United Kingdom · for applicants from Nigeria
To join a partner (spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner of 2+ years) who is British or settled. Requires meeting the minimum income (financial) requirement, a genuine relationship, suitable accommodation, and English. Five-year route to settlement.
Rules last verified: 22 June 2026 · by Beatrice B
Embassy processing
About 12 weeks (outside UK)
Our turnaround
5–7 working days
Done-for-you Standard
Government fees
~£3,169
≈ ₦5,796,101
Path to settlement
5 years
Financial requirement not met
£29,000 not met, or income evidenced in the wrong way.
Fix: Use a qualifying income source with the exact specified documents (Appendix FM-SE).
Relationship not genuine/subsisting
Insufficient evidence the relationship is real and ongoing.
Fix: Provide broad evidence over time: cohabitation, communication, joint finances, photos.
Specified-evidence formatting error
Right income but documents not in the precise specified format.
Fix: Follow FM-SE exactly: correct months of payslips, matching bank statements, employer letter.
English requirement not met
No valid A1 SELT and not exempt.
Fix: Book an approved A1 test or evidence an exemption.
Required
Current passport / valid travel document
When: "all"
Marriage/CP certificate OR proof of 2+ yrs cohabitation
When: "all"
You must prove either a marriage or civil partnership recognised in the UK, or that you have lived together in a relationship for at least 2 years.
Common mistake
Thin or one-off evidence of cohabitation is a common reason officers doubt the relationship is genuine and ongoing.
Sponsor's proof of British/settled status
When: "all"
Financial evidence (payslips, bank statements, employer letter, or savings)
When: "all"
There are strict rules on which income counts and how it must be evidenced, generally 6 months of payslips counting back from the day you apply.
Common mistake
Income in the wrong category, or missing payslips or an employer letter, is a common reason the financial requirement fails.
Proof of English (A1 SELT)
When: "unless exempt"
Evidence of accommodation
When: "all"
You need to show you have suitable accommodation, for example through proof like council tax bills.
Evidence of genuine relationship (photos, messages, joint commitments)
When: "all"
Officers look for evidence of a real, ongoing relationship: how you met, how often you see each other, and whether you communicate regularly, support each other financially, and spend time together.
Common mistake
Thin relationship evidence, such as only a few photos with no joint commitments, raises doubt about whether the relationship is genuine.
TB test certificate
When: "Nigeria"
The Home Office needs proof you do not have infectious tuberculosis before granting entry for a stay of 6 months or more from a listed country.
Common mistake
Leaving the chest x-ray too late is a common error, since the certificate is only valid for 6 months from the date of the x-ray and must come from an approved clinic.
1. Prepare your application
Gather documents, draft supporting letters, complete forms
1–3 weeks
2. Rekoja review (if Done-for-you)
Specialist checks your file before you submit
5–7 working days
3. Submit online or at visa centre
Biometrics appointment may be required
1 day
4. Embassy decision
Standard processing. Priority options may be available.
About 12 weeks (outside UK)
These are the fees you pay to the government, not Rekoja's service fee. Shown at the indicative exchange rate.
Mandatory
Visa application fee
£2,064
₦3,775,056
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), per year
£1,035
₦1,893,015
Tuberculosis (TB) test at an approved clinic (IOM Nigeria charges about $94; the price is set by the clinic, not the Home Office)
£70
₦128,030
Biometric enrolment
£0
₦0
Total government fees
~£3,169
≈ ₦5,796,101
Optional
Priority / super-priority service (optional)
£500
₦914,500
Proof of funds (must hold, not pay)
Minimum income requirement
£29,000
₦53,041,000
Indicative. 1 GBP = 1829 NGN · 2026-08-03. Government fees change. Confirm on the official website before paying.
A free AI can tell you the rules. Rekoja does the harder part: we verify them against the official government source, prepare the actual application file, catch what gets people refused, and a specialist checks everything before you submit. We stand behind our work.
Free, in about a minute. Your eligibility, gaps, and the all-in cost estimate. No signup to see the score.
The assessment pre-selects United Kingdom and the family route for you. You can adjust before you run it.
Sourced answers to the most-searched questions about this corridor are being verified and will appear here. Start the free assessment or ask the desk directly.
100% approved
Based on 12 reported outcomes across all Rekoja cases. This is a look back at past cases, not a prediction. The embassy decides; past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Other routes to United Kingdom
Know exactly where you stand. Free, in about a minute. No signup to see your score.
Check your chances free →Not a visa decision or legal advice. Rules shown are as of the last verification date above. Immigration rules change. Confirm before filing. The embassy decides, not Rekoja.