To join your husband or wife in the UK from Pakistan, you apply for a family visa as a partner, often called the spouse visa. Your partner usually needs an income of at least £29,000 a year (or enough savings), you need English at level A1, you both need suitable accommodation, and you must prove a genuine marriage and pass a TB test. GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision within 12 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.
Who can apply
You and your partner must both be 18 or over. Your partner must be a British or Irish citizen, settled in the UK, or hold certain other status, such as refugee protection or status under the EU Settlement Scheme. You must intend to live together permanently in the UK. If you are granted, the first visa lasts up to 2 years and 9 months, and you then apply to extend it.
The financial requirement
The Immigration Rules (Appendix FM) set the figure at a gross annual income of at least £29,000. This is the level that has applied to new partner applications since 11 April 2024. The higher figures announced in 2023 were not brought in. The Migration Advisory Committee published a review of the family financial requirements in June 2025, but at the time of this review the rules still say £29,000. Any change would come through a statement of changes to the rules, so check GOV.UK on the day you apply.
Two points catch many families out:
- Your own salary in Pakistan does not count. For an application from abroad, only your partner’s earnings from employment or self-employment count (plus pensions, certain other income and savings).
- Savings follow a formula. The first £16,000 does not count. Above that, you need 2.5 times any shortfall in income. With no income at all, that works out at £88,500. The savings must have been held for the full 6 months before you apply, in your name, your partner’s name or both.
If your partner receives certain disability or carer’s benefits, the £29,000 does not apply. Instead you must show that they can support and house you adequately without public funds. Our spouse visa financial requirements guide walks through each category of income.
English, accommodation and the TB test
English: for the first visa you need to pass a speaking and listening test at CEFR level A1 or above. It must be a Secure English Language Test (SELT) with a Home Office-approved provider, unless you are exempt, for example through a degree taught in English that meets the rules. GOV.UK lists approved test centres by country. Our spouse visa English guide covers the higher levels needed later, at extension and settlement.
Accommodation: you must have adequate housing for the family without public funds, which you own or occupy exclusively. It must not be overcrowded or break public health rules. If you will live with your in-laws, include the owner’s written permission and details of who else lives there.
TB test: Pakistan is on the list of countries where applicants coming for more than 6 months need a TB test. It must be done at a Home Office-approved clinic, and the certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of the x-ray.
Evidence table
| Requirement | Evidence usually provided from Pakistan |
|---|---|
| Marriage | Nikah Nama with a certified English translation, and the computerised Marriage Registration Certificate (MRC) issued through your Union Council and recorded with NADRA |
| Genuine relationship | Wedding photos, call and message history, evidence of visits (passport stamps, tickets), and any money sent between you |
| Previous marriages | Divorce documents or death certificate for any earlier marriage of either partner |
| Partner’s status | British passport, or proof of settled or other qualifying status |
| Income (salaried, same employer 6+ months) | 6 months of payslips, matching bank statements showing the salary paid in, and an employer letter |
| Savings | Bank statements showing the balance held for the full 6 months before you apply |
| Accommodation | Tenancy agreement or proof of ownership, plus the owner’s permission letter if you are living with family |
| English | A1 SELT certificate from an approved provider, or evidence of exemption |
| Health | TB certificate from an approved clinic, less than 6 months old |
Any document that is not in English or Welsh, including an Urdu Nikah Nama, must come with a full translation that can be independently checked. Our spouse visa supporting documents guide has a fuller list.
Costs and timeline
At the time of review, GOV.UK lists the fee for joining a partner from outside the UK as £2,064. You also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge at £1,035 for each year of the visa, and the GOV.UK calculator gives the exact total. Fees change, so confirm them before you pay.
- Register the marriage and get the computerised MRC.
- Book and pass the A1 English test.
- Make sure your partner has 6 months of payslips and bank statements (or 6 months of savings).
- Take the TB test close to your application date.
- Apply online, pay, then attend your VFS Global appointment in Pakistan.
- Wait for the decision, usually within 12 weeks. If you are approved, you get an eVisa.
Common mistakes we see from Pakistan applications
- Counting the applicant’s salary in Pakistan towards the £29,000.
- Sending only the handwritten Nikah Nama, without the computerised MRC.
- Names or dates of birth spelled differently on the CNIC, passport and Nikah Nama, with no explanation.
- Payslips that do not match the salary credits in the bank statements, or salary paid in cash.
- Savings moved into the account less than 6 months before the application.
- A TB certificate that has passed its 6 months by the time you apply.
- An English test taken with a provider that is not on the approved SELT list.
FAQ
Can my job in Pakistan help us meet the income requirement?
Not for a first application from abroad. Your partner’s employment income counts, and so can savings held by either of you. If your partner is working overseas and returning to the UK with you, special rules may let their overseas earnings count.
My husband’s income is £18,600. Is that enough?
The £18,600 figure now only applies to some extensions with the same partner, where the first application was made before 11 April 2024. A new application from Pakistan needs £29,000, or savings to make up the shortfall.
Do I need a TB test if I am applying as a fiancée?
Yes. GOV.UK says fiancé, fiancée and proposed civil partner applicants need a TB test even if they plan to stay less than 6 months.
What if the application is refused?
Read the refusal letter carefully. Partner applications are usually treated as human rights claims, which can carry a right of appeal. Our guide to spouse visa refusal reasons explains the usual problems and your options.
Applying from Pakistan? Send us a few lines about your case and we will tell you which route fits and what to prepare.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Rules and fees change; check GOV.UK before you apply.