Croatian UK

UK Spouse Visa Guide for UK Sponsor and Croatian national applicant written by UK Immigration and Family Lawyer Mr Saleh Begh

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

2. Your partner nationality and residence : Croatian (Croatia) Hrvatska


The information below is for you, if you are a British citizen (or holding UK permanent residence) and your partner is a Croatian national.
Croatia Hrvatska  Zagreb , Split , Rijeka , Osijek , Zadar , Slavonski Brod , Pula , Sesvete , Karlovac , Varazdin
You currently reside in United Kingdom whereas your partner resides in Croatia Hrvatska.

Must have documents for UK spouse visa for Croatian nationals

Click the links below for direct FREE downloads or documents sent to you via email after purchase (tailored to your situation)!

Spouse Visa Update 25 June 2024 (PDF) Home Office fees increase and new salary requirements.

Spouse Visa Checklist - Croatia (PDF) (Free basic Checklist).

UK Spouse Visa Fees, Income and Savings required information (PDF).

UK Approved English language test centres (1,451 in total ) (PDF).
Approved English language test centres in UK (76 in total ) (PDF).

UK Spouse Visa (Genuine Relationship Evidence) (PDF).

UK Spouse Visa Guide Contents

UK Spouse Visa Key Considerations
UK Partner Visa from Zegreb, Croatia Hrvatska
EU Settlement Scheme family permit from Zegreb, Croatia Hrvatska
UK Home Office Approved English Tests Centres in Croatia Hrvatska
Top 10 Reasons for UK Family Visa Refusal (British and Croatian)
UK spouse visa processing time in Nov 2024 from Zegreb, Croatia Hrvatska

UK Spouse Visa Croatian and British  Zagreb , Split , Rijeka , Osijek , Zadar , Slavonski Brod , Pula , Sesvete , Karlovac , VarazdinUK Spouse Visa Croatian and British  Zagreb , Split , Rijeka , Osijek , Zadar , Slavonski Brod , Pula , Sesvete , Karlovac , Varazdin


UK Spouse Visa Key Requirements

Finance and accommodation (UK Spouse Visa British and Croatian)
Earned income (Employment Salary / Wages / Self Employed / Business profits)
Self-employed or deemed self-employed
Receiving UK government benefits
Accommodation in the UK
Relationship evidence

UK Spouse Visa Key requirements

Lets have a chat | ☎ 00442071933939 | 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 ;
  • 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 Croatian and you reside in United Kingdom and your partner resides in Croatia.

    You are a British citizen, thus you do not need any documents to live and work in the UK. However, your partner is a Croatian national. They would need to have UK immigration status documents.

    Your partner is a Croatian national 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 unless they qualify and apply under the EUSS Scheme.

    UK Visa English Language Guide video Zegreb


    UK Home Office Approved English Test Centres in Croatia Hrvatska

    Get help Booking your test with an UK Approved test centre [Call us ☎] | .

    You must take your test with an UK Approved test provider. If you are outside of the UK i.e in Croatia Hrvatska you can only take a SELT (English Test) with one of the following providers: IELTS SELT Consortium British Council | LanguageCert | Pearson | PSI Services (UK) Ltd

    Top 10 Reasons for Family Visa Refusal (Croatian and British)



    UK spouse visa processing time in Nov 2024 Zegreb, Croatia Hrvatska

    The standard spouse visa UK processing time in Nov 2024 is 3 to 5 months (on average 14 weeks) if you are making the application from outside the UK. Priority service is back and you could get a decision faster say 3 to 6 weeks. If you are making the application from inside the UK the wait time is 8 to 12 weeks (on average 10 weeks). For human rights applications it is 11 months or longer. The relevant location is where the applicant is based as ALL applications are done online.

