UK spouse visa for Turkish nationals
What this visa is
The UK Family Visa (Partner route) allows the spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner of a British citizen or person settled in the UK to come and live there long-term. This is a settlement route, not a visitor visa. If approved, the applicant can live and work in the UK for an initial 33 months, with a path to indefinite leave to remain after five years.
This guide covers the process for Turkish nationals applying to join a partner who is a British citizen or settled in the UK.
Who can apply
You can apply for a UK spouse visa if you are:
- Legally married to your sponsor, or in a civil partnership with them
- In an unmarried partnership and can prove you have lived together for at least two years
- Engaged and intending to marry within six months of arriving in the UK (fiancé visa route)
You must be aged 18 or over, your relationship must be genuine and subsisting, and you must have met your sponsor in person.
Who can sponsor
The person sponsoring your visa must be one of the following:
- A British citizen
- A person with indefinite leave to remain (ILR) or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
- A person with refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK
The sponsor must be living in the UK, or intending to return when you arrive, and must meet the financial requirement.
Financial requirement
The sponsor must demonstrate a minimum gross annual income of £29,000. This threshold was introduced in April 2024. Verify the current figure on GOV.UK before applying, as it has been subject to change.
Income from employment, self-employment, rental income, and pension can all count toward the threshold. Savings above £16,000 can supplement income that falls short of the requirement.
The applicant’s own overseas income does not count at the initial application stage.
English language requirement
Applicants from Turkey must demonstrate English language ability at B1 level (independent user) on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
Ways to meet the requirement:
- Pass an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) at B1 level. Approved providers include Trinity College London and IELTS SELT Consortium. Tests must be taken at an approved test centre in Turkey: centres are available in Ankara and Istanbul.
- Hold a degree taught entirely in English, recognised by UK ENIC as equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree or above
- Be aged 65 or over
Online tests are not accepted for immigration purposes.
Tuberculosis test
Turkey is not on the UK’s list of countries requiring a tuberculosis (TB) test certificate. Turkish nationals do not need to obtain a TB test as part of this application.
Accommodation requirement
The sponsor must demonstrate that there is adequate accommodation in the UK for both of you, without relying on public funds. The property does not need to be owned: rented accommodation qualifies. A mortgage statement, tenancy agreement, or landlord letter confirming the arrangement is the standard supporting evidence.
Documents needed
The documents required will depend on your specific circumstances. You will typically need:
- Valid passport
- Marriage certificate: in Turkey, marriages are registered with the Civil Registry (Nüfus Müdürlüğü). The official document is the Evlenme Cüzdanı (marriage booklet) or a formal certificate extract, accompanied by a certified English translation.
- If previously married: Turkish divorce decree (boşanma kararı) or death certificate of former spouse, with certified translation
- Sponsor’s proof of UK immigration status (passport, BRP, or share code)
- Sponsor’s proof of income (payslips, P60, employer letter, bank statements)
- Evidence of genuine relationship: messages, photographs together, records of visits, joint financial arrangements
- English language test certificate
- Accommodation evidence (tenancy agreement, mortgage statement, or landlord letter)
- All documents not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation
How to apply
The application is made online through the UK government’s visa application service. The applicant completes the online form, pays the visa fee and healthcare surcharge, and then attends an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Turkey to provide biometric information: fingerprints and a photograph.
VAC locations in Turkey include Ankara and Istanbul. Check current availability on the GOV.UK VAC finder before booking.
Documents are typically uploaded as part of the online application rather than submitted physically.
Costs and processing times
Visa fee: £2,064 (applying from outside the UK)
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £3,105 (covering the initial 33-month visa period, at £1,035 per year). Verify the current IHS rate on GOV.UK before applying, as it is subject to change.
Total before additional costs: approximately £5,169. You should also budget for the English language test and any document translation and certification costs. There is no TB test fee for Turkish applicants.
Processing time: Standard processing is up to 12 weeks from the date of your VAC appointment. A priority service is sometimes available: check current availability when applying, as priority slots are not always open.
After approval: what comes next
If your visa is approved, you will receive a 30-day entry vignette in your passport. You must travel to the UK within this window.
On arrival, you will have a 33-month visa during which you are permitted to live and work. Before this expires, you will need to apply to extend for a further 30 months. After five years on the route in total, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain.
Your eVisa will be issued digitally. You will need to set up a UKVI account to access and share your immigration status.
Children can be included in the application or apply separately. Each child pays the visa fee and healthcare surcharge separately.
FAQs
Does my Turkish marriage need to be registered anywhere before I apply?
Turkish civil marriages are registered with the Civil Registry (Nüfus Müdürlüğü) automatically at the time of the ceremony. If you had only a religious ceremony without civil registration, the marriage will not be legally recognised for UK visa purposes. You would need to arrange a civil registration before applying.
What documents prove my Turkish divorce?
You will need the court divorce decree (boşanma kararı) issued by the Turkish family court, along with a certified English translation. If the divorce was obtained abroad, additional documentation may be required.
Do I need a TB test?
No. Turkey is not on the UK’s list of countries requiring a TB test. This is one less step in the process compared to many other nationalities.
Can I include my children in my application?
Yes. Dependent children under 18 can apply as part of your application or separately. Each child requires their own visa fee and healthcare surcharge payment.
Is it possible to switch to a spouse visa from inside the UK?
If you are already in the UK on a different visa, it may be possible to switch without leaving. The in-country application fee is £1,407. Not all visa categories allow switching: check whether your current visa permits this before applying.
What if my application is refused?
You will receive a refusal letter explaining the reasons. Depending on the basis of refusal, you may have a right of appeal to the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal or may be able to make a fresh application addressing the issues identified.