UK Spouse Visa Documents from Bangladesh (2026)
If you apply for a UK spouse visa while living in Bangladesh, the core GOV.UK document list is the same as for every other country. Three items take extra time because they come from Bangladesh: your Kabin Nama (the marriage record), a TB certificate from an approved clinic, and English translations of anything written in Bengali. The table below shows the whole set and where each item usually comes from.
| Document | Who it comes from | Where it is usually obtained |
|---|---|---|
| Current passport, plus photo page and stamps from old passports | Applicant | Bangladesh |
| Kabin Nama, or a court record for a civil marriage | Both of you | Kazi or court in Bangladesh |
| Proof a previous marriage ended (only if one applies) | Whichever partner was married before | Country where it ended |
| TB test certificate | Applicant | Approved clinic in Dhaka, Sylhet or Chittagram |
| English language evidence | Applicant | Approved test centre, or Ecctis for a degree |
| Translations of Bengali documents | Applicant | A translator of your choice |
| Proof of UK status | UK partner | UK |
| Payslips, bank statements, employer letter (or other income proof) | UK partner | UK |
| Housing papers for your UK address | UK partner | UK |
| Relationship evidence | Both of you | Both countries |
All figures and rules were checked on GOV.UK on 7 October 2026. Check them again before you book or pay.
The Kabin Nama
In Bangladesh, a Muslim marriage contract is usually called the Kabin Nama. The UK government's guide Family law in Bangladesh (published 8 April 2026) calls it the "Nikahnama or Kabinnama". It records the terms of the marriage, for example the dower (mahr) and whether the wife has a delegated right of divorce.
Two official GOV.UK sources describe how it is issued:
- The FCDO guide says Muslim marriages "should be registered with a local marriage registrar (Kazi)". It adds that registration "is mandatory", but that "non-registration does not automatically render the marriage invalid".
- The Home Office Bangladesh Knowledge Base profile (updated 15 July 2026) says the Kazi records the marriage in registry books and gives the couple "a copy of the marriage registration called a Nikah Nama". It also notes that the Kazi can instead give a shorter certificate with only the names, addresses and date of marriage.
Other kinds of marriage. The Knowledge Base profile says a couple can choose a religious or a civil marriage, and do not have to do both. Civil marriages "are completed and registered by law courts". The FCDO guide says registration of a Hindu marriage is optional.
The Immigration Rules (Appendix FM-SE, paragraph 26) ask for evidence of a marriage from outside the UK that is a "reasonable equivalent" to the UK marriage evidence it lists, "valid under the law in force in the relevant country". GOV.UK does not publish a separate list for Bangladesh, so the documents above are what the official country guidance describes.
Before you scan your Kabin Nama, check these simple things:
- Spellings of both names match your passports. Bengali names are often written in English in more than one way.
- Dates of birth match.
- Every page is scanned, including stamps, seals and signatures.
- You know which Kazi document you have: the copy of the marriage registration (the Nikah Nama), or the shorter certificate.
If one of you was married before. GOV.UK asks for "evidence of marriages ending, for example a divorce certificate". The FCDO guide describes Muslim divorce in Bangladesh as a written notice to the local authority and the spouse, an arbitration council with one nominee from each side, and a 90-day reconciliation period. Keep the papers this process produced.
Translating Bengali documents
GOV.UK asks for "a certified translation of any document that is not in English or Welsh". Papers from Bangladesh that are often in Bengali include the Kabin Nama, divorce papers, birth certificates and some local bank documents.
Paragraph 39B(f) of Part 1 of the Immigration Rules sets the format (Appendix FM-SE paragraph 1(j) uses the same wording for financial evidence). You send the Bengali original together with "a full translation that can be independently verified" by the Home Office. The translation must be dated and must show:
- confirmation that it is an accurate translation
- the full name and signature of the translator, or of an authorised official of the translation company
- contact details for the translator or company
A good habit: ask the translator to copy the English spelling of each name exactly as it appears in your passport. This keeps names the same across every document in the package.
TB test clinics in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is on the GOV.UK list of countries where a TB test is needed. GOV.UK says you need the test if you are coming to the UK for 6 months or more and have lived in a listed country for 6 months or more, and lived there at some point in the last 6 months. A spouse visa is longer than 6 months. The certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of the x-ray, and you include it with your application.
