Nothing impacted the dating landscape more than the pandemic. In 2023, over 70% of Brits looked for dates online, which aligns perfectly with the number of people who are uncomfortable approaching potential dates in social settings.
At the same time, as the world becomes smaller thanks to technology, Brits don’t have to limit themselves to local dates. In the year ending in March 2022, the UK issued over 42,000 family visas, nearly 30,000 of which were issued to partners of UK citizens. So, if you’re wondering how to find a wife online, let me walk you through the basic steps.
When it comes to family visas, Pakistan, India, and the US hold the top 3 spots in terms of the number of visas issued. Yet, the whole world is your oyster when it comes to choosing a dating destination. For example, if you’re enamored with mysterious Asian beauty, Japan, China, Vietnam, or the Philippines are all good choices. And if you want to find Latin brides, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, and Brazil are prime destinations.
Instead of relying on dated stereotypes about ladies of different nations, do your research and discover what makes them special before committing to an overseas destination. It is also prudent to account for the language barrier, time difference, and cost of travel.
Once you settle on a destination, sign up and test two or more trusted mail-order bride sites. Unlike popular mainstream apps, such as Tinder, Hinge, or Bumble, niche platforms specialize in international connections and long-term relationships. As a result, their profiles and functionality are very different from what you’re used to.
For example, SofiaDate and SakuraDate highlight member bios, interests, and relationship expectations while hosting dozens of public and private photos for each date. In contrast, La-Date looks more like social media thanks to personal and communal feeds that let you scroll while knowing each photo belongs to a lady looking for a serious relationship.
Most reputable international dating sites make it easy to find a wife, but their interfaces and toolset differ, so I always recommend testing them personally to learn which one fits your needs best. Luckily, signup is usually free, and most sites come with welcome bonuses for new daters.
Meet European brides: This platform is your gateway to meeting charming European brides who are not only beautiful but also intelligent, cultured, and ready to build a loving relationship.
Meet cute Asian ladies online. Your ideal Asian match is waiting for you.
Dating sites make looking for a wife to marry easy. Most offer flexible search filters, so you can specify the desired age, body type, hair and eye color, etc. Some platforms even let you choose the desired education level and drinking and smoking habits. However, this approach may seem overly clinical, especially if you don’t have particular preferences. In that case, you can use a matching tool that will present random profiles for you to like or skip, much like swiping on Tinder.
Considering every interaction on niche sites is paid for, study member profiles carefully and only contact ladies who seem truly compatible. After the initial contact, you can decide if you want to continue an online relationship through emails, chat, photos, and video messages. Once you feel comfortable and exhaust all the capabilities of online dating, you’ll know it’s time to move on to the next stage.
Whether you’re looking for a wife locally or abroad, sooner or later, you’ll need to meet in person to gauge compatibility, chemistry, and each other’s tiny habits that can drive either one of you up the wall. Real-life dates in the UK typically cost around 50 quid, but your expenses will be much higher if you’re after a foreign bride. The costs will vary depending on your destination. For example, hopping the Channel will be relatively cheap, even if not as fast as it used to be, but flying halfway across the globe to Asia or Latin America can drain your balance.
From that point, your relationship can progress to marriage at a rate you’re comfortable with. Considering fewer couples get married in England now than they used to even a decade ago, you can opt for a lengthy engagement or cohabitation with a local partner. However, if you wish to bring your foreign bride to the UK, you’ll likely need to formalize your relationship.
In 2023, British couples spent £20,700 on weddings on average. And while 48% claimed the economy affected their wedding budget, 30% increased their spending, and 59% went over budget. At the same time, other factors may affect the average cost of a mail-order bride, including relocation and shipping charges, immigration paperwork filing fees, and online dating expenses. In the grand scheme of things, dating locally and internationally will likely have the same impact on your balance. Luckily, there are always ways to lower the expenses, though it requires careful research, planning, and compromise.
Please note that the UK family visa requirements for future spouses have recently changed. While the requirement for a wedding within six months of the bride’s entry into the UK remains, the financial support threshold was increased. Whereas before, the minimum income threshold was £18,600, it rose to £38,700 but later dropped to £29,000. Still, the number is expected to increase further in 2025.
At first glance, finding a wife online seems unrealistic. But there are plenty of stories floating around proving you just need to know how to get a wife and have the patience and persistence to build a long-distance relationship. Here are a couple of stories I find particularly inspiring.
“I met Svitlana on SofiaDate in late 2021. We had a few nice chats, but I didn’t expect it to lead to anything serious. And then, she had to flee Ukraine when Russia invaded, and by serendipity, she ended up in the next town over. We reconnected in May 2022, went out on a couple of dates, and before I knew it, we were engaged. Like every couple, we fight and have our differences, but in the end, we always find common ground. I know our story isn’t very typical for online dating, but Svitlana thinks it’s romantic, and I agree with her, though I’ll never admit it out loud.”
“After the divorce, I had no intention of getting married again, but a friend set me up with a SakuraDate profile after one pint too many. That’s how I ended up chatting with Louela. What was first a short weekly email soon turned into daily chats and finally into an unplanned month-long vacation in Manila. My kids thought it was a midlife crisis, my ex thought I wanted to spite her, and my friends called me crazy. Good thing I didn’t care about any of that. Louela and I have been together for over a year, and we’re getting married in a few months, as soon as she gets her visa.”
Of course, there’s no guarantee the first woman you meet online will become your wife, but dating sites unlock access to thousands of single women in the UK and beyond, all looking for stable, mature relationships. If that’s what you want too, follow the five steps I outlined, and you might soon hear the wedding bells.
