UK Spouse Visa Document Checklist 2026

A UK spouse visa is not refused because the relationship is fake. The majority of refusals come from missing a document, submitting it in the wrong format, or providing the wrong type of evidence for the financial category being used. This checklist covers what you need for a standard application in 2026. Adapt the financial section to your specific income category — a Category A salaried employee and a Category F sole trader have almost nothing in common on the financial evidence list.

Important Rules Before You Start

The 28-day rule: Bank statements, payslips, and employer letters must be dated no earlier than 28 days before the date you submit and pay for the online application. This is one of the most frequent timing errors. If your six-month bank statement window ends more than 28 days before you submit, it does not comply.

Document language: Any document not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a certified professional translation. Self-translation is not permitted. The translation must include the translator's name, contact details, and a statement confirming accuracy.

Electronic bank statements: If your bank only provides electronic PDF statements, each page must either bear an official bank stamp or be accompanied by a formal letter from the bank confirming the statements' authenticity.

1. Identity and Status Documents

For the applicant:

• Valid passport (current and any previous passports showing travel history)
• If previously had UK leave: relevant documents showing that leave

For the sponsor:

• Valid British or Irish passport (or other travel document confirming their status)
• If not a British/Irish citizen: evidence of their settled status, ILR, pre-settled status, or other qualifying status (BRP, or eVisa share code)
• If previously divorced: Absolute Decree(s) of Divorce from any prior marriages

For dependent children (if included):

• Birth certificates
• Current passports
• Any existing visas or leave documents

2. Relationship Evidence

For married couples:

• Original marriage certificate (with certified translation if not in English/Welsh)
• If the marriage took place in a country where legal recognition is complex, consider including additional documentation confirming the marriage was valid under local law

For civil partners:

• Civil partnership certificate

For unmarried partners (cohabiting or with documented 2-year relationship):

• Evidence spanning at least two years demonstrating the genuine and subsisting nature of the relationship

General relationship evidence portfolio (all categories benefit from this):

• Chronological series of photographs showing the couple together at different times and locations (dated with context annotations, not an unorganized dump of files)
• Flight records, boarding passes, and passport entry stamps showing visits to each other
• Communication records: one representative screenshot per month showing calls, messages, or video calls during any periods of separation (not thousands of pages — selective quality evidence is better)
• Joint financial commitments: joint bank accounts, joint tenancy, shared bills, life insurance or pension beneficiary designations
• Family letters or statements from close family members who know the couple well (brief and factual, not emotional)

For in-country extension applications, cohabitation evidence is essential: joint tenancy agreement, council tax bills in both names, utility bills at the shared address.

3. Financial Evidence

The documents required depend entirely on which income category applies. The most common is Category A (salaried employment for 6+ months).

Category A — Salaried Employment:

• 6 months of payslips (the period ending within 28 days of application)
• 6 months of corresponding personal bank statements showing salary deposits (official stationery or stamped electronic PDF, every page)
• Employer letter on company headed paper, signed by a senior official, confirming: full name, job title, gross annual salary, date employment started, contract type (permanent/fixed-term), and confirmation they have been paid at the current salary for the period covered by the payslips

Category B — Short Employment or Variable Income:

• Same as Category A above
• Plus: evidence of all employment income received in the 12 months before application from all sources, with corresponding bank statements

Category D — Cash Savings:

• 6 consecutive monthly bank statements from the savings account showing the funds have been held continuously (not dipping below the required minimum at any point)
• The account must be in the sponsor's, applicant's, or joint names; with a regulated financial institution
• If savings originated from selling a property or liquidating an investment, include documentation showing the asset was owned before the six-month window

Category F/G — Self-Employment:

• See the dedicated document checklist for self-employed sponsors and company directors

4. Accommodation Evidence

• Tenancy agreement (if renting) covering the address where the couple will live, with the landlord's name and contact details
• Or: Land Registry title documents and mortgage statements (if owner-occupier)
• Written consent letter from the landlord or property owner, explicitly confirming they agree to the applicant residing at the property
• Evidence of rent payments or mortgage (recent bank statements showing payments)
• Ideally: an independent property inspection report confirming the property will not be overcrowded once the applicant arrives (not always required, but significantly strengthens the accommodation section)

5. English Language Evidence

• Valid Secure English Language Test (SELT) certificate at A1 level (or A2 for extension), from an approved provider only: IELTS Consortium (IELTS Life Skills), Pearson (PTE Home), LanguageCert, Trinity College London, or Skills for English
• Do not use standard IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training — these are not SELTs for this purpose
• The certificate must not be expired at the time of application
• If claiming an exemption: evidence of your nationality (for majority English-speaking country nationals) or your degree certificate with ECCTIS verification letter

6. Health Clearances

If applying from one of the 100+ listed countries (including India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Philippines, Bangladesh, Thailand, China, and many others):

• Valid TB test certificate from a Home Office-approved clinic, dated within six months of the application submission date
• Do not get the test too early — if it expires while you are waiting for bank statements to mature, you will need to redo it

7. Cover Letter (Strongly Recommended)

A cover letter is not mandatory but is strongly recommended. It should include:

• Applicant name, Unique Application Number (UAN), GWF number, sponsor name
• Clear statement of which route and financial category are being used
• Concise chronological narrative of the relationship
• Explicit statement of accommodation (address, number of rooms, current occupants)
• Document index mapping each uploaded file to the rule it satisfies
• If there are any potential red flags (periods of separation, short relationship duration, previous refusal), address them directly and factually in the letter

Common Reasons Documents Are Rejected

1. Bank statements printed from online banking without bank authentication — every page needs a stamp or an accompanying bank letter
2. Employer letter missing the contract type or exact salary confirmation
3. SELT certificate from a non-approved provider
4. Foreign-language documents submitted without professional translation
5. TB test certificate dated more than six months before submission
6. Relationship evidence for unmarried partners that does not span the full two-year period

The UK Spouse/Partner Visa Guide includes category-specific checklists that mirror the exact Appendix FM-SE requirements, so you can audit your evidence bundle line by line before submitting.