficiency or a degree (if available) and a tuberculosis (TB) certificate (if your home country requires one).

You will also have to give your biometric information, which includes your fingerprints and a photo. This is not a document; you present it at a visa application centre. Finally, you might need to show your National Insurance number if you are already in the UK on a different visa.

Sponsor Documents for Spouse Visa

Your UK husband or wife will have to bring their travel documents and a letter from them explaining your relationship and why the Home Office should grant you a spouse visa.

Financial records of the UK sponsor

The UK spouse visa conditions say that the UK sponsor must have at least £18,600 in cash. You cannot include your earnings from outside the UK because they must come from inside the UK.

A sponsor from the UK can meet this financial requirement in several different ways. Among them are:

a pension;
Pay for maternity, paternity, adoption, or sick leave;
Money that doesn’t come from work, like rent or stock; and Cash savings of over £16,000
Some benefits, like Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments, may not require your sponsor to pay the money.

Talk to an immigration expert if you want to know more about these or if you have any questions about the UK Spouse Visa financial requirements.

Proof of proper accommodations

You must prove that you plan to live with your spouse or partner in the UK and that there is enough room at the house for both of you and any children who may be coming with you.

You might need to show an immigration housing report to show that you meet the housing standard in some situations. Some situations may also require you to show a letter from the landlord or owner of the place you will be staying.

Documents for Relationship Proof

To show that you are married or in a civil relationship with a non-British partner, you must:

Have a valid marriage or civil partnership certificate.
Show proof of a real connection with your partner, like emails, chat logs, proof of travel or meetings in person, trips you’ve taken together, etc.
Divorce record if you have been married before.
A written relationship statement (no more than two A4 pages) explaining your relationship with the applicant (non-British spouse), including how you met, how long you’ve been together, and why you really want to live together forever.

Documents to Fulfil English Language Requirement

For non-British spouses who want to move to the UK with their partner, they must be able to take and pass the IELTS Life Skills A1 test at a SELT school approved by the home office.

If a person is asking for entry clearance (A1 or A2 level) or the ILR route to settlement (B1 level), the CEFR level they need will vary. So the most important proofs of English ability are either:

A valid IELTS certificate with a SELT reference number that is no more than two years old

You need to include ECTIS-verified papers if you have a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree that was taught in English. ECTIS is a formal UK NARIC service that checks foreign degrees against UK qualifications.

Proof of the Tuberculosis requirement

As scary and annoying as it may sound, the UKVI spouse visa UK standards say that you must include a TB certificate with your spouse visa application if you are coming from a country where the test is required. There is an option if:

You lived in a country for at least six months where TB screening is not required, and you haven’t been back to that country for more than six months.
Make sure that the TB test is done at a clinic approved by the Home Office.

Proof that a marriage certificate needs translation

In this case, the formal rule from the Home Office is:

There must be a full translation of each source document that the Home Office can check on its own.

The following information must be on every translated paper that is not in English or Welsh. This includes marriage and birth certificates.

Confirmation from the translator that the translation is a true copy of the original

When the translation is complete
The full name as well as the signature of the translator
Contact details of the translator

Always Keep In Mind: For translations of your marriage visa and other papers, you should hire a certified translator who is approved by the Home Office.

Document Checklist for UK Spouse Visa

In short, here is a quick look at the UK visa spouse documents required to apply:

Fill out the forms for the spouse visa.
A valid passport or other acceptable travel documents
Make sure you have clear copies of your passport’s picture page and any visa or entry stamps from before.
A letter of support for a spouse visa
Your marriage or civil partnership certificate to show that you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen or settled person. Other proof that your relationship is real, like:
- Pictures of the two of you since you started dating
- shared rental agreements or mortgage or property buying papers
- Proof that you booked a vacation together
- Chat logs from email and social networks
- Documents for travel when visiting each other
Proof of a suitable place to live in the UK, which could be a
- Tenancy deal
- Immigration house report
- Letter from the owner or manager of the place where you’ll be living
The following are some ways to show that you meet the English language requirement:
- An English language certificate from a recognised test that shows you can speak and write at least at level A1
- Show proof that you are from one of the English-speaking countries that doesn’t have to take the test.
- Please show proof that you have a degree or other academic qualification that was taught or studied in English and is recognised by the UK NARIC.

You must show proof that you have a joint annual income of at least £18,600. This can come from a job, not employed, self-employment, savings, or pensions. Use bank statements as evidence.
Certificate of divorce from any past marriages, if any
Test reports for tuberculosis (if needed)
Additionally, information about any criminal activity

Need Assistance?

Getting a Spouse Visa UK is a difficult and often stressful process. The UK government has put in place several steps to make sure that a relationship is real to cut down on the number of fake marriages. However, for many legitimate couples who have no prior experience with the UK immigration procedure, these steps can be extremely challenging and lead to refusals.

Because the requirements for a UK Spouse Visa are so difficult and are often up to the applicant, it is best to talk to an immigration expert at UK Immigration Solicitors before you apply. Your personal lawyer will give you a full Spouse Visa UK document plan that is prepared just for you. As part of our service, your lawyer will also help you fill out the Spouse Visa application form before you send it in.

Need an immigration expert in the UK to help you? Our immigration lawyers are highly expert and know a lot about UK immigration law. We have offices all over the UK, including in London and Birmingham. Call us at 02033844389 right now to talk to a professional about your situation, or fill out our online contact form to make an inquiry.

Disclaimer

This website and its articles are not meant to give legal advice, but rather to provide general information. We make every effort to ensure that the content is accurate, but we cannot guarantee that it is comprehensive or applicable to specific situations. If users have any particular legal issues or concerns, they should not rely solely on the information given and should instead consult a solicitor. We at UK Immigration Solicitors are not responsible for anything that people do or don’t do after reading our articles. For tailored advice or to discuss your specific situation, please contact our experienced UK immigration solicitors at 02033844389.