Migratio United Kingdom · Guides · Find advisers · For advisers

UK spouse visa from Bangladesh: costs and TB test

A partner applying from Bangladesh pays £2,064 plus a £3,105 healthcare surcharge for a 2-year-9-month visa, and normally needs a TB certificate from a Home Office-approved clinic in Dhaka, Sylhet or Chittagram. Bangladesh is not on the list of nationalities exempt from the English requirement.

A UK partner visa asks the same questions of everyone, but the practical steps differ by country. For a couple where one partner is in Bangladesh, three things shape the preparation: the TB test (Bangladesh is on the Home Office list, with approved clinics in three cities), the English requirement (Bangladesh is not one of the exempt nationalities, so a test, a degree or an exemption is needed) and the documents, since a record in Bengali needs a full translation that meets the Rules.

This guide covers the Bangladesh-specific parts of a spouse (partner) visa application made from outside the UK. It uses GOV.UK's family visa pages, the GOV.UK page for approved TB clinics in Bangladesh, the secure English test pages and test-centre list, and Appendix FM and FM-SE of the Immigration Rules. The £29,000 income requirement and the settlement route have their own guides. Everything was read on 9 October 2026. It explains how the rules work and does not say whether a particular couple meets them.

What the visa is and what it costs

A spouse visa is entry clearance under Appendix FM as a partner. Both people must be 18 or over, and the partner in the UK must be a British or Irish citizen, settled in the UK or hold one of the other statuses in E-ECP.2.1. The couple must have met in person (E-ECP.2.5), be in a genuine and subsisting relationship (E-ECP.2.6) and intend to live together permanently in the UK (E-ECP.2.10). If the marriage is the basis, it must be a valid marriage as specified in the Rules (E-ECP.2.7).

For an application made outside the UK, GOV.UK gives these costs:

  • Application fee: £2,064 per person. GOV.UK gives the same figure for each dependant added to an application: £2,064 for each person.
  • Immigration Health Surcharge: £3,105 for an adult for 2 years and 9 months, or £5,175 for 5 years; £2,328 for a child under 18 for 2 years and 9 months.
  • Optional priority service: £500 in addition to the application fee. GOV.UK says family visa applications from outside the UK then usually take 30 working days, and that you are told during the application whether a priority service is available.
  • Fee waiver: GOV.UK says a waiver may be available in certain situations, for example if you cannot afford a place to live or your essential living costs.

For one adult the fee and surcharge together are £5,169 for the standard grant. The TB test, the English test and translations are separate costs paid to the clinic, the test provider and the translator. The price list changes on Statement of Changes dates, so check the fee table on GOV.UK on the day of application.

The TB test: where to take it in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is on GOV.UK's list of countries where a TB test is required. The test applies if you are coming to the UK for 6 months or more, have lived in a listed country for 6 months or more, and were living there or in another listed country within the last 6 months. Where the applicant has lived is what counts, not nationality. Fiancé(e) and proposed civil partner applicants need it even though that visa is for under 6 months. Children must all see a clinician who decides whether a chest x-ray is needed, and children under 11 will not normally have one.

The test must be from a clinic approved by the Home Office: "We will not accept a TB test certificate from a clinic we have not approved." The Bangladesh page lists these clinics, though its last update was 12 March 2025, older than many of the other country pages, so confirm every detail before booking:

  • Dhaka: Green Crescent Health Services in Baridhara Diplomatic Zone (Saturday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm, no pre-appointment required), and the IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre at UN House, Gulshan 2 (Sunday to Thursday, 8:30am to 5pm).
  • Sylhet: Green Crescent MediLab in Sonarpara (Saturday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm, no pre-appointment required), and an IOM Migration Health Assessment Clinic at the Medi-Aid Heart Centre.
  • Chittagram (spelled Chattogram in the test-centre list): Green Crescent Medical Diagnostic at Khan Plaza, Agrabad (Saturday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm).

