UK spouse visa for Pakistani nationals
What this visa is
The UK spouse visa, formally the UK Family Visa (Partner route), allows the husband, wife, civil partner, or unmarried partner of someone settled in the UK to come and live there. Unlike a visitor visa, this is a route to long-term residence. If the application is successful, the applicant can live and work in the UK, and eventually apply for indefinite leave to remain.
This guide covers the process for Pakistani nationals applying to join a partner who is a British citizen, settled in the UK, or holds refugee or humanitarian protection status.
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 to a British citizen or settled person and intending to marry within six months of arriving (this is the fiancé visa route, which leads to a spouse visa after the marriage takes place)
You must be aged 18 or over, and your relationship must be genuine and subsisting, meaning it is a real relationship that is actively ongoing. You and your partner must also have met in person.
Who can sponsor
The person in the UK sponsoring your visa, referred to as the sponsor, 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 to the UK when you arrive. They must also meet the financial requirement described below.
Financial requirement
This is the section of the application where most refusals happen, and where a solicitor adds the most value.
The sponsor must demonstrate a minimum gross annual income of £29,000. This threshold was set in April 2024. The UK government has indicated it intends to raise it to £38,700 in future, but as of 2026 the £29,000 figure remains in force: check the current GOV.UK guidance before applying, as this has been subject to change.
What counts toward the £29,000 threshold:
- Salaried employment (the sponsor’s payslips and bank statements are the primary evidence)
- Self-employment income
- Non-employment income such as rental income or pension
- Cash savings above £16,000 can be used to top up income that falls short, at a set formula
If the sponsor’s income falls below the threshold, savings can make up the difference. The required savings amount depends on how far short the income falls and how long the visa is for; the calculation can be complex, which is why many couples in this position seek legal advice.
The applicant’s own income from overseas employment does not count toward the financial requirement at the initial application stage.
English language requirement
Pakistani nationals are not exempt from the English language requirement, and this catches some applicants off guard.
You must demonstrate English language ability at A1 level (basic user) for the initial spouse visa application. This is the minimum required to be granted entry. On extension applications, the requirement rises to A2, and for indefinite leave to remain it rises to B1.
Ways to meet the English language requirement:
- Pass an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) at A1 level. Approved providers include Trinity College London and IELTS SELT Consortium. Tests must be taken at an approved test centre: online tests are not accepted for immigration purposes.
- Hold a degree or academic qualification that was taught and assessed in English, provided the qualification is recognised by UK ENIC.
- Be a national of a majority English-speaking country (Pakistan does not qualify for this exemption).
- Be aged 65 or over.
The English test certificate must be valid at the time of application. Most certificates are valid for two years, so plan your test date accordingly.
Tuberculosis test
Pakistan is on the UK’s list of countries where applicants must provide a tuberculosis (TB) test certificate. This is a chest X-ray carried out at an approved clinic in Pakistan; you cannot use results from any other provider or country.
The certificate is valid for six months from the date of the test. Time your test carefully so that the certificate does not expire before your visa decision is made. A list of approved clinics in Pakistan is available on the GOV.UK website.
Accommodation requirement
The sponsor must demonstrate that there is adequate accommodation available for both of you in the UK, without needing to rely on public funds. The accommodation does not need to be owned, rented property qualifies, but it must be suitable for the number of people who will be living there.
If you are staying with family, a letter from the property owner or landlord confirming the arrangements is typically required.
Documents needed
Getting the documents right is where many applications run into problems. The following is a guide to what is typically required, though the Home Office may request additional evidence in individual cases.
Sponsor’s documents:
– Passport or travel document
– Evidence of immigration status (passport with British citizenship, BRP, or settled status share code)
– Six months of payslips and corresponding bank statements (if employed)
– Employment letter confirming salary, contract type, and length of service
– Evidence of accommodation (tenancy agreement, mortgage statement, or letter from landlord/property owner)
Applicant’s documents:
– Current passport valid for the duration of the visa
– Marriage certificate (if applicable: see FAQs below on nikah certificates)
– English language test certificate at A1 level
– Tuberculosis test certificate from an approved clinic in Pakistan
– Photographs meeting UK visa photo requirements
– Evidence of genuine relationship: messages, photos together, records of visits, joint financial commitments
Both parties:
– Evidence of having met in person
– If either party has been married before, evidence that the previous marriage has ended (divorce certificate or death certificate)
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 Pakistan to provide biometric information: fingerprints and a photograph.
VAC appointments in Pakistan are available in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore. Appointment availability varies and can sometimes be limited, so book as early as possible once the online application is submitted.
The sponsor in the UK does not need to attend an appointment but is responsible for providing their supporting documents, which are typically uploaded as part of the online application.
Costs and processing times
Visa application fee: £2,064 (paid when submitting the online application)
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £3,105 for the initial 33-month visa. This must be paid upfront and covers access to the NHS during your stay in the UK. It is not refundable if the application is refused.
Total before additional costs: approximately £5,169. You should also budget for the TB test (around £65–110 at approved clinics in Pakistan), the English language test (around £150–200 depending on provider), any document translation costs, and, if you use one, solicitor fees.
Processing time: Standard processing is up to 12 weeks from the date of your VAC appointment. Many applications are decided faster than this, but there is no guarantee. A priority service is sometimes available, which aims to process applications within 30 working days: 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 30-day window.
On arrival in the UK, you will have a 33-month visa (2 years and 9 months), during which you are permitted to live and work. Before this initial visa expires, you will need to apply to extend it for a further 30 months. After completing a total of five years on the spouse visa route, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), which is permanent settlement in the UK.
Your eVisa will be issued digitally; the UK no longer issues physical visa stickers for new applicants. You will need to set up a UKVI account to access your immigration status.
FAQs
Does a nikah certificate count as proof of marriage for a UK spouse visa?
A nikah alone is not sufficient. The UK Home Office requires a civil marriage certificate: a nikah must be registered with the relevant civil authorities in Pakistan to produce a legal marriage certificate (a NADRA certificate is typically the document used). If your nikah has not been registered as a civil marriage, you will need to address this before applying.
My sponsor earns less than £29,000. Can we still apply?
Potentially, yes; if the sponsor has savings above £16,000, those savings can be used to supplement income that falls short of the threshold. The formula for calculating the required savings is set out in the Immigration Rules. This is a situation where speaking to an immigration solicitor is particularly worthwhile, as the calculation can be complex.
What if my visa 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 you may be able to make a fresh application addressing the issues raised. Refusal rates for Pakistani spouse visa applications are significant; taking legal advice before reapplying is strongly recommended.
Can I work in the UK on a spouse visa?
Yes. There are no restrictions on the type of work you can do on a spouse visa. You can work for an employer or be self-employed.
Do I need to live with my sponsor when I arrive?
You need to have adequate accommodation arranged, but there is no requirement to live at the same address every night. The relationship must be genuine and ongoing; the Home Office may take a dim view if the couple appears to be living entirely separately.
Can my children come with me?
Yes. Dependent children under 18 can be included in the application or apply separately. Each child must pay the visa fee and healthcare surcharge separately.
Can I apply from inside the UK?
If you are already in the UK on a different visa, it may be possible to switch to a spouse visa without leaving. The in-country application fee is £1,407 (lower than the out-of-country fee). Not all visa categories allow switching: check whether your current visa permits this before applying.