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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.

The rules for a UK partner visa are the same for every nationality. What changes with the country is what surrounds the application: whether a TB test is needed and where it can be taken, what it costs locally, whether English has to be proved, and which documents need a translation or an equivalent. For someone applying from Nigeria, the TB test and the English requirement are the two parts that most often add steps and money.

This guide covers the Nigeria-specific parts of a UK spouse (partner) visa application made from outside the UK. It uses GOV.UK's family visa pages, the GOV.UK page listing approved TB clinics in Nigeria, the secure English test pages and the list of approved test centres, and Appendix FM and Appendix FM-SE of the Immigration Rules. It does not repeat the full explanation of the £29,000 income requirement or the settlement route, which 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. The applicant and the partner in the UK must both be 18 or over, and the partner must be a British or Irish citizen, settled in the UK, or hold one of the other statuses listed in E-ECP.2.1. The couple must have met in person (E-ECP.2.5), the relationship must be genuine and subsisting, and they must intend to live together permanently in the UK. If either of them had an earlier relationship, E-ECP.2.9 says it must have broken down permanently.

The costs GOV.UK gives for an application made from outside the UK are:

  • Application fee: £2,064 for each person applying.
  • Immigration Health Surcharge: £3,105 for an adult for a stay of 2 years and 9 months (the usual first grant), or £5,175 for 5 years; £2,328 for a child under 18 for 2 years and 9 months.
  • A fee waiver may be available in certain situations. GOV.UK gives the example of someone who cannot afford a place to live or their essential living costs.
  • Optional faster decision: GOV.UK lists a priority service at £500 on top of the application fee and says family visa applications made from outside the UK usually take 30 working days under it. Whether it is offered is shown during the application.

For one adult the fee and surcharge together come to £5,169 for the standard 33-month grant. A TB test, an English test and any translations are extra and are paid to the clinic, test provider or translator, not to the Home Office. GOV.UK also advises telling your bank that a large amount will be leaving your account, because otherwise the payment may be cancelled.

The TB test: does it apply, and where in Nigeria

Nigeria is on GOV.UK's list of countries where a tuberculosis (TB) test is needed. The test applies if all three of these are true: you are coming to the UK for 6 months or more, you have lived in a listed country for 6 months or more, and you were living there, or in another listed country, within the last 6 months. The test follows where you have lived, not which passport you hold. A Nigerian national who has lived for years in a country that is not on the list is looking at a different answer from one who has lived in Lagos, and the application service asks the relevant questions. A fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner needs the test even though that visa is for under 6 months.

The test must be done at a clinic approved by the Home Office. GOV.UK states: "We will not accept a TB test certificate from a clinic we have not approved." The Nigeria clinic page (updated 13 May 2026) lists six:

  • Abuja: the IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre in Asokoro (Monday to Thursday 8am to 5:30pm, Friday 8am to 12pm).
  • Benin City (Edo State): the IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre.
  • Lagos: the IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre in Ikeja GRA (Monday to Thursday 7am to 4:30pm, Friday 7am to 11am); Q-Life Family Clinic on Victoria Island; St. Nicholas Hospital on Lagos Island; and The Consultants Practice in Ikoyi.

Fees differ by clinic. The IOM centres list 94 USD for ages 11 and over and 49 USD for under 11, paid before the examination in Naira at the UN exchange rate; a reprint of a certificate is 16 USD. Q-Life, St. Nicholas and The Consultants Practice each list N120,000 for ages 11 and over and N60,000 for under 11; The Consultants Practice lists N30,000 for a reprint. The page says payment is by bank transfer to the clinic's account, with the international passport number as the reference, and that cash is not accepted at the examining centre. It also says: "The cost of the test is in addition to the visa application fee." Fees, bank details and opening hours change, so use the GOV.UK clinic page rather than any copy of it.

What to expect on the day, according to the same page: bring photo identification (preferably a passport), proof of payment, and details of any past TB or lung disease. The initial examination includes a counselling session and a consent form. People aged 11 and over have a chest x-ray reviewed by a doctor; children aged 10 and under have a medical examination by the physician before a certificate is issued, and GOV.UK's general TB page says children under 11 will not normally have a chest x-ray. The page says: "You can expect to get an appointment within a few days of your request." and adds: "At busy times you may have to wait 10 days for an appointment, especially during the UK student visa peak season between June and September." Examination is processed within 3 working days. If the x-ray looks abnormal, sputum tests may be needed and can take up to 8 weeks; the page says that someone who does not return within 7 days for sputum collection will not get a certificate.

The certificate expires 6 months from the x-ray date (3 months if the person has been in contact with a family member who has active pulmonary TB). Pregnant applicants can choose a shielded x-ray, a sputum test on three consecutive mornings, or to wait until after the birth. A separate note on the page says there are no approved clinics in Benin (the country), so applicants from there must travel to Nigeria.

English: Nigeria is not on the exempt-nationality list

The English requirement for a partner visa (E-ECP.4.1) is met in one of four ways: being a national of a country on the list in GEN.1.6, passing a speaking-and-listening test at CEFR level A1 or above with an approved provider, holding a qualifying degree, or an exemption (age 65 or over, a physical or mental condition that prevents it, or exceptional circumstances).

