The UK Spouse Visa has long been a reliable immigration route for foreign nationals to reunite with their spouse, who is a British citizen or a permanent resident in the United Kingdom. The Spouse Visa has also been a great option for spouses who live apart and wish to rebuild their lives together. However, the UK government’s 2025 White Paper, released on 12 May, has introduced immigration reforms, making the UK Spouse Visa route more complex for new applicants seeking to reunite with their spouse. While some of the changes proposed in the White Paper have been implemented, some changes regarding the Spouse Visa financial threshold are still under deliberation. Ghanaian citizens must understand the recent UK Spouse Visa requirements when looking to reunite with their UK-based spouse through that route. This article provides an overview of the UK Spouse Visa, including the latest immigration rule changes, its requirements, and other relevant details for Ghanaian citizens.
Overview of UK Spouse Visa Amidst the 2025 Immigration Rule Changes
The UK Spouse Visa is one of the most reliable immigration routes for Ghanaian couples seeking to live together in the United Kingdom. It enables you to reunite with your UK-based partner (UK citizen or a settled individual). The Spouse Visa is valid for 33 months for applications made from Ghana and 30 months for applications made from within the United Kingdom when switching from another UK visa.
The Home Office can grant you an extension of the visa for up to 30 months if you continue to meet its requirements. However, the UK government’s 2025 immigration White Paper introduced significant reforms that could henceforth change the future of family migration for Ghanaian citizens through the UK Spouse Visa. This development now requires Ghanaian applicants to be more prepared regarding the rigorous processes involved, as the Home Office’s scrutiny of UK Spouse Visa applications has become more intense.
What Ghanaian Couples Must Know about New UK Spouse Visa Reforms
As a Ghanaian citizen looking to reunite with your UK-based partner with the UK Spouse Visa, you must be aware of the following changes:
Stricter English Language Tests
The UK 2025 immigration changes require Ghanaian applicants looking to join their UK-based partner to meet stricter English language proficiency tests. Therefore, you must take a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from a Home Office-approved provider. As a Ghanaian national, you must demonstrate your English proficiency to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level A1 (beginner) or higher for speaking and listening skills. If you’re already in the UK and intending to switch to a Spouse visa, you must also attain the level A1.
Ghanaian applicants seeking to extend their Spouse Visa in the UK must demonstrate proficiency in English, with a minimum CEFR level A2 (elementary) or higher. When applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK, you must also demonstrate your English proficiency to the CEFR level B1 (intermediate) or higher. Ensure you take the appropriate English test version to avoid a refusal or delay of your Spouse Visa application.
As a Ghanaian citizen, you may be exempt from taking an English language proficiency test if:
- You hold a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree in Ghana, with English as the language of instruction.
- You’re also a citizen of a majority English-speaking country such as Australia, the US, New Zealand, or another.
- You’re 65 years or older.
- You couldn’t take the language test as a result of mental or physical disability.
Financial Threshold
Currently, a UK Spouse Visa application requires a minimum income of £29,000. However, the UK Immigration White Paper 2025 proposed increasing the threshold to £34,500 first, followed by a further increase to £38,700. This final change was intended to be implemented before the end of 2025. The policy hasn’t been implemented as it raised criticism that it would keep families apart. As a result, the policy was reviewed, and the Home Office was advised to maintain the threshold at £29,000, which is significantly higher than that of other high-income nations.
In light of these recommendations, the UK government is set to announce a new policy for the family route by the end of 2025. As a Ghanaian citizen considering the Spouse Visa route, it is ideal to seek expert guidance from an immigration lawyer. This will help you obtain accurate, timely, and up-to-date information on all recent prospective changes to the UK immigration policy, including the Spouse Visa.
UK Spouse Visa Requirements for Ghanaians 2025
To meet the UK Spouse Visa requirements in 2025, Ghanaian citizens must:
- Be 18 or older.
- Be in a genuine relationship with your partner for at least 2 years.
- Have two passport-sized photographs.
- Provide a valid Ghanaian passport.
- Prove the relationship with your UK-based spouse by providing shared bills, photos of you together with your spouse, proof of cohabiting, and shared utility bills or rent.
- Have an English language proficiency test certificate.
- Have a minimum income threshold of up to £29,000 per year with your UK-based spouse.
- Have adequate accommodation in the UK for you and your spouse, including any dependent child.
- Provide a Tuberculosis (TB) test certificate if you have been residing in Ghana for more than 6 months.
- Provide your immigration application history.
- Have a clean criminal record.
UK Settlement and Extension Rules for Ghanaian Partners in 2025
Ghanaian partners looking to enter the UK in 2025, extend their stay, and settle in the country must comply with and adhere to the steps below:
- Initial visa duration: Enter the UK with a UK Spouse Visa valid for 33 months.
- Extend the visa: Ghanaian partners must apply for a visa extension before its expiration. Again, you must meet the financial, accommodation, and relationship requirements.
- Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR): Having spent 5 years on the Spouse Visa in the UK, you can apply for ILR if you meet the requirements.
- Citizenship pathway: Following your ILR status, you can apply for British citizenship after 1 year, provided you meet the residency and character requirements.
Final Thoughts
The UK 2025 immigration White Paper signals a significant turning point for foreign nationals intending to immigrate to the UK, including Ghanaian citizens. While the new policy is designed to curb net migration in the UK, it will impact the process of family migration. Ghanaian partners must plan early, ensure their financial stability, and prepare detailed evidence to support their applications. With expert guidance from an immigration lawyer, you can still meet the requirements amid these changes and reunite with your partner in the UK.