    Croatian and British UK Spouse Visa Requirements

     London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool, Newcastle upon Tyne, Sheffield, Bristol, Leeds, EdinburghCroatia  Zagreb , Split , Rijeka , Osijek , Zadar , Slavonski Brod , Pula , Sesvete , Karlovac , VarazdinLondon, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool, Newcastle upon Tyne, Sheffield, Bristol, Leeds, Edinburgh

    Finance and accommodation (UK Spouse Visa Croatian and British)

    Earned income
    Usually, for a spouse visa, the sponsor (British or another nationality but holding ILR / Refugee Status) would need to show that they earn £29,000 per year (before tax) (£34,500 from Sept 2024, £38,700 from Jan 2025) . Sponsors in the UK who receive certain benefits such as Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Carer Allowance (CA) etc are not required to show earned income in the same way. Please also note that only the income of the British sponsor is usually counted even if the applicant abroad ( in Croatia ) seeking the visa is also working there. UK earned income of both spouses can be used, not relevant in your case, this is provided that both are working in the UK and have the right to work for the period claimed. The simplest way to meet this requirement is by having a salaried job for over 6 months on a fixed monthly income.

    Go to the guide index section

    Self-employed or Deemed as self-employed (Croatian and British documents bundle in 2024)
    If the British sponsor is the Director or related to the Director of the company that is paying the sponsor salary then the sponsor would be deemed as self-employed. Therefore, minimum one-year payslips (pay advice and dividend certificates or equivalent) and bank statements must be submitted, and currently, this would fall within the company’s financial year (1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024). If a previous year also had income above the required levels that too should be provided. In the event the most recent financial year is below the required level it is possible to provide two years and seek to present an average over two years to show the British sponsor does indeed meet the financial requirements.

    Below is the list of documents that usually need to be submitted as part of the UK spouse visa application financial bundle (Croatian and British) and also the period it should cover:
    - CT600 Corporate Tax Return - 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2024
    - Certificate of Incorporation and Current Appointment Record from Companies House
    - Unaudited Business accounts - 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2024
    - Business bank statements - 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2024
    - Current appointment report from companies house - 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2024
    - Business premises lease/Certificate of VAT registration/ PAYE as an employer - 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2024
    - Dividend vouchers - 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2024
    - Payslips showing gross income (For British sponsor from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2024)
    - Personal bank statements – all payments and dividends are shown being paid (For British Sponsor from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2024

    Since you are applying in May 2024 you may need to include April 2022 to March 2023 and of course, April 2023 to April 2024 documents to show what your income was last year and is continuing at the same or at a higher level this year. This area is very complex and you should seek help to get results first time!
    Avoid delays, confusion and headache get in touch now |

    Receiving Benefits
    If is exempt from meeting the standard financial requirements of £29,000 / £34,500 because receives certain benefits as listed below:
    - Carers Allowance
    - Attendance Allowance
    - Personal Independence Payment


    To evidence this you will need Official documentation from the Department for Work and Pensions or relevant Agency confirming the current entitlement and the amount currently received together with a bank statement issued within the last 12 months showing benefits.

    UK Accommodation
    As regards accommodation, as a couple you will normally need a minimum of studio flat and anyone with children would need to secure at least one bedroom flat. Children count as half in UK Housing Act overcrowding calculations. A two bedroom flat with a sitting room / lounge would be enough for 5 people.

    Relationship evidence plus where and how to apply (UK Spouse visa)

    Need to establish your relationship
    It has to be a genuine, subsisting and durable relationship.

    You would need to provide sufficient evidence to establish your connections. Since you would be considered as the sponsor . This would normally include, marriage certificate, evidence of cohabitation, joint bills, bank statements, birth certificate of any children you have together, joint travel, visitation and on-going communication and shared or common financial commitments. A wide selection of joint photographs of weddings, engagements and outings together. This requirement is one of the top reasons for refusal so seek guidance and make sure you have this covered well. This is a must with the recent announcement on the increase in income requirements to £29,000 / £38,700 (more than double of previous £18,600) |

    Guide limitations and legal disclaimer March 2024

    Please note that the information is up to date March 2024 for Approved English Tests Centers and Commercial Partners, however the data above is provided for reference only as things can change without notice or may not apply in your particular situation. No liability will be accepted for loss or other consequences arising from reliance on the information provided. Please also note that the Home Office fees, legal fees and other costs are usually non-refundable
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