UK Spouse Visa from South Africa – How to Apply in 2026

To sponsor a South African partner, your sponsor in the UK must meet one of the following:

• British Citizen
• Irish Citizen
• Settled in the UK (holds Indefinite Leave to Remain / Settled Status)
• Refugee or person with Humanitarian Protection
• Pre-settled under the EU Settlement Scheme (with qualifying conditions)

The sponsor must also be 18 or over and intend to live with the applicant in the UK permanently

Each of these cases may require different application processes, costs and qualifying requirements. For this reason, it is always recommended to seek the professional help of an immigration lawyer.

The UK Immigration Rules states that, to be eligible to apply for a Spouse Visa for a South African citizen, you and your partner must:

• Be aged 18 or over
• Have met each other in person at least once
• Be legally married
• Intend to live together permanently in the UK
• Have enough money to support yourselves and your family without claiming public funds
• Have suitable accommodation for you and your family

In addition, your partner must satisfy the English language requirements and provide evidence of TB (Tuberculosis) testing.

If you wish to apply for a UK Spouse Visa for your South African partner,  you must meet specific financial requirements. For spouse visa applications, a combined gross income of at least £29,000 per year is required.

Savings

Where income falls short, you can use your savings to supplements your minimum required income, provided that you have total cash of £88,500 and was held continuously for 6 months or more in your individual or joint bank account.

To obtain a Spouse Visa for your partner from South Africa, you must demonstrate that your relation is genuine, subsisting and durable.

To demonstrate that you are in love with your partner, you must provide a portfolio of supporting documents, such as:

• Joint bills or bank statements
• Your South African marriage certificate
• Evidence of co-habitation outside the UK
• Birth certificate of your children (if applicable)
• Proof of ongoing communication and joint travel
• A selection of pictures of you two spending time together

As a South African national, you are not exempt from meeting the English proficiency requirement. This means that you will need to sit an English test and prove your proficiency in speaking and listening. To be valid, your exam must be taken through an approved Secure English Language Testing (SELT) provider.

You do not need to sit an English language test if you hold a degree that was taught or researched in English (and it is confirmed by UK NARIC), or if you have a long-term physical or mental condition.

The applicant usually demonstrate knowledge of English by:

• Passing an approved English language test at CEFR Level A1 or higher; or
• Holding an academic qualification taught in English

If you wish to find out more about your options to meet this requirement or to support your eligibility, you can speak to one of our immigration lawyers experienced in Spouse Visa applications for South African citizens.

You and your partner will need to present proof of adequate accommodation for you and your family when applying for UK spouse visa. To prove that your accommodation meets the UK living standards, you must provide the Home Office with the following documents:

• A description of your property
• Evidence that your house has enough room to accommodate everyone
• Proof that you can afford to pay for your family’s accommodation

Tuberculosis (TB) testing is required for applicants from South Africa before UK spouse visa application. Your TB test must be from the Home Office approved clinic and you will need to include a medical certificate confirming that you are free from TB for your UK spouse visa application.

Check this guidance for Tuberculosis testing in South Africa.

You can complete and submit your initial application online. Upon payment of the application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), your application will be officially submitted to UKVI.

You will receive a confirmation email, and a link to access the website of TLS Contact to complete any additional stage.

TLS Contact must be used if you need to book your biometrics appointment in South Africa. You can attend your visa appointment at any of the five UKVI centers in South Africa (Cape-Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria).

Once you UK spouse visa application is approved, you’ll receive an e-visa decision accessible via your UKVI online account.

While specifics vary by case, a South African applicant may routinely need:

• Valid passport and biometric details
• Marriage or civil partnership certificate
• Proof of genuine relationship (photos, communication, travel documents)
• Financial evidence (bank statements, payslips, employer letters)
• English language proof
• TB test certificate (from approved clinic)
• Proof of UK accommodation
• Sponsor’s proof of status in the UK

All foreign documents must be certified translations into English or Welsh.

Spouse Visa Application Fees 

• Outside the UK: £2,064 (may vary by exchange rates when paid from South Africa).
• Inside the UK: £1,321

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

• Applicants must pay the IHS which gives access to the NHS. The cost is around £1035 per year of the visa duration for adults (charged upfront).

Other Costs

• Priority or super-priority processing: £500 or £1000 (optional, subject to availability in your country)
• English test fees
• TB test costs
• Translation charges

The normal timescale for a decision on your UK Spouse Visa application submitted from South Africa is 24 weeks from the application date. If your case is particularly time-sensitive, you can pay for a priority service, which allows you to receive a letter from the Home Office within 30 days from your biometric appointment.

It must be noted that the priority service does not affect the UKVI’s final decision on your application.

If you have any queries or concerns about your Spouse Visa processing time, you can get in touch with one of our immigration lawyers.

Your UK Spouse Visa is set to expire after 2 years and 9 months. If you wish to remain in the UK, you must renew your Spouse Visa before your existing permit expires.

When applying for a Spouse Visa renewal, you must meet the same requirements attached to your initial application. The standard fee for a Spouse Visa extension is £1,321.

After 5 years on a UK spouse visa and meeting requirements, you may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

With a UK spouse visa you can:

• Work in most jobs without restriction
• Study
• Access NHS services (with IHS paid)
• Bring children as dependants on the same application (if eligible)

After holding a Spouse Visa for a consecutive period of 5 years, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

This will grant you the right to live, work and study in the UK free from any immigration restrictions.

To be eligible, you must meet specific requirements. For example, you must demonstrate your knowledge of British customs and traditions. Most importantly, you must haven’t spent more than 180 days outside the UK.

It must be noted that marrying a British national doesn’t automatically grant you UK citizenship. You need to apply for this status, and ensure that you meet all the requirements.

Once you are a UK settled person, you can apply for British naturalization. This will be the last step of your immigration path and will allow you to get a British passport. UK dual citizenship is allowed, meaning that you are not required to renounce your South African nationality to become a British citizen.

Get in touch with our immigration lawyers today to find out more about your options to apply for British Citizenship by marriage if you are from South Africa.