To obtain a spouse or partner visa for the UK, a couple usually needs to show a combined gross income of at least £29,000 a year or sufficient cash savings. This minimum income requirement applies to everyone making a first application on the partner route on or after 11 April 2024, and it is assessed not only on entry but again when the visa is extended and when the applicant applies for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).
This page explains how the financial requirement works, which sources of income count, how the savings formula is calculated, what evidence is needed and where couples most often go wrong. The general rules for family routes are covered on our page about UK family visas; here the focus is on money only.
What the spouse visa financial requirement is
The financial requirement, also called the minimum income requirement (MIR), is a condition of Appendix FM to the UK Immigration Rules: the couple must show that they can support themselves without relying on public funds. The rule is strict in form. The Home Office accepts only “specified” sources of income and only evidence in the format set out in Appendix FM-SE. The wrong document can lead to a refusal even where the couple’s real income is well above the threshold.
According to GOV.UK guidance on financial requirements for partners, the basic figure is £29,000 of gross annual income, before tax and National Insurance. The threshold is set in Appendix FM, at paragraph E-ECP.3.1 for applications from outside the UK and E-LTRP.3.1 for applications made in the UK. The key principles are:
- the combined income of the British or settled partner (the sponsor) and the applicant counts, but the applicant’s employment income counts only if they are already in the UK and working legally;
- only sources listed in the rules count: employment, self-employment and directorships, pensions, non-employment income such as rent, dividends and interest, and cash savings;
- promises of financial support from third parties generally do not count;
- the requirement is assessed again at every extension and at the ILR stage.
The policy context matters too. In June 2025 the Migration Advisory Committee published its review of the family visa financial requirements, commissioned by the government. At the time of writing the threshold in the rules remains £29,000, so applications should be planned against the current wording of Appendix FM rather than options under discussion.
Who needs to show £29,000 and who follows different rules
The £29,000 threshold applies to most new applications, but the rules contain three important departures from it. They are worth checking before gathering any documents, because they change both the figure and the evidence required.
The transitional £18,600 threshold
If the applicant was first granted permission as a partner (including as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner) before 11 April 2024 and is extending with the same partner, the previous threshold of £18,600 a year applies. In that case an extra £3,800 is needed for the first dependent child and £2,400 for each additional child, unless the children are British or Irish citizens or have settled or pre-settled status, but the total never has to exceed £29,000. No additional amounts for children apply under the £29,000 threshold.
Disability and carer’s benefits
If the British or settled partner receives one of the benefits listed in the rules, the minimum income requirement does not apply. Instead, the couple must show adequate maintenance: enough money to house and support themselves without additional public funds. These benefits include:
- Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment;
- Attendance Allowance and Severe Disablement Allowance;
- Carer’s Allowance and Carer Support Payment;
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit;
- certain armed forces payments and benefits paid by Social Security Scotland.
Exceptional circumstances
If the requirement is not met, an application may still be granted on an exceptional basis, for example where there is a child in the UK who is a British or Irish citizen and it would be unreasonable for them to leave, or where refusal would breach the right to family life. That route is longer: when the financial requirement is not met, the earliest an applicant can apply for ILR is after 10 years rather than 5. It should not be treated as the main plan.
Which income counts: the seven Home Office categories
The Home Office divides income into categories A to G. Each category has its own evidence period and its own documents, and they can be combined only in certain ways. The detail is in the Home Office Appendix FM caseworker guidance.
| Category | What counts | Evidence period |
|---|---|---|
| A | Employment with the current employer for at least 6 months | 6 months before the application; the lowest salary in the period is used |
| B | Employment for under 6 months, or variable income | Current salary plus actual income in the 12 months before the application |
| C | Non-employment income: rent, dividends, interest | Income received in the 12 months before the application; the asset must still be owned |
| D | Cash savings above £16,000 | Held for at least 6 months before the application |
| E | State, occupational or private pension | Gross annual pension |
| F | Self-employment, or director or employee of a specified UK limited company | The last full financial year |
| G | As for F | The average of the last two full financial years |
Combinations are restricted. Category A can be combined with non-employment income, savings and pension. Category B based on actual income over 12 months can be combined with non-employment income and pension, but not with savings. Categories A and B cannot both be used for the employment income of the same couple. Business owners usually rely on categories F and G, and the key point is that the financial year must be closed and reflected in the Self Assessment tax return and the company’s accounts. If the return has not yet been filed, that should be dealt with first — see our page on the Self Assessment tax return.
