In 2019, 58,897 Entry Clearance Applications submitted for UK family visa. Accordingly, 71,006 decisions made and 56,647 family visas granted. Moreover, 13,924 family visa applications rejected during 2019. Therefore, the UK family (spouse) visa success rate 2019 is 79.78%. And the UK family (spouse) visa refusal rate 2019 is 19.61%. Moreover, 426 family visa applications withdrawn and 9 applications lapsed during 2019. During 2019, Pakistani (8,985), Indian (4,278), Nepali (2,856), US (2,856), Bangladeshi (2,581), Eritrean (2,562), and Iranian (2,229) nationals made the most number of UK family (spouse) settlement visa applications.

Please note, the UK family visa route covers visas where an individual is applying for a visa on the basis of their relationship to a person settled in the UK or a British citizen. Perhaps, this includes spouse settlement visa, adult dependant relative, parent of a British Child visa etc. However, the family route does not include the ‘joining or accompanying’ entry clearance applications. In fact, the ‘joining or accompanying’ route is for those individuals who are applying for visa on the basis of their relationship to another migrant who is not settled in the UK or a British citizen, and who is on a route without a specific visa for dependants.

UK Spouse Visa Refusal Rate by Country 2019

In fact, the UK family (spouse) visa refusal rate 2019 amongst the top 20 was the highest for Nepali (31.91%), Eritrean (29.92%) and Ghanaian (29.50%) nationals. However, the UK family (spouse) visa refusal rate 2019 was also high for Sudanese (28.11%), Syrian (27.65%), and Nigerian (27.60%) nationals. Moreover, within the top 20, the lowest UK family (spouse) visa refusal rate 2019 was for Iranian (9.64%) and South African (9.96%) nationals. And also for Iraqi (10.79%), US (11.10%) and Australian (12.07%) nationals. The UK family (spouse) visa refusal rate 2019 for nationalities not included in the top 20 was 22.31%.