Nigerian applicants · United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Family visa (partner/spouse) for Nigerian citizens
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Source check: all 8 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026
Visa for partners of British citizens, settled persons, or certain other qualifying sponsors.
This page covers the Family visa (partner/spouse) specifically for Nigerian applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to Nigeria. The route's general criteria are summarised below, but the current corridor-specific filing, visa-issuance, and entry position above can still determine whether the route is usable.
- Processing time
- 3 months – 6 months
- Worked-example cost
- £5,169
- Typical duration
- An initial partner grant is normally up to 2 years 9 months; an extension or in-country switch is normally up to 2 years 6 months. Some grants are shorter, including qualifying protection-status cases tied to the sponsor’s expiry.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Bilateral context
- Commonwealth
Consular processing: Lagos / Abuja
Tourist entry vs. this route
Nigerian nationals require a visa for any entry into United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Family visa (partner/spouse) is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
Key figures for Nigerian applicants
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
Worked-example route cost
£5,169
One adult partner applying outside the UK for 33 months, without a fee waiver or priority service
Each child has a separate application charge. Under-18 IHS uses £776 per year rather than the adult rate.
Verified 12 September 2026 · GOV.UK: family visa fees and immigration health surcharge
How long it takes
3 months – 6 months
GOV.UK publishes 12 weeks outside the UK and up to 6 months during peak periods for spouse/partner visas.
Verified 10 September 2026 · GOV.UK — Family visas
Time to permanent residence
Arrival → ILR (5 years) → citizenship (6 years). Faster on Global Talent / Innovator Founder (3 years to ILR).
Leads to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), then British citizenship.
Visa overview
The partner route is for a qualifying relationship with a British or Irish citizen, a settled person or someone with another expressly eligible status. Ordinary work-visa and Student dependants use their own routes; a partner relationship alone does not make this the correct family application.
Additional sources
Primary source
GOV.UK: family application charges and dependant-route distinction ↗ · UK Home Office
Link last verified:
Primary source
GOV.UK: partner status, evidence and permission length ↗ · UK Home Office
Link last verified:
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Genuine and subsisting relationship with a qualifying sponsor.UK Home Office ↗
- ✓Minimum income requirement (£29,000 from April 2024) or qualifying savings, unless exempt.UK Home Office ↗
- ✓Adequate accommodation in the UK.UK Home Office ↗
- ✓English at CEFR A1 at entry, A2 at extension, B1 at settlement.UK Home Office ↗
Common blockers
- !Income falls below the minimum threshold and no qualifying savings route applies.UK Home Office ↗
- !Relationship evidence insufficient to show genuine and subsisting.
Typical evidence
- ·Evidence of the qualifying relationship. For an unmarried partnership of at least two years, living together is not always required: explain and evidence a qualifying reason for living apart.UK Home Office ↗
- ·Payslips, employment contracts, or other income evidence.UK Home Office ↗
- ·English-language test or exemption.UK Home Office ↗
Application pathway
Verify sponsor eligibility
Confirm sponsor's status (British citizen, settled, or qualifying other) and ability to meet income or savings requirement.
Gather relationship evidence
Assemble evidence of a genuine relationship — messages, photos, joint finances, cohabitation records.
Use the correct application channel
Use entry clearance when applying outside the UK, or the appropriate extension or switch process if eligible inside the UK. The fee and usual grant length differ.
Record the actual grant and extension dates
Use the permission issued, not a fixed anniversary. Standard entry and in-country grants have different lengths, and some cases are shorter. Settlement needs a separate qualifying-period and eligibility check.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in United Kingdom. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- ApplyApplicantApply as a partner or spouse ↗
Use this GOV.UK page to start the partner or spouse family visa application and confirm route-specific evidence.
UK Home Office · verified
- ChecklistApplicant + sponsorCheck family visa evidence ↗
Applicant and sponsor use this checklist to prepare relationship, income and accommodation documents.
UK Home Office · verified
Other United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland routes covered for Nigerian applicants
Skilled Worker visa
Work visa for non-UK workers with a job offer from a Home Office–licensed sponsor in an eligible occupation.
Health and Care Worker visa
Discounted Skilled Worker route for eligible NHS, adult social care, and allied health roles.
Global Talent visa
Unsponsored visa for leaders or potential leaders in academia, research, arts, culture, or digital technology.
Graduate visa
Post-study work visa for recent graduates of eligible UK higher education institutions.
Innovator Founder visa
Endorsement-based visa for founders launching an innovative, viable and scalable business in the UK.
Student visa
Study visa for international students enrolled with a licensed Student sponsor at eligible UK institutions.
Not sure United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is right for you? Compare similar routes
Other countries offer family routes that Nigerian nationals also apply to. See how they compare.
Frequently asked questions
Are Nigerian citizens eligible for the Family visa (partner/spouse)?+
Eligibility for the Family visa (partner/spouse) is set by UK Home Office. Nigerian applicants must meet the general route criteria plus any nationality- or location-specific intake requirements described in the current corridor guidance above.
Where do Nigerian applicants typically file the Family visa (partner/spouse)?+
Lagos / Abuja. Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by UK Home Office — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.
Do Nigerian applicants need a tourist visa for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as well?+
Nigerian nationals require a visa for any entry into United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Family visa (partner/spouse) is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
How much does the Family visa (partner/spouse) cost for a Nigerian applicant?+
The stored worked example (One adult partner applying outside the UK for 33 months, without a fee waiver or priority service) totals about £5,169. Each child has a separate application charge. Under-18 IHS uses £776 per year rather than the adult rate. It may combine government charges with other stated route costs. Source: GOV.UK: family visa fees and immigration health surcharge, verified 12 September 2026. Treat it as indicative and confirm the current official schedule before budgeting.
How long does the Family visa (partner/spouse) take to process from Nigeria?+
GOV.UK publishes 12 weeks outside the UK and up to 6 months during peak periods for spouse/partner visas. Nigerian applicants usually file via Lagos / Abuja, and appointment or post-specific backlogs can add to the wait. Source: GOV.UK — Family visas, verified 10 September 2026.
How long until permanent residence in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?+
Arrival → ILR (5 years) → citizenship (6 years). Faster on Global Talent / Innovator Founder (3 years to ILR). The route leads to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), then British citizenship. See GOV.UK — Citizenship and living in the UK for the qualifying-residence rules.
What is the minimum income for a UK spouse visa?+
As of April 2024, the minimum income requirement is £29,000 per year. The government had announced further increases but has reviewed the trajectory. Always check GOV.UK for the current figure.
Does the sponsor need to be a British citizen?+
No. Irish citizens, settled people and certain other expressly eligible statuses can also qualify. This is not the same as being a dependant of an ordinary work-visa or Student holder; use the relevant dependant route in those cases.
How we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: UK Home Office
Last checked: 8 July 2026