For high-net-worth couples a common situation is that there is no salary at all and income comes from rent, dividends and interest. Non-employment income counts for the 12 months before the application, and the evidence must show both the payments and that the couple still owns the asset, whether a flat, shares or a deposit. It is often more efficient to combine that income with savings, because it reduces the amount that has to be held in the account.
Spouse visa support
Prepare the financial side of your spouse visa application
Income source review
Identifying your income categories and which ones can be combined
Savings calculation
Working out the savings needed under the Home Office formula
Evidence preparation
A document checklist and employer letters in line with Appendix FM-SE
Pre-submission check
Checking dates, figures and statements to avoid technical errors
Even when the income sources are clear, the overall strategy often depends on how much money the couple is prepared to hold in their accounts, and for how long. The next section explains how that option works.
Savings instead of income: how the formula works
Cash savings can replace income in full or in part. The first £16,000 is disregarded. Everything above that is divided by 2.5 and counted as annual income. The formula is therefore: savings required = £16,000 + 2.5 × (£29,000 − evidenced income). A couple with no evidenced income must show £88,500 in savings.
| Evidenced annual income | Shortfall | Savings required |
|---|---|---|
| £0 | £29,000 | £88,500 |
| £10,000 | £19,000 | £63,500 |
| £20,000 | £9,000 | £38,500 |
| £25,000 | £4,000 | £26,000 |
| £29,000 or more | — | Not required |
Under Appendix FM-SE the savings must meet these conditions:
- the money has been held for at least 6 months before the application date in the applicant’s or partner’s name, or in a joint account;
- the account is with a financial institution regulated in its country and allows immediate access, with or without a penalty for withdrawal without notice;
- the statements come with a declaration from the account holder about the source of the funds;
- money moved into cash from shares, bonds, investment accounts or trusts within the 6 months counts if the couple owned those assets throughout, as shown by documents from a regulated institution;
- the same applies to proceeds from selling a home, other building or land, if the couple owned it at the start of the 6-month period.
At the ILR stage the formula is more generous: the shortfall is not multiplied by 2.5. A couple with no income therefore needs £45,000 in savings at ILR (£16,000 + £29,000) rather than £88,500. For clients with capital this is often the simplest route, provided the money genuinely stays in the account for the full period.
Overseas income and relocating with a British partner
The most complex cases arise when the couple lives outside the UK and is relocating together. Here the rules treat the applicant’s income and the British partner’s income differently.
- The applicant’s overseas salary does not count. The applicant’s employment income counts only when they are in the UK, aged 18 or over and working legally. Prospective earnings after the move do not count either.
- A British partner returning with the applicant can rely on employment abroad. Under category A they need at least 6 months with the same overseas employer and a confirmed offer of UK employment starting within 3 months of their return.
- Under category B the returning partner does not need to be working on the application date, but must show sufficient income over the previous 12 months and a similar UK job offer starting within 3 months.
- A self-employed partner who will continue the business in the UK evidences income for the last financial year and the intention to trade in the UK within 3 months of returning.
- The applicant’s non-employment income and savings count wherever they live, provided the period and evidence rules are met.
Income received in a foreign currency is converted into sterling as set out in the Home Office guidance. Exchange rate movements can push income below the threshold, so where income is close to £29,000 it is sensible to have a margin or to top up the calculation with savings.
Which documents prove your income
The evidence depends on the income category. The basic requirements for the application and the financial evidence are listed in the GOV.UK list of information and evidence. For employment this usually means 6 months of payslips, statements for the account the salary is paid into and a letter from the employer on headed paper confirming the job title, length of employment, type of contract and gross salary. For self-employment and directorships it means tax returns, company accounts and evidence of payments. Evidence covering a period up to the application date must be dated no earlier than 28 days before it.