GOV.UK's Bangladesh clinic list (updated 12 March 2025) names five clinics in three cities:
| City | Clinic | Fee, age 11 and over | Fee, under 11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhaka | Green Crescent Health Services, Baridhara Diplomatic Zone | Taka 5,500 | Taka 3,500 |
| Dhaka | IOM Migration Health Assessment Clinic, UN House, Gulshan 2 | USD 70 | USD 30 |
| Sylhet | Green Crescent MediLab, Sonarpara | Taka 5,500 | Taka 3,500 |
| Sylhet | IOM Migration Health Assessment Clinic, Medi-Aid Heart Centre | USD 70 | USD 30 |
| Chittagram | Green Crescent Medical Diagnostic, Agrabad | Taka 5,500 | Taka 3,500 |
The Green Crescent clinics list a further investigation fee of Taka 14,000 if more tests are needed. The IOM clinics list no extra follow-up fee. For all five clinics, the list states that the fee is not refunded if the person tests positive, decides not to travel or has their visa refused.
What to take: photo ID such as your passport or national ID card, the fee, and any earlier TB or lung records. Green Crescent clinics also ask for a photocopy of the ID. Leave jewellery at home, because the chest x-ray needs metal items removed. GOV.UK says children under 11 do not normally have an x-ray. They still go to the clinic, where they get a certificate after a questionnaire and a physical exam.
Because the certificate lasts 6 months, plan the x-ray date around the date you expect to submit.
English language evidence
Bangladesh is not one of the nationalities that GOV.UK exempts from the English requirement. For a first partner visa, the level is at least A1 on the CEFR scale. GOV.UK accepts a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider, or a degree taught in English. A degree from a university in Bangladesh needs an Ecctis assessment. Some people are exempt for other reasons, such as being over 65. The full list is on the GOV.UK knowledge of English page.
Papers from the UK partner
The UK side of the package is the same whichever country you apply from:
- Status: proof that your partner can live in the UK, for example a British passport.
- Money: GOV.UK says you and your partner usually need a combined income of at least £29,000 a year, and savings may sometimes be used instead. For a salary this means payslips, bank statements and an employer letter. Under Appendix FM-SE paragraph 1(l), when evidence must cover a period that ends on the date of application, the newest item must be dated no earlier than 28 days before you apply. Our guide to spouse visa bank statements and payslips shows how the months line up.
- Housing: Appendix FM asks for evidence of adequate accommodation for you in the UK, for example a tenancy agreement, mortgage statement or ownership papers.
- Relationship: GOV.UK asks how you met and how often you see each other. Couples living in different countries often add call history, messages and travel records. See proof of relationship documents.
Fee and timing
The application fee from outside the UK is £2,064 per person, with the immigration health surcharge on top. Our fees guide covers the full cost. GOV.UK says applicants outside the UK usually get a decision within 12 weeks, and the visa lets you stay for up to 2 years and 9 months.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Kabin Nama? It is the Muslim marriage contract used in Bangladesh, also called a Nikahnama. The FCDO guide says it records terms such as the dower. The Home Office Knowledge Base profile says the Kazi who registers the marriage gives the couple a copy.
Where can I take the TB test in Bangladesh? GOV.UK lists Green Crescent clinics in Dhaka, Sylhet and Chittagram, and IOM clinics in Dhaka and Sylhet. Only a clinic on this list can issue the certificate, so check the current list before you book.
How much does the TB test cost in Bangladesh? The GOV.UK list shows Taka 5,500 for people aged 11 and over at Green Crescent clinics, and USD 70 at IOM clinics. Children under 11 pay Taka 3,500 or USD 30.
Can the Bengali translation be done in Bangladesh? GOV.UK does not name a country for the translator. Paragraph 39B(f) of Part 1 of the Immigration Rules says what the translation must include: a date, a statement that it is accurate, the translator's full name and signature, and contact details.
How Stratovisa helps
A Bangladesh application has papers from a Kazi office, a TB clinic and a translator, plus payslips and a tenancy agreement from the UK. After you answer the intake questions, Stratovisa lists each document your case needs, with a place to upload it, and marks the gaps. Once every item is in, you download a single package in a set order, where each English translation sits beside its Bengali original. See how it works for the spouse and partner visa.