Closed petition: Make a Legal Awareness Course mandatory for all spousal visa applicants

Closed on 23 January 2026

We call on the UK Government to make a Legal Awareness Course mandatory for all spousal visa applicants before arrival.

We think this would:
• Educate on rights and laws
• Help spot abuse early
• Support safer integration

Domestic violence happens across the UK. New spouses in migrant communities may come from countries with different legal, cultural, and gender norms who may arrive unaware of their rights, protections, or the definition of abuse under UK law.

Some of these spouses, predominantly women, may become trapped in cycles of violence, unable to identify abuse or reach out for help. In some cases, they may be isolated, controlled, and denied access to education, healthcare, or basic freedoms. We think this may lead to generational trauma, especially impacting young children’s mental and emotional development.

We think lack of awareness should not be a reason for lifelong suffering.