UK spouse visa for Somali 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 Somali nationals applying to join a partner who is a British citizen, settled in the UK, or holds refugee or humanitarian protection status. Many sponsors in the UK Somali community hold refugee status or indefinite leave to remain: both qualify for this route.
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.
If the sponsor’s income falls below the threshold, an immigration solicitor can help calculate whether savings or combined income sources bring the application within the rules.
English language requirement
Applicants from Somalia 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.
- 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
Tests must be taken at an approved test centre. Online tests are not accepted for immigration purposes. If you are currently based in Somalia, check GOV.UK for the nearest approved testing location, which may require travel to a neighbouring country.
Tuberculosis test
Somalia 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. You cannot use results from any other provider.
The certificate is valid for six months, so plan your test date to align with your visa application timeline. If you are based outside Somalia, check GOV.UK for the approved list of clinics in the country where you are residing.
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 (see notes below on documentation challenges)
- 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 contact, evidence of financial support
- English language test certificate
- TB test certificate
- Accommodation evidence (tenancy agreement, mortgage statement, or landlord letter)
- Documents not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation
A note on documentation
Civil registration infrastructure in Somalia has been significantly disrupted. If your marriage was conducted as a religious or traditional ceremony, you may not have a formal civil registration document.
The Home Office does not automatically reject applications with incomplete documentation, but you must provide the strongest evidence available and explain in writing why certain documents cannot be obtained. A statutory declaration or affidavit from a reliable source may support your case.
Applications involving incomplete civil documentation are closely scrutinised. Taking legal advice from an immigration solicitor before applying is strongly recommended.
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) to provide biometric information: fingerprints and a photograph.
There is currently no UK Visa Application Centre operating inside Somalia. You will need to travel to a VAC in a nearby country. Common options include Nairobi (Kenya) or Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). Use the GOV.UK VAC finder to confirm current availability before booking travel.
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 TB test fees, the English language test, document translation, travel to the VAC, and, if you use one, solicitor fees.
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
My sponsor has refugee status in the UK. Can they sponsor a spouse visa?
Yes. A person with refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK can sponsor a Family Visa application. The same financial and accommodation requirements apply.
What if I cannot obtain a civil marriage certificate?
Provide whatever documentation you do have, along with a written explanation of why civil registration was not possible. Evidence such as witness statements, photographs of the ceremony, and a letter from a community leader may support your case. Legal advice is strongly recommended for applications with incomplete documentation.
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. Refusal rates for Somali spouse visa applications are notable; taking legal advice before reapplying is strongly recommended.
Can my children come with me?
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.
How long does the process take end to end?
From preparing documents to receiving a decision, the process typically takes several months. The standard decision period after your VAC appointment is up to 12 weeks. Factor in time to arrange travel to the VAC, obtain the TB test, and sit the English language test.
Do I need a solicitor?
There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor, but given the complexity of documentation challenges and refusal rates for Somali applications, many applicants find professional legal advice significantly improves their chances of success.