Evidence commonly used in spouse visa applications: a general checklist
In short
This is a general list of the kinds of evidence that are commonly used for each requirement of a UK spouse or partner visa application. It is not tailored to any particular case, and it is not a complete or official list. The official requirements are on GOV.UK and in Appendix FM-SE.
Last reviewed: · General information, not legal advice
Financial requirement
- Payslips and matching bank statements for the period the rules require
- A letter from the employer confirming employment, salary and length of employment
- Tax returns, tax calculations and business accounts, for self-employed sponsors
- Savings statements covering the full holding period, where savings are used
- Evidence of any benefits that change which financial test applies
More: guide to this refusal reason · Family visas: financial requirements for partners — GOV.UK
Genuine and subsisting relationship
- Marriage or civil partnership certificate, with a certified translation if not in English or Welsh
- Records of contact spread across months, such as message logs, call histories and emails
- Evidence of visits, such as boarding passes, passport stamps and hotel bookings
- Photos together over time, with family and friends, not only at the wedding
- Evidence of living together where relevant, such as a joint tenancy, bills or bank statements at the same address
- Statements from both partners about their history and plans
More: guide to this refusal reason · Family visas: apply as a partner or spouse — GOV.UK
English language
- Test certificate from an approved provider, with its unique reference number
- Degree certificate and, for degrees from outside the UK, the Ecctis confirmation
- Passport, where a nationality-based exemption is relied on
- Medical evidence, where an exemption on health grounds is relied on
More: guide to this refusal reason · Family visas: knowledge of English — GOV.UK
Accommodation
- Tenancy agreement, mortgage statement or land registry record
- Letter of consent from the landlord or property owner
- Property inspection report describing rooms and occupants, which some applicants choose to provide
- Council tax bill or utility bills at the address
- A short statement listing everyone who lives at the property
More: guide to this refusal reason · Family visas: apply, extend or switch — GOV.UK
Format and presentation of documents
- Full certified translations of documents not in English or Welsh
- Bank statements in the format the rules specify, for example with the bank’s stamp where required
- Readable, complete copies rather than cropped or blurred scans
- Consistent names, dates and addresses across all documents
More: guide to this refusal reason · Certifying a document — GOV.UK
Rules and evidence requirements change, and the evidence that applies depends on the individual case and the date of the application. The current rules are on GOV.UK.
Vizyt gives plain-English explanations and general information about UK visa refusals. We are not lawyers, we are not a law firm, and we are not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), previously the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC), or by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, so we cannot give immigration advice about your individual case. For advice, we can connect you with regulated advisers, or you can find a regulated immigration adviser on gov.uk.