The UK issued over 82,000 family visas in the year ending in September 2023. The number covers foreign partners, children, and other dependents, highlighting that international marriage and civil partnerships are gaining momentum in the UK despite the restrictive regulations requiring citizens to demonstrate an annual income of £29,000 to be able to marry foreigners.
If legal hurdles don’t faze you, let’s review everything you need to know before marrying someone from another country.
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Most international couples keep finding new benefits to their marriages years in, but here are some advantages emphasized across success stories. If you decide to marry someone from another country, you will:
Find a partner like no one you’ve met before. If your dating track record to date isn’t very successful, dating foreigners can solve your problems. You can start by finding the country with the most beautiful women (or men) and focus on the looks and traits you wish your partner to have that are lacking among local singles.
Enjoy daily discoveries and never be bored. Even something as simple as culinary spices or how other nations make the bed can keep you on your toes and prevent you from falling into a romance-killing routine. Instead of dreading another married day, you’ll be eager to learn more and be surprised.
Reap the benefits of a multicultural environment. Learning another language, culture, and traditions through meeting your partner and their family will broaden your horizons. Besides, mixed-race children will access the best of two worlds and have an edge over their peers.
Of course, you’re bound to discover even more pros once you start dating and marry someone from another country.
Cons of marrying someone from another country
What’s good for some people can drive others up the wall. To get a realistic picture of what an international marriage entails, let’s consider the downsides:
Miscommunication. If you think it’s hard to get your point across, you’ll have an even harder time understanding a partner from another country. You’ll likely need to learn their language; otherwise, your relationship will be imbalanced, and your partner may resent being forced to give up their mother tongue.
Cultural barriers. At some point, national quirks may get annoying, especially if they affect your daily routine. For example, if you have to give up alcohol or meat after marrying a Muslim, that could strain your relationship in the long run.
Legal hurdles. Marrying someone from another country in the UK is getting harder as the government keeps strengthening the requirements. The legal process can span months or years, further complicating a long-distance relationship.
Remember to account for your own list of big turnoffs and red flags that may affect your relationship with a foreign partner.
How to marry someone from another country in the UK
If you decide to pursue a relationship after analyzing the pros and cons of marrying someone from another country, here’s a brief step-by-step guide on how to find a wife online:
1
Set up a dating profile or a reputable dating site
Test several sites in your desired dating destination and make yourself stand out on a platform that fits your relationship goals and budget. High-quality photos and an engaging bio are critical for getting noticed.
2
Explore potential matches and start a long-distance relationship
Study dating profiles, photos, and videos and reach out to compatible potential partners. Once you pick someone who draws your attention and shares your interests, settle into a cross-border relationship via video chats, calls, etc.
3
Arrange a meeting and develop your relationship
A few months of chats and calls should be enough for you to become comfortable with each other and set up a date. You can visit your partner, have them see the UK, or meet in a third country. Plan a vacation of seven to fourteen days to get to know each other.
4
Propose and help your partner apply for a family visa
You can either get married abroad or in the UK, but you’ll still need to fulfill the visa application process, confirm your ability to support your partner, etc.
Even if you fall in love at first sight, developing a relationship still takes time, especially if you’re marrying a foreigner, so prepare to be patient.
How to protect yourself when marrying a foreigner
International marriages don’t have the best reputation because of scammers and gold diggers looking for a UK visa. To avoid getting into trouble, follow a few simple rules:
Check the online identity of your matches via reverse image search, social media, etc.
Never send money to strangers you’ve only met online, regardless of how sad their stories seem.
Keep your sensitive personal details private, including your credit card and bank account information.
Meet in person and try to get to know your partner’s family and friends to gauge their interactions.
Maintain separate accounts and ensure your partner plans to contribute to the household.
If you’re worried about protecting your assets, consult a family law attorney before formalizing your relationship.
Pro tip
Don’t make the mistake of dividing the world into the UK and “everyone else.” Dating a Japanese woman is not the same as getting married to a Ukrainian lady. Anyone you start a relationship with will undoubtedly bring their unique national quirks into your partnership.
Still, they will also be full of personal peculiarities, which should be your main focus if you want a relationship to last. Getting to know these small things before you commit to a marriage is a good idea, and international dating sites are perfect for that.
Hi, I'm Dr. Mari Kovanen, a therapist, dating expert, and chief author at Mail-orderbride.co.uk. I write most dating guides for Mail-orderbride.co.uk and I'm also responsible for giving online dating advice to singles who are planning to use international dating websites to find love overseas.
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