UK Spouse Visa checklist for UK Sponsor and Bulgarian national applicant written by UK Immigration Lawyer Mr Saleh Begh

Please contact us via ✉ | ☎ |

Share this article on | | | |

Call 02071933839 to discuss your case and initial assessment (FREE overview)

1. Your nationality and residence : British (United Kingdom)

2. Your partner nationality and residence : Bulgarian (Bulgaria) България

The information and document checklist below is for you, if you are a British citizen (or holding UK permanent residence) and your partner is a Bulgarian national.

You currently reside in United Kingdom whereas your partner resides in Bulgaria България.

Full UK Spouse Visa Guide - Bulgaria България .

UK Spouse Visa Bulgaria България Checklist Contents

UK Spouse Visa Key Considerations for Family Visa from Bulgaria България
UK Partner Visa from Sofia, Bulgaria България
Checklist for UK Family Visa (British and Bulgarian)
UK Home Office Approved English Tests Centres in Bulgaria България

UK Spouse Visa Key requirements

Lets have a chat ✉ | ☎ 00442071935178 | Monday to Saturday, 8am to 10pm UK time.

The Immigration Rules state that :

you both must be over the age of 18;

you must have met each other in person and be legally married, unless you are applying as an unmarried partner [alternatively] apply for a UK Marriage Visa or a UK Fiancée visa both have different requirements. ☎ | ✉ );

you both must intend to live together permanently in the UK (not Bulgaria) ;

you must have enough income to support yourselves and any dependants without claiming public funds (unless of course, you receive PIP / DLA / CA .. [Read more]);

the sponsor must hold and evidence British / ILR / EUSS / Refugee status documents.

they must have suitable accommodation for you and any dependent children;

and you must satisfy the English language requirements and have a medical certificate for TB (where required).

UK family Visa

Now let's look into the various aspects of the requirements listed above when you are British and your partner is Bulgarian and you reside in United Kingdom and your partner resides in Bulgaria. Since your partner is a Bulgarian national, they would need UK immigration status documents to live and work in the UK. If you are not yet British but have Indefinite leave to remain (ILR), Permanent Residency (EEA PR) or Refugee status, then your partner can join you on the Partner route and enter or remain in the UK legally.

Your partner is an European ( Bulgarian ) national thus does not need a visa before arriving at the UK Border, however they need to secure their visa first. Please note that they will enter the UK as a visitor and will in most case be required to return home and re-enter the UK on the family visa route.

UK Spouse Visa Documents Checklist - Sofia - Bulgaria България

	Wafi Solicitors 16 Upper Woburn Pl London WC1H 0AF, UK 00442071935178 saleh@wafi.co.uk Please call or email for FREE initial consultation. ✉ | ☎ |
UK Spouse Visa Checklist April 2026 Sofia - Bulgaria България
Key Forms / Documents Online application form ; Online application checklist ; VFS Global Appointment document and QR code ; Statutory Declaration by sponsor ; Identity Bulgarian Passport (All Pages); Copy of UK Sponsor Passport (Data page) ; Copy of Sponsor (ILR / Refugee status document (if not British) ;		English test centres Approved A1 English test certificate from test centre in Sofia - Bulgaria Approved English Test Centres in Bulgaria България Tuberculosis Testing Centres TB medical test certificates are not required when you apply from Bulgaria. UK Visa Application Centres in Bulgaria VFS Global Office Bulgaria has application centres in Sofia .
UK Spouse Visa Application Checklist (Sample April 2026 - Hana and Mohamed) 1. Visa applicant, Hana’s Bulgarian passport (BU6948445) Submitted at VFS Global office in Sofia, Bulgaria; 2. Copy of Hana’s online Application form (UAN 1212-0001-4844-2100); 3. Copy of UK sponsor, Mohamed’s British Passport (Number: 145002100) or Mohamed’s Bulgarian passport plus his UK status documents (eVisa); 4. Duly Completed Hana's online Application Checklist (GWF08445100); Financial (Sponsor, Mohamed who is British and Employed) 5. Mohamed’s Statutory Declaration and Sponsorship undertaking form SU07 ; 6. Letter from Mohamed’s employer dated in April 2026; 7. Offer letter and Employment Contract document for Mohamed ; 8. Mohamed’s Payslips (Monthly – Sept 2025* to April 2026); 9. Mohamed’s Bank Statements (1 Sept 2025* to 1 April 2026). * Mohamed may need 12 months (From April 2025) instead of 6 where Mohamed's monthly gross pay varies and is less than the required monthly amount, currently £2,416.67 (£29,000 / 12) for each and every month during the previous 6 months prior to application date. Financial (Sponsor, Mohamed has Savings or receives exempted State Benefits) If Mohamed is not employed but has the required savings or Mohamed receives PIP, CA or Disability benefits he would provide (instead of items 6 to 8 above) evidence of benefit award and needs to meet the maintaince route requirements. In the case of savings, Mohamed would need to provide evidence of source of savings and minimum balance held during the previous 6 months. Hana’s savings can also be used. Her funds would need to be converted from Bulgarian Lev to British pounds. Accommodation (Adequate for the British Bulgarian couple plus any children) 10. Mohamed’s Tenancy Agreement or Ownership evidence (if owning) ; 11. Landlord / Estate Agents consent letter or housing report (owning) for Mohamed's flat ; 12. Mohamed’s Council tax statement and other UK residence evidence. English & TB Certificates (Only A1 English test is required for Bulgarian nationals.) 13. Approved A1 English test certificate from test centre in Sofia - Bulgaria Approved English Test Centres in Bulgaria България 14. TB medical test certificates are not required when you apply from Bulgaria. Relationship (Genuine subsisting and durable between Mohamed and Hana) 15. Mohamed and Hana's original Marriage Certificate with translation (if married) and joint residence evidence (where unmarried but living together for 2 years plus) ; 16. Copy of Bulgaria / UK visit stamps, entry & exit plus flights bookings for Mohamed and Hana; 17. Telephone and Whatsapp chat log records between Mohamed and Hana; 18. Screenshots of conversations by Whatsapp between Mohamed and Hana; 19. Various Funds Remittance Receipts sent to Hana in Bulgaria by Mohamed ; 20. Selection of Bulgarian wedding and other personal photographs of Mohamed and Hana. 21. if Mohamed and Hana are not married but only engaged - evidence of Mohamed's venue booking and other commitments for marriage in the UK awaiting Hana's arrival ; 22. if Mohamed previously married - Mohamed's Divorce certificate or Widower - Death certificate (issued in the UK or Bulgaria ). Same for Hana if applicable. Children and other ties (British or Bulgarian and where applicable) 23. Child, Adam's birth certificate, copy of Adam's passport and other evidence of family ties and Hana and Mohamed's parental responsibility for the child. Non-English documents (from Bulgaria) 24. English translation of Mohamed and Hana's Marriage / divorce certificate. Criminal record and immigration history (In Bulgaria and the UK - Applicant only) 25. Documents relating to Hana's good character and immigration history and mitigation (if Hana's previous visa was refused or was an UK over-stayer). 26. Hana's financial standing and settlement of NHS and other debts. Complicated situation or unsure about what to include? Wafi Solicitors can guide you through the process with ease and get the positive outcome you seek first time. ✉ | ☎ |
Wafi Solicitors – All Rights Reserved. No part of this document may be copied or reproduced without prior written permission. No liability accepted for accuracy, completeness, or reliability of data provided. Mohamed, Hana, Adam, Lina and other names used above do not relate to any actual persons. They are used for illustration purposes only.