The GEN.1.6 list is: 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. Nigeria is not on it. The Rules use a fixed list, not the languages spoken in a country, so a Nigerian national relying on nationality alone does not meet E-ECP.4.1(a). The other routes are:

  • A test. GOV.UK says to pass at least level A1 on the CEFR scale with an approved provider, in speaking and listening only for the partner route. Outside the UK the approved providers are PSI Services (UK) Ltd, the IELTS SELT Consortium, LANGUAGECERT and Pearson. The test must be on the approved list, sat at an approved test location and awarded in the two years before the application date. The list of approved test centres outside the UK dated 2 October 2026 shows 19 centres in Nigeria, all marked available: 10 in Lagos, 6 in Abuja, 2 in Port Harcourt and 1 in Benin City, across all four providers. GOV.UK tells applicants to book through the provider's website and not to contact the test centre directly.
  • A UK degree. A degree-level qualification awarded by a UK institution, even if studied outside the UK, only needs the degree certificate.
  • A non-UK degree. A degree taught in English that was not awarded by a UK institution needs an assessment from Ecctis confirming that it is equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree or higher and was taught in English. FM-SE paragraph 32 lists countries whose qualifications are assumed to have been taught in English without that confirmation; Nigeria is not among them.

Someone who proved English in an earlier successful application may not have to prove it again. If an A1 test is used for the first visa, a higher level (A2 in speaking and listening) is needed at the extension after 2.5 years, which is covered in the guide to the spouse visa English requirement.

Documents: names, parents' details, marriage evidence and translations

GOV.UK's information page lists what an applicant outside the UK provides: all names and the date of birth, a current passport, copies of the photo page and any visa or entry stamps from previous passports, details of previous immigration applications and any criminal convictions, a National Insurance number if there is one, the TB test results where required, and "your parents' date of birth and nationality if you're applying from outside the UK". A certified translation is needed for any document that is not in English or Welsh, so the translation rule applies only to papers written in another language.

Three points tend to decide how much preparation an application needs.

Marriage and divorce evidence. FM-SE paragraph 26 says marriages, civil partnerships and evidence of divorce from outside the UK must be shown by "a reasonable equivalent to the evidence detailed in paragraphs 22 to 25, valid under the law in force in the relevant country". Paragraph 22, for a UK marriage, asks for a valid marriage certificate recognised under UK law. Whether a particular certificate or register entry is the right equivalent, and whether the marriage is valid for the purposes of E-ECP.2.7, is a point to check carefully against the Rules and the application service. If either person was previously married, paragraphs 23 to 25 set out what shows the earlier marriage or civil partnership ended.

Money documents. FM-SE paragraph 1(l) says evidence relating to a period ending with the date of application must be dated no earlier than 28 days before it. For the £29,000 income level, E-ECP.3.2(a) lists the partner's specified employment or self-employment income among the sources, and allows overseas employment to count only for a partner returning to the UK with the applicant. GOV.UK's plain-English summary says you can only use income earned in the UK; the Rules are the legal test. Savings can also count: the Rules require £16,000 plus 2.5 times the shortfall against £29,000, and our guide on using savings explains the formula.

Biometrics. After applying, the applicant attends an appointment to give fingerprints and a photo. GOV.UK warns that the visa application centre could be in another country, so travel time and cost should be allowed for before the appointment is booked.

Timeline and what happens after the decision

GOV.UK says that if you apply outside the UK you will usually get a decision within 12 weeks. If the application succeeds, the applicant receives an eVisa, a digital record of identity and immigration status, and the decision email or letter explains how to access it through a UKVI account. It also states whether the grant carries a standard endorsement (all requirements met) or a non-standard endorsement (only some were met, so the person could join family), which can affect when settlement may be applied for.

A partner visa granted on the standard route lasts up to 2 years and 9 months, with no access to public funds. The holder can work and study. Settlement ("indefinite leave to remain") can be applied for after 5 years of continuous partner leave; if the grant was made because refusal would breach human rights rather than because the financial requirement was met, the Rules provide for a 10-year route instead. If an application is refused, the options are narrow and time-limited, and our guide to a refused spouse visa sets out the deadlines.

Worked examples (illustrative)

Example 1: one adult. A single applicant with no dependants applies from Nigeria for a 33-month grant. The application fee is £2,064 and the surcharge is £3,105, so £5,169 is payable to the Home Office. A TB test at an IOM centre is 94 USD, paid in Naira at the UN rate, or N120,000 at the three private clinics listed. The English test fee is set by the test provider and is not shown on GOV.UK. Add any translations and the optional £500 priority service.

Example 2: an applicant and a child. A parent applies with one child under 18 for the same grant. The fee is £2,064 for each person (£4,128) and the surcharge is £3,105 for the adult plus £2,328 for the child (£5,433), a total of £9,561. A child under 11 would pay 49 USD at an IOM centre or N60,000 at the private clinics for the TB examination. These numbers come straight from the GOV.UK pages and add up the same way for any couple.

Example 3: the TB window. An applicant has the x-ray in March and applies in October. The certificate expires 6 months from the x-ray date, so a March certificate would have lapsed by October and a new test would be needed. If the applicant is also waiting on sputum results, the up to 8 weeks the clinic page mentions has to fit inside that window.

Finding a regulated adviser

Some couples ask a regulated adviser to look over 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 Nigeria?

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 any translations are extra.

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

Nigeria 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 expires 6 months from the x-ray date.

Where can I take the UK TB test in Nigeria?

GOV.UK lists approved clinics in Abuja (IOM), Benin City (IOM) and Lagos (IOM, Q-Life Family Clinic, St. Nicholas Hospital and The Consultants Practice). IOM lists 94 USD for ages 11 and over; the three private Lagos clinics list N120,000. Check the GOV.UK page for current details before booking.

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

Nigeria 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.

How long does a UK spouse visa from Nigeria take?

GOV.UK says that if you apply outside the UK you will usually get a decision within 12 weeks. A £500 priority service may be offered, under which GOV.UK says family visa applications from outside the UK usually take 30 working days.

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 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.
  • 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.