The fees listed are Taka 5,500 for ages 11 and over and Taka 3,500 for under 11 at the Green Crescent clinics, with Taka 14,000 listed for further investigation. The IOM clinics list 70 USD for ages 11 and over and 30 USD for under 11, with no additional fee for follow-up investigation; the fee is paid in Bangladeshi Taka at the IOM official exchange rate, directly at the clinic. The Dhaka and Sylhet entries for both operators state that the fee is not refundable if the person tests positive for TB, decides not to travel to the UK, or the visa is refused, and that it does not include treatment. The IOM entries also say: "The cost of the test is in addition to the visa application fee."

Bring valid photo identification (the page names a passport, national ID card or Refugee Asylum Seeker Card), the fee, and any previous chest x-ray and medical reports; the Green Crescent clinics also ask for a photocopy of the identification. Do not wear jewellery on the day, because a chest x-ray requires metal items to be removed. Children get a certificate after a questionnaire and physical examination, and are x-rayed only if there is an indication of TB. The certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of the x-ray, so the test and the application date need to be planned together.

English: Bangladesh is not on the exempt list

English can be shown in four ways under E-ECP.4.1: nationality of a listed majority English-speaking country (GEN.1.6), a speaking-and-listening test at CEFR level A1 or above with an approved provider, a qualifying degree, or an exemption. The GEN.1.6 countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the British Overseas Territories, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States. Bangladesh is not on the list.

The exemptions are for people aged 65 or over, people with a physical or mental condition that prevents them from meeting the requirement, and people facing exceptional circumstances that prevent them from meeting it before entry to the UK. The remaining routes work like this:

  • A secure English language test. Outside the UK, GOV.UK names four providers: PSI Services (UK) Ltd, the IELTS SELT Consortium, LANGUAGECERT and Pearson. The test has to be one of the approved SELT tests, sat at an approved centre and awarded in the two years before the application date. The October 2026 list of approved test centres outside the UK (dated 2 October 2026) shows 30 centres in Bangladesh, all marked available: 15 labelled Dhaka and 1 labelled Gulshan, 10 in Sylhet, 3 in Chattogram and 1 in Moulvibazar. GOV.UK says to check the provider's website for test dates and not to contact the test centre directly.
  • A UK degree awarded by a UK institution, even if studied outside the UK: only the degree certificate is needed.
  • A non-UK degree taught in English: an assessment from Ecctis is needed to confirm equivalence to a UK bachelor's degree or higher and that it was taught in English. FM-SE paragraph 32 lists countries whose qualifications are assumed to have been taught in English, and Bangladesh is not among them.

An applicant who met the English requirement in a previous successful application may not need to prove it again. For a first visa on an A1 test, the extension after 2.5 years needs a higher level (A2 in speaking and listening); the guide to the spouse visa English requirement covers that step.

Documents: translations, relationship evidence and parents' details

GOV.UK says the application needs all names and date of birth, a current passport, copies of the photo page and visa or entry stamps from previous passports, details of previous immigration applications and any criminal convictions, any National Insurance number, TB test results where required, and a certified translation of any document that is not in English or Welsh. It also asks for "your parents' date of birth and nationality if you're applying from outside the UK". Gather those details early; they are easy to overlook until the form asks.

Translations. FM-SE paragraph 1(j) says that where a specified document is not in English or Welsh, the applicant must provide the original and a full translation that can be independently verified. The translation must be dated and include the translator's or authorised official's full name and signature and their contact details, along with confirmation that it is accurate. Documents written in Bengali fall under this rule, which makes the translation a standard part of the document list rather than an extra.

Marriage and divorce evidence. For marriages, civil partnerships or divorces outside the UK, FM-SE paragraph 26 asks for "a reasonable equivalent to the evidence detailed in paragraphs 22 to 25, valid under the law in force in the relevant country". Whether a given document is the right equivalent, and whether the marriage is valid as the Rules specify, is the kind of point where applicants check the Rules and the application service closely. Evidence that an earlier marriage ended is set out in paragraphs 23 to 25.

