Marriage is a joyful milestone, and for many Pakistani families it also means a new chapter in another country. If your husband or wife lives in the United Kingdom and you want to join them there to build your life together, the UK spouse visa — officially a family visa as a partner or spouse — is the route most couples use. It is not a visitor visa and it is not automatic just because you are married. You have to apply, prove your relationship, meet the money and English rules, and pay the fees. Done carefully, thousands of couples make this journey every year, and this guide walks you through it in plain language.
The first thing to understand is who this visa is for. It is for the husband, wife, civil partner or long-term unmarried partner of a British or Irish citizen, or of a person who is settled in the UK — that usually means someone with indefinite leave to remain. Both of you must be aged 18 or over, you must have met each other in person, and you must intend to live together permanently in the UK once the visa is granted. Marriage alone does not guarantee a visa, and a visa does not make you a British citizen. It gives you permission to live, and usually to work, in the UK for a set period, and after five years on this route you can usually apply to settle permanently.
Who can apply, and who can sponsor you
Your sponsor is your partner in the UK. According to GOV.UK, your partner must be a British or Irish citizen, have indefinite leave to remain, have settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or hold certain other settled or protection statuses. If your partner is in the UK on a temporary work or student visa, the spouse visa is usually not the right route — you would normally apply as their dependant instead, so check which route fits your partner’s status before you spend any money.
You can apply as a spouse if your marriage is recognised in the UK. A nikah performed in Pakistan is recognised if it was valid under Pakistani law where it took place, so keep your nikah nama safe and get a proper translation if it is in Urdu. You can also apply as a civil partner, or as an unmarried partner if you have lived together for at least two years when you apply. GOV.UK also recognises couples who have been in a relationship for at least two years but could not live together for reasons such as work, study or cultural circumstances. If you are engaged rather than married, you need a different starting point — the fiancé(e) visa — which is covered in our UK Fiancé(e) Visa: How to Join Your Partner in Britain.
One point families often miss: both partners must be free to marry. If either of you was married before, that earlier marriage must have legally ended before you apply, and you will need the divorce certificate or death certificate to prove it. Keep every certificate original and translated where needed.
The relationship test: proving your marriage is genuine
The Home Office wants to be satisfied that your relationship is genuine and that you intend to live together in the UK. This is not about romance in the storybook sense; it is about evidence. Officers look for a consistent, believable picture built from documents over time. The strongest applications tell the story of the relationship clearly: how you met, when you met in person, how the rishta was arranged, when the nikah took place, and how you have stayed in touch since.
Useful evidence includes your nikah nama and marriage registration certificate, photographs together at the wedding and on other occasions, travel records and passport stamps showing visits, chat and call records over a reasonable period, and evidence of visits and time spent together. If you have lived together, joint tenancy agreements, utility bills and bank statements at the same address help. If you have lived apart, which is common for couples waiting for a visa, explain that honestly and show how you have kept in touch and supported each other. Do not invent evidence and never submit a document you know is false — dishonesty can lead to refusal and can harm future applications, as explained in our guide to UK Spouse Visa Refused? Reasons, Appeal and Reapplication.
Arranged marriages are accepted, provided both adults consented freely and the evidence supports the marriage. Dates and names should match across every document.
The money rule: the £29,000 income requirement
For most families, money is the hardest part of the application, so take your time here. For first applications made on or after 11 April 2024, you and your partner usually need to prove a combined income of at least £29,000 a year before tax. There is no extra amount added for children on new applications at this level. If your partner first applied as a partner before 11 April 2024 and is extending with the same partner, a transitional lower figure of £18,600 generally applies, with additions for children — check the GOV.UK page for your exact position, because transitional rules depend on your history.
Income can come from employment, self-employment, pensions, and some other sources such as rent or dividends. Cash savings can also count, or can top up income that falls short. The savings rule is strict: only savings above £16,000 count, the money must have been held for at least six months, and the amount needed follows a formula — £16,000 plus two and a half times the shortfall in annual income. That means savings of £88,500 held for six months can meet the requirement on their own if you have no other qualifying income. These figures were confirmed against GOV.UK guidance in our research for this article, but always check the GOV.UK financial requirements page on the day you apply, because the threshold is under policy review and could change.
There are exceptions. If your sponsoring partner receives certain disability or carer’s benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance or Carer’s Allowance, the £29,000 figure generally does not apply and adequate maintenance is assessed instead. The evidence rules are also very detailed — they sit in Appendix FM-SE of the Immigration Rules — and they specify exactly which payslips, bank statements and employer letters are needed, and over what period. A common reason for refusal is not that the income was too low, but that the documents did not match the rules: a payslip without the matching bank statement, a missing employer letter, or self-employment accounts in the wrong format. Read the document list in our companion guide, UK Spouse Visa Requirements: Documents, English Test and Financial Rules, before you gather anything.
The English language requirement
You will usually need to prove your English at CEFR level A1 in speaking and listening for your first spouse visa. A1 is a basic level — enough to introduce yourself, answer simple questions and hold a short, simple conversation. You prove it by passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider, such as IELTS Life Skills A1. A general IELTS Academic or General Training result is not accepted for this route, so book the right test. You can also meet the requirement with a degree taught in English, or if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country, but most Pakistani applicants will take the SELT.
