UK Spouse Visa for Nigerians (2026): Income, English Test, Fees and Step-by-Step Application
Last updated: 28 October 2026 · By Naijatipsland Editorial Team · Editorial policy
Marrying someone who lives in the UK is one of the most common reasons Nigerians apply for a UK visa, and also one of the most heavily refused when the paperwork is wrong. The spouse or partner visa lets you live, work and study in the UK with your husband, wife or partner, and it can lead to settlement after five years. This guide walks through the real requirements, costs and timelines from the UK government’s own pages, with the points Nigerian couples most often get wrong. Checked 28 October 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm everything on GOV.UK before you apply.
Who can apply
You and your partner must both be 18 or over, and your partner must be a British or Irish citizen, or settled in the UK (for example with indefinite leave to remain), or hold one of the other qualifying statuses listed by GOV.UK such as pre-settled status or protection status. You must intend to live together permanently in the UK. If your partner is only in the UK on a work or student visa, you cannot use this route and would apply as their dependant instead.
Proving your relationship
GOV.UK says you must show one of the following: you are married or in a civil partnership recognised in the UK; you have lived together in a relationship for at least two years; you are engaged and will marry within six months of arriving (the fiance route, which does not allow work or study); or you have been in a relationship for two years but cannot live together for reasons such as work, study or cultural acceptance.
Evidence should come from the government, a bank, a landlord, a utility provider or a medical professional, and be less than four years old. Marriage certificates, joint tenancy agreements, bills, joint bank statements and a doctor’s letter at the same address all help. If you do not live together, show regular communication, financial support, and time spent together such as trips, with flight tickets, photos and chat records. Nigerian couples who marry in a customary or traditional ceremony should check carefully that the marriage is legally valid and can be evidenced by an official certificate, because the Home Office needs proof the marriage is recognised. Our piece on long-distance relationships for diaspora couples and diaspora culture covers the human side.
The financial requirement
This is where most refusals happen. Applicants usually need a combined income of at least £29,000 a year before tax. This has applied to new partner applications since 11 April 2024, and as of the latest information we found, it has not changed in 2026. Independent legal commentary notes that the Migration Advisory Committee reported in June 2025 suggesting a lower figure, but the government has not adopted it, so £29,000 is the number to plan for.
- Employment income: evidenced mainly by payslips, bank statements and an employer letter. Income is assessed through specific categories (for example employed for six months or more, or less than six months, self-employed, pensions, or savings), and a high salary can still fail if the wrong evidence is sent.
- Cash savings: you can use savings instead of or alongside income. The formula is £16,000 plus 2.5 times the income shortfall, held for at least six months. With no income at all that works out at £88,500.
- Exceptions: if your sponsor receives certain disability or carer benefits, an adequate-maintenance test applies instead.
You can also add your own UK income if you already live in the UK with permission to work. If your finances are close to the line, take specialist advice before you apply, because a refusal costs you the fee.
The English language requirement
Nigeria is not on GOV.UK’s list of exempt countries, so Nigerian applicants must usually prove their English even though English is widely used at home. You can do this with a degree taught in English (a UK degree, or a foreign degree assessed by Ecctis as equivalent and taught in English) or by passing an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT). For the first visa you need at least CEFR level A1. When you extend after about two and a half years, you will normally need A2 in speaking and listening unless you passed a higher level first time. Passing at B1 or higher can be reused for settlement, so many applicants take B1 at the outset to save a second test.
Accommodation
You must show that you will have adequate accommodation without relying on public funds, meaning a home that is not overcrowded and that you own or are allowed to occupy. A tenancy agreement or a letter from the sponsor’s landlord, with proof of the property details, is typical.
How to apply, step by step
- Check eligibility. Confirm your partner’s status, the income evidence, English proof and relationship evidence.
- Book your English test with an approved provider unless you are exempt or hold a qualifying degree.
- Gather evidence for money, home and relationship, keeping originals and clear copies.
- Apply online from outside the UK, pay the fee and the healthcare surcharge, and book your biometrics appointment.
- Wait for the decision. From outside the UK it is usually within about 12 weeks.
Always use the official GOV.UK application service. Anyone offering a “guaranteed” spouse visa is lying, and our guides to internet scams and fake visa and job offers show how Nigerians are targeted.
What it costs
For one adult applying from outside the UK, GOV.UK lists an application fee of £2,064. You also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge up front: £3,105 per adult for the 2 years and 9 months you receive on a first visa. Together that is about £5,169 before the English test, document translations, courier fees, flights and your biometrics trip. Each child added as a dependant costs a further application fee and a surcharge. If you apply from inside the UK the fee is lower (£1,407), but only certain visa holders can do that.
How long you can stay, and settlement
Your first visa lasts up to 2 years and 9 months. You then extend for a further 2 years and 6 months, which brings you to five years on the route. After five continuous years as a partner you can apply to settle (indefinite leave to remain), as GOV.UK currently states. The government has consulted on changes to settlement rules, so watch for announcements and do not assume the five-year timeline is guaranteed forever.
Common reasons for refusal
- Income proved with the wrong category of evidence, or payslips that do not match bank deposits.
- Savings not held for the full six months or not under your control.
- An English certificate from a test provider that is not on the approved list.
- Thin proof of a genuine relationship, or marriage records the Home Office cannot verify.
- Contradictions between the forms, interviews and documents.
If you are refused, read the decision letter carefully; there may be a right of review or appeal, and the deadlines are short.
Alternatives if you do not qualify
If your partner cannot meet the income test, look at routes where you qualify in your own right, such as a skilled job offer. Our guides to the UK Skilled Worker visa, the types of UK visas, the easiest work visas for Nigerians and the best countries to move to for work compare the options. Keep your passport valid for the whole process.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work on a spouse visa?
Yes, once you hold the partner visa you can work and study. The fiance route does not allow work until you marry and extend.
Does my husband or wife have to earn £29,000 alone?
No. The requirement can be met by your combined income, by savings, or a mix, under the rules.
Do Nigerians need an English test?
Usually yes. Nigeria is not on the exempt list, so you need an approved test or a qualifying English-taught degree.
How long does it take?
About 12 weeks from outside the UK, and about 8 weeks inside the UK if you meet the financial and English rules, according to GOV.UK.
Bottom line
The spouse visa is achievable when the couple’s money, home, English and relationship evidence line up before the application goes in. Plan the £29,000 test first, book the right English test early, budget for roughly £5,000 or more in government charges, and use only official channels. This article is general information, not legal advice; for complicated cases, consult a regulated adviser.