A1 level English test required

Your partner is a Bulgarian national and thus not exempt from the English language requirements for a Spouse / Partner visa, they would need to take the A1 / A2 (extension) or provide other English language evidence.

If you are already in the UK (on a different visa or for visa extension application) You can take a SELT with the providers mentioned above or with Trinity College London. Click here for UK Spouse Visa English test centres in the UK

Did you know Sofia, Bulgaria is 2,100 KM (1,305 miles) from London, England. Flight time to London is 3 Hours. Bulgaria has a population of 6,948,445 (2021) and they use Bulgarian lev. One British pound is equal to 2.25798 Bulgarian Lev.

You may consider applying from neighbouring countries if that is more appropriate such as ( | Greek UK Spouse Visa Checklist | Macedonian UK Spouse Visa Checklist | Romanian UK Spouse Visa Checklist | Serbian UK Spouse Visa Checklist | Turkish UK Spouse Visa Checklist | ) . You would normally need to hold 6 months or more lawful residence there in order to apply for a UK spouse visa from that location.

Please remember that all UK Family Visa applications are now done online and your UK Visa Application Centre for Bulgaria, VFS Global Office could be in a different city. You may need to plan ahead and travel for your tests and visa appointments. These are the large cities in Bulgaria Sofia , Plovdiv , Varna , Burgas , Ruse , Stara Zagora , Pleven , Sliven , Dobrich , Shumen. Only a few cities will have a VFS Global Office UK Spouse Visa Application Centre (Bulgaria)

UK Spouse Visa Fees April 2026

UK spouse Visa Application fees is £1,938
You will pay 4,507 Bulgarian Lev or a little more for your application.
View live fees UK Spouse Visa fees for Bulgaria now !

Please get in touch ( UK 00442071935178 or email saleh@wafi.co.uk ) for more specific information, free 5 minute consultation is offered or leave a question or comment below and we will get in touch (dont forget to include your contact number ).

Why not share your questions and experiences with others?

Leave your questions or experiences for others to benefit. Please comment below.

About the author

Saleh Begh is a Solicitor (English Attorney) with 15 years experience in UK Immigration and Family law. He routinely deals with complicated Immigration and family law matters. Read more about Saleh Begh For guidance, options and tips contact us ✉ | ☎ |

You may also consider our guide on how to apply from a neighbouring country ( | Greek UK Spouse Visa | Macedonian UK Spouse Visa | Romanian UK Spouse Visa | Serbian UK Spouse Visa | Turkish UK Spouse Visa | ) . Please note that you would normally need to hold 6 months or more lawful residence there in order to apply for a UK spouse visa from that location.

Did you know that the following cities in Bulgaria had large populations - Sofia ( 1286789 )