English is a ladder on this route: A1 for the first visa, A2 when you extend after about two and a half years, and B1 when you apply to settle after five years. If you pass at a higher level the first time, you may be able to reuse that result later, so some applicants take a higher test early to save a second test. Note that a change has been announced that would raise the settlement English level from B1 to B2 for applications made on or after 26 March 2027 — check the GOV.UK page before you rely on any level for a future application, as this is an area where the rules are moving.
Where you will live, and other requirements
You must show that you will have adequate accommodation in the UK — a home that is not overcrowded and is suitable for you to live in. This is usually shown with a tenancy agreement or a letter from the person who owns or rents the home, plus evidence such as a council tax bill. It does not need to be a large house; it needs to be adequate and not overcrowded under the rules the Home Office applies.
You will also need a valid passport and must answer honestly about your immigration history and any criminal record. A record does not automatically mean refusal, but serious convictions can. You will give your fingerprints and photograph at a visa application centre in Pakistan, and you will usually need a tuberculosis (TB) test from an approved clinic in Pakistan before you apply — check the GOV.UK list of approved clinics, because a test from a clinic that is not approved will not be accepted.
How much it costs and how long it takes
As of the April 2026 Home Office fee table, the visa application fee for a partner applying from outside the UK is £2,064 per person, and £1,407 if you apply from inside the UK. On top of that, most applicants pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which gives access to the NHS. For adults it is £1,035 per year, which works out at £3,105 for a first grant of two years and nine months from outside the UK, and £2,587.50 for a grant of two years and six months inside the UK. So a first application from outside the UK for one adult typically costs £2,064 plus £3,105 before the English test, TB test and any optional services — check the GOV.UK fee table on the day you apply, because fees change.
For timing, GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision within 12 weeks from outside the UK, and usually within 8 weeks from inside the UK if you meet the financial and English requirements. Those are usual times, not promises. Do not book flights or give up a job until the visa is in your hand.
How long the visa lasts, and what happens next
A first spouse visa granted outside the UK usually lasts for two years and nine months. You can live and work in the UK during that time, and you can travel in and out, provided you keep meeting the conditions and do not spend long periods away without good reason. Before it expires, you apply to extend for a further two years and six months, meeting the financial requirement and the A2 English level at that stage. After five years in total on the partner route, you can usually apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), which is settlement with no time limit. The full timeline — extension, ILR, and then British citizenship — is explained in After the UK Spouse Visa: ILR and British Citizenship Timeline.
Step-by-step: how to apply from Pakistan
First, talk as a couple and decide your timing. Check the income position, book the English test, and get the TB test. Second, gather your documents against the GOV.UK checklist, and get translations for any document not in English or Welsh. Third, complete the online application on GOV.UK and pay the fee and the health surcharge online. Fourth, book and attend your appointment at the visa application centre to give biometrics and hand in your passport and documents. Fifth, wait for the decision, and do not travel on the strength of an expected approval.
Common mistakes families make
The most common mistakes are simple and avoidable: applying before the income rule is met, submitting payslips without matching bank statements, booking the wrong English test, or rushing after the wedding. A few extra weeks of preparation are far better than a refusal, a lost fee and months of delay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a UK spouse visa take from Pakistan?
GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision within 12 weeks if you apply from outside the UK. Some cases take longer, so apply in good time and do not make travel plans you cannot change.
How much does a UK spouse visa cost?
As of April 2026, the fee is £2,064 from outside the UK, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £3,105 for a first grant of two years and nine months for an adult. Check the GOV.UK fee table before you pay, as fees change.
What is the minimum income for a UK spouse visa?
For most first applications made on or after 11 April 2024, the combined income usually needs to be at least £29,000 a year. Savings can count or top up income under a set formula. Check the GOV.UK financial requirements page for your situation.
Do I need an English test for a UK spouse visa?
Usually yes. For a first application you generally need CEFR level A1 in speaking and listening from an approved Secure English Language Test provider, unless you meet the requirement another way, such as a degree taught in English.
Can I work in the UK on a spouse visa?
Yes. A spouse visa normally gives you permission to work in the UK. The fiancé(e) visa is different — you cannot work on that visa until you marry and switch to a partner visa.
Does my time on a spouse visa count towards settlement?
Yes. After five years on the partner route, you can usually apply for indefinite leave to remain, provided you still meet the requirements, including English at the settlement level and the Life in the UK test.
Conclusion
A UK spouse visa asks you to prove three things clearly: that your marriage is genuine, that you can support yourselves without public funds, and that you meet the English rule. Get those right, gather documents that match the rules exactly, and give yourselves time. Start early, keep every document, and check GOV.UK before you submit — a careful application today saves months of waiting tomorrow.
Disclaimer: Immigration rules and fees change frequently. This article is general information, not immigration advice. Check the official GOV.UK website before applying, and consider regulated advice for your own situation.
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