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

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

2. Your partner nationality and residence : Ethiopian (Ethiopia) Ityopiya

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

You currently reside in United Kingdom whereas your partner resides in Ethiopia Ityopiya.

Full UK Spouse Visa Guide - Ethiopia Ityopiya .

UK Spouse Visa Ethiopia Ityopiya Checklist Contents

UK Spouse Visa Key Considerations for Family Visa from Ethiopia Ityopiya
UK Partner Visa from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Ityopiya
Checklist for UK Family Visa (British and Ethiopian)
UK Home Office Approved TB Medical Centres in Ethiopia Ityopiya
UK Home Office Approved English Tests Centres in Ethiopia Ityopiya

UK Spouse Visa Key requirements

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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 Ethiopia) ;

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 Ethiopian and you reside in United Kingdom and your partner resides in Ethiopia. Since your partner is an Ethiopian 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.

We note that your partner is a visa national (Ethiopian) for UK travel purposes. This means they would normally need to obtain a visa from the British Embassy or UK Visa office / Commercial partner office (VFS Global), prior to their travel to the UK.

UK Spouse Visa Documents Checklist - Addis Ababa - Ethiopia Ityopiya

	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 Addis Ababa - Ethiopia Ityopiya
Key Forms / Documents Online application form ; Online application checklist ; VFS Global Appointment document and QR code ; Statutory Declaration by sponsor ; Identity Ethiopian 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 Addis Ababa - Ethiopia Approved English Test Centres in Ethiopia Ityopiya Tuberculosis Testing Centres Approved TB medical test certificate from test centre in Ethiopia Approved TB Test Centres in Ethiopia Ityopiya UK Visa Application Centres in Ethiopia VFS Global Office Ethiopia has application centres in Addis Ababa .
UK Spouse Visa Application Checklist (Sample April 2026 - Hana and Abel) 1. Visa applicant, Hana’s Ethiopian passport (ET11496358) Submitted at VFS Global office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 2. Copy of Hana’s online Application form (UAN 1212-0001-4963-6200); 3. Copy of UK sponsor, Abel’s British Passport (Number: 145006200) or Abel’s Ethiopian passport plus his UK status documents (eVisa); 4. Duly Completed Hana's online Application Checklist (GWF0963588200); Financial (Sponsor, Abel who is British and Employed) 5. Abel’s Statutory Declaration and Sponsorship undertaking form SU07 ; 6. Letter from Abel’s employer dated in April 2026; 7. Offer letter and Employment Contract document for Abel ; 8. Abel’s Payslips (Monthly – Sept 2025* to April 2026); 9. Abel’s Bank Statements (1 Sept 2025* to 1 April 2026). * Abel may need 12 months (From April 2025) instead of 6 where Abel'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, Abel has Savings or receives exempted State Benefits) If Abel is not employed but has the required savings or Abel 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, Abel 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 Ethiopian Birrs to British pounds. Accommodation (Adequate for the British Ethiopian couple plus any children) 10. Abel’s Tenancy Agreement or Ownership evidence (if owning) ; 11. Landlord / Estate Agents consent letter or housing report (owning) for Abel's flat ; 12. Abel’s Council tax statement and other UK residence evidence. English & TB Certificates (Both tests are required for Ethiopian nationals.) 13. Approved A1 English test certificate from test centre in Addis Ababa - Ethiopia Approved English Test Centres in Ethiopia Ityopiya 14. Approved TB medical test certificate from test centre in Ethiopia Approved TB Test Centres in Ethiopia Ityopiya Relationship (Genuine subsisting and durable between Abel and Hana) 15. Abel 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 Ethiopia / UK visit stamps, entry & exit plus flights bookings for Abel and Hana; 17. Telephone and Whatsapp chat log records between Abel and Hana; 18. Screenshots of conversations by Whatsapp between Abel and Hana; 19. Various Funds Remittance Receipts sent to Hana in Ethiopia by Abel ; 20. Selection of Ethiopian wedding and other personal photographs of Abel and Hana. 21. if Abel and Hana are not married but only engaged - evidence of Abel's venue booking and other commitments for marriage in the UK awaiting Hana's arrival ; 22. if Abel previously married - Abel's Divorce certificate or Widower - Death certificate (issued in the UK or Ethiopia ). Same for Hana if applicable. Children and other ties (British or Ethiopian and where applicable) 23. Child, Samuel's birth certificate, copy of Samuel's passport and other evidence of family ties and Hana and Abel's parental responsibility for the child. Non-English documents (from Ethiopia) 24. English translation of Abel and Hana's Marriage / divorce certificate. Criminal record and immigration history (In Ethiopia 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. Abel, Hana, Samuel, Sara and other names used above do not relate to any actual persons. They are used for illustration purposes only.

Tuberculosis tests for UK spouse visa applicants

Your partner is at a location (Ethiopia Ityopiya) where Tuberculosis (TB) medical testing is required for UK Visas (longer than 6 months, such as Spouse Visa). If they are the applicant they will need to consider taking the test. Please note that TB test certificate is only valid for up to 6 months. Approved TB Test Centres in Ethiopia Ityopiya .This is test is required for UK Family visas when you are resident in Ethiopia.

UK Home Office Approved TB Test centres in Ethiopia Ityopiya

Click here for UK Government TB testing in Ethiopia Website (opens in a new window)

OM Migration Health Assesment Center (MHAC) Ethiopia
Bole Kefle Ketema, Woreda 03/05, Meseret Defar Rd. Behind Millennium Hall, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Landline number: +251-11-6393446 (Ext.190/191/192/193)
Mobile number:+251 914 316731
E-mail: IOMADDISABABAMHU@iom.int

Approved TB Test Centres in Ethiopia Ityopiya

A1 level English test required

Your partner is an Ethiopian 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 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is 6,200 KM (3,853 miles) from London, England. Flight time to London is 8 Hours. Ethiopia has a population of 114,963,588 (2021) and they use Ethiopian birr. One British pound is equal to 67.1311 Ethiopian Birrs.

You may consider applying from neighbouring countries if that is more appropriate such as ( | Djiboutian UK Spouse Visa Checklist | Eritrean UK Spouse Visa Checklist | Kenyan UK Spouse Visa Checklist | Somali UK Spouse Visa Checklist | Sudanese 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 Ethiopia, 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 Ethiopia Addis Ababa , Dire Dawa , Mekelle , Gondar , Hawassa , Adama , Jimma , Bahir Dar , Debre Markos , Dessie. Only a few cities will have a VFS Global Office UK Spouse Visa Application Centre (Ethiopia)

UK Spouse Visa Fees April 2026

UK spouse Visa Application fees is £1,938
You will pay 134,003 Ethiopian Birrs or a little more for your application.
View live fees UK Spouse Visa fees for Ethiopia 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 ).

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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 ( | Djiboutian UK Spouse Visa | Eritrean UK Spouse Visa | Kenyan UK Spouse Visa | Somali UK Spouse Visa | Sudanese 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.

Heading to the UK, which is your nearest Ethiopian Airport?

Is it Addis Ababa, (Bole Intl. Airport) , Asmara, (Asmara Airport) , Dire Dawa, (Aba Tenna Dejaznatch Yilma Airport) . Which city do you live in, is it? Addis Ababa , Dire Dawa , Mekelle , Gondar , Hawassa , Adama , Jimma , Bahir Dar , Debre Markos , Dessie or somewhere else. We can help you with your UK Spouse Visa from Ethiopia

Did you know that the following cities in Ethiopia had large populations - Addis Ababa ( 5227794 ) , Mekele ( 564756 )