Spouse visa rules compared across 18 countries. Portugal at 7 months and 320 EUR, UK at 18 months and 3,400 GBP, US at 14 months and 1,200 USD.
Portugal at 7 months and 320 EUR. Spain at 10 months and 420 EUR. Germany at 12 months and 290 EUR plus a B1 German requirement. France at 9 months and 269 EUR. UK at 18 months and 3,400 GBP plus the immigration health surcharge. US K1 fiance plus AOS at 14 months and 1,200 USD. Australia partner visa at 26 months and 8,850 AUD. Canada at 12 months and 1,165 CAD.
Track 1: marriage based partner residence (Portugal, Spain, Germany, France, UK, US, Australia, Canada). Track 2: civil or de facto partnership (UK, Australia, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway). Track 3: spouse follow on to primary visa holder (US H4 to H1B, UAE dependent to Golden, Singapore Dependant Pass to Employment Pass).
Income threshold (UK 29,000 GBP rising to 38,700 in 2027), language test (Germany B1, Netherlands A1, Denmark A2), apostille window (most age out at 6 months), marriage certificate translation, criminal background checks from every country lived in 6 months plus in past 10 years, genuine relationship test (UK and Australia particularly).