Relationship and money. GOV.UK says relationship evidence should come from the government, a bank, a landlord, a utility provider or a medical professional and be less than 4 years old. Bank statements and similar evidence tied to the date of application must be dated no earlier than 28 days before it (FM-SE paragraph 1(l)). On income, GOV.UK's summary says you can only use employment income earned in the UK, while E-ECP.3.2(a) allows overseas employment to count only for a partner returning to the UK with the applicant, and the Rules are the legal test. The £29,000 requirement and the savings alternative are covered in the guides on the financial requirement and on using savings.

Timeline and what happens after the decision

GOV.UK says that for an application made outside the UK you will usually get a decision within 12 weeks, and that after applying the applicant has to attend an appointment to give fingerprints and a photo. The page warns that the visa application centre could be in another country, which for some applicants adds travel and time before the application can be decided.

If the application succeeds, the applicant gets an eVisa. The standard first grant is up to 2 years and 9 months, with a condition of no access to public funds; the holder can work and study. The decision notice says whether the grant carries a standard or non-standard endorsement, which can affect when settlement can be applied for. The earliest settlement application on the standard route is after 5 years of continuous partner leave. If a refusal follows, the rights of challenge are limited and have strict time limits, which our guide to a refused spouse visa explains.

Worked examples (illustrative)

Example 1: one adult. A single applicant applies from Bangladesh for a 33-month grant. The Home Office costs are £2,064 plus £3,105, a total of £5,169. A TB test at a Green Crescent clinic is Taka 5,500 for an adult, or 70 USD at an IOM clinic, paid in Taka. The English test fee is set by the provider. Translations and the optional £500 priority service are extra.

Example 2: an applicant and a child. An applicant adds one child under 11 to the same application. The fee is £2,064 for each person, £4,128 in all. The surcharge is £3,105 for the adult and £2,328 for the child, £5,433 in all. That is £9,561 payable to the Home Office. The child's TB examination is Taka 3,500 at Green Crescent or 30 USD at IOM, and a chest x-ray is not normally part of it for a child under 11.

Example 3: a fee that is not refunded. The Dhaka and Sylhet clinic entries say the TB test fee is not refundable if the visa is refused or the person decides not to travel. The money is therefore spent whatever the Home Office decides, and the certificate is only valid for 6 months from the x-ray date, so the test date and the application date need to be considered together.

Finding a regulated adviser

Some couples ask a regulated adviser to review the evidence, the translations and the timeline before applying from abroad. GOV.UK explains how to find an immigration adviser. Only advisers registered with the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA, formerly the OISC), solicitors and barristers may give immigration advice in England and Wales.

The Migratio directory lists IAA-registered advisers (with their level) and SRA-regulated solicitors, each with their regulator and registration number. Migratio is not regulated by the IAA or the SRA and does not give immigration advice. This page explains how the rules work; it does not tell you what to do in your case.

Questions people ask

How much does a UK spouse visa cost from Bangladesh?

GOV.UK gives £2,064 for an application made outside the UK, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £3,105 for an adult for 2 years and 9 months, a total of £5,169 for one adult. The TB test, English test and translations are extra.

Do I need a TB test for a UK spouse visa from Bangladesh?

Bangladesh is on GOV.UK's TB list. You need the test if you are coming to the UK for 6 months or more, have lived in a listed country for 6 months or more and were living there within the last 6 months. It must be done at a Home Office-approved clinic and the certificate is valid for 6 months from the x-ray date.

Where can I take the UK TB test in Bangladesh?

GOV.UK lists approved clinics in Dhaka (Green Crescent Health Services and IOM), Sylhet (Green Crescent MediLab and IOM) and Chittagram (Green Crescent Medical Diagnostic). Fees are Taka 5,500 at Green Crescent or 70 USD at IOM for ages 11 and over. The page was last updated on 12 March 2025, so check it before booking.

Do Bangladeshi nationals need to prove English for a spouse visa?

Bangladesh is not on the list of majority English-speaking countries in Appendix FM paragraph GEN.1.6, so English must be shown by an approved speaking-and-listening test at level A1 or above, a qualifying degree, or an exemption such as being 65 or over.

Do documents in Bengali need to be translated for a UK spouse visa?

GOV.UK says a certified translation is needed for any document that is not in English or Welsh. FM-SE paragraph 1(j) requires the original and a full, dated translation with the translator's name, signature and contact details and a confirmation that it is accurate.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-09.

Related guides

  • UK spouse visa cost in 2026: the application fee, the health surcharge and what else you pay — A partner or spouse visa costs £2,064 if you apply from outside the UK and £1,407 if you apply from inside it, plus the immigration health surcharge (£3,105 for the first 2 years 9 months from outside the UK, £2,587.50 for an extension). Settlement (ILR) is a separate £3,226. These are the 8 October 2026 fees and are per person.
  • Spouse visa financial requirement: how the £29,000 minimum income works — For a first partner application, the Immigration Rules require specified gross income of at least £29,000 a year, or cash savings of £16,000 plus 2.5 times any shortfall. A lower £18,600 figure applies only to people who first applied before 11 April 2024 and are extending with the same partner. Loans, benefits such as Universal Credit and property equity do not count.
  • Spouse visa English requirement: A1, A2 and B1 explained — Partner applicants must show English at CEFR level A1 in speaking and listening for the first visa, and A2 at the extension after 30 months if A1 was used before. You can meet it by nationality of a listed country, a degree taught in English, or an approved SELT taken within two years. People aged 65 or over, and some with disabilities, are exempt.
  • Spouse visa documents: what UKVI asks for, and the rules on how to present them — A UK partner application needs your identity documents, your partner's details, proof of relationship, specified financial evidence (for example 6 months of payslips with bank statements and an employer letter), English evidence, a TB certificate if you are from a listed country, and certified translations. Missing or out-of-date documents are the commonest reason for avoidable refusals.
  • Using savings for a spouse visa: the £16,000 rule — Under Appendix FM, cash savings can replace some or all of the £29,000 income requirement, but not pound for pound. The Rules ask for £16,000 plus 2.5 times the gap between your income and £29,000, held in cash for the 6 months before you apply.
  • UK spouse visa from Pakistan: costs and TB test — A partner applying from Pakistan pays £2,064 plus a £3,105 healthcare surcharge for a 2-year-9-month visa, and normally needs a TB certificate from a Home Office-approved clinic in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi or Mirpur. Pakistan is not on the list of countries whose nationals are exempt from the English requirement.
  • UK spouse visa from India: costs and TB test — A partner applying from India pays £2,064 plus a £3,105 healthcare surcharge for a 2-year-9-month visa, and normally needs a TB certificate from one of the Home Office-approved clinics listed for India. India is not on the list of countries whose nationals are exempt from the English requirement.
  • UK spouse visa from Nigeria: costs and TB test — A partner applying from Nigeria pays £2,064 plus a £3,105 healthcare surcharge for a 2-year-9-month visa, and normally needs a TB certificate from one of six Home Office-approved clinics in Abuja, Benin City or Lagos. Nigeria is not on the list of nationalities exempt from the English requirement.
  • Fiancé visa UK: cost, rules and switching after — A fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner visa lasts up to 6 months, costs £2,064 and does not allow work or study. The couple must marry or form a civil partnership in the UK within that time, and the holder then applies to extend as a partner.
  • Spouse visa refused: options and deadlines — A refused UK partner (spouse) application is not on the administrative review list. You can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal only if the decision refused a human rights claim, which your decision letter should say; the deadline is 14 days in the UK or 28 days outside it and the fee is £82 or £144. Otherwise the usual step is a new application at £2,064 (outside the UK) or £1,407 (inside), plus the healthcare surcharge.
  • How to check a UK immigration adviser is registered — In the UK only a "qualified person" may give immigration advice: an IAA-registered adviser, a solicitor, barrister or chartered legal executive, or someone working under their supervision. Ask for the regulator and registration number, then check it yourself on the IAA Adviser Register or the SRA Solicitors Register.