How to evidence income and savings for a spouse visa to Home Office rules
- Payslips for 6 months that match the salary credits on bank statements
- Employer letter on headed paper with job title, start date and gross salary
- Savings account statements covering the full 6 months before applying
- Declaration from the account holder on the source of the savings
- Self Assessment tax returns for closed financial years
- Company accounts and dividend evidence for company directors
- Tenancy agreements and statements showing rental income received
Any document not in English or Welsh must be submitted with a certified translation. Electronic bank statements are accepted only if they come with a letter from the bank on headed paper confirming they are authentic, or bear the bank’s official stamp on every page, so such letters are best requested well in advance rather than on the day of submission.
How much the application costs and how long a decision takes
In addition to meeting the financial requirement, the couple must pay the Home Office fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). The figures below are taken from the GOV.UK family visa page and the GOV.UK healthcare surcharge page; they change, so they should be checked before applying.
| Situation | Home Office fee | IHS | Usual decision time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application from outside the UK, visa for 2 years 9 months | £2,064 | £3,105 | Usually within 12 weeks |
| Application in the UK or extension for 2 years 6 months | £1,407 | £2,587.50 | Usually within 8 weeks if the financial and English requirements are met |
| Application in the UK without meeting the financial and English requirements | £1,407 | £2,587.50 | Currently about 12 months |
In the UK, the super priority service is available for an extra £1,000 for a faster decision. Processing times are not guaranteed and depend on the place of application and the applicant’s circumstances. A full breakdown for all routes is in our overview of UK visa fees.
How the service works: 5 stages
Work on the financial evidence starts well before submission: some decisions, such as moving investments into cash or closing a financial year, need to be made 6 to 12 months ahead. Below is the client journey from the first consultation to the visa extension and ILR.
Consultation and financial requirement assessment
Income and savings review and category selection
Financial evidence and application preparation
Submission, biometrics and the Home Office decision
Visa extension, ILR and British citizenship
Worked examples from practice
The scenarios below are generalised versions of situations clients most often bring to a consultation. They show how the same threshold can be met in very different ways.
- The British partner has worked for a London employer for over a year on a salary of £42,000. This is category A: 6 months of payslips, bank statements and an employer letter are enough. No savings are needed.
- The couple lives on rental income from a flat (£18,000 a year) and savings. Category C non-employment income covers part of the threshold, and the £11,000 shortfall is covered by savings: £16,000 + 2.5 × £11,000 = £43,500 held for at least 6 months.
- The British partner is a director of their own company and takes a modest salary plus dividends. Categories F or G apply: income is based on a closed financial year, so it is sometimes better to apply after the accounts have been filed.
- The couple is relocating from Dubai, where the British partner has been employed for 2 years and already has a job offer in London. They can rely on category A for a returning partner, provided the new job starts within 3 months of the move.
- The couple has no income but holds capital in securities. Part of the portfolio is moved into cash; if the couple has owned the securities for 6 months and this is confirmed by a broker’s statement, the money counts as savings without a new 6-month wait.
Real cases are usually more complicated: income from different years, a change of job, money held in accounts in several countries. Below are stories of clients who obtained a spouse or family visa with the support of Imperial & Legal.
Client stories: spouse and partner visas
Getting a UK Spouse Visa to Relocate to the UK After Marrying a British Citizen
Emily first met Amid while on holiday in Goa. She was visiting with a friend from the UK, where she is from, to celebrate her graduation with a...
UK Spouse and Civil Partner Visa Refusal: How to Get a Visa and Join Your Spouse in the UK?
Home Office caseworkers are very thorough when it comes to checking each applicant’s documents and...
Obtaining a UK Family Visa After Refusal
David is a successful real estate broker from Boston. He started out as an ordinary real estate agent, but since then has grown into a professional who is entrusted with large deals on commercial...
Obtaining a UK Spouse and Civil Partner Visa for Fiancée from Kazakhstan
One day, a young couple came into Imperial & Legal’s office. They asked questions about applying for a UK Spouse and Civil Partner visa. ...
Obtaining a UK Spouse Visa With a Child From the First Marriage
Nargiz is from Uzbekistan. Her upbringing was traditional, but unlike her friends, she had always been progressive about the role of women in family...
Immigrations Advisor’s Unexpected Solution: Switching from UK Skilled Worker Visa to UK Family Visa to Stay in the UK without Restrictions
Karima was born in a respectable family in Egypt....
One of these couples described the questions they brought to us when they decided to move to the UK as a family.
We first met in India and then got married there. We did not feel like moving to the UK, Emily’s home country, but when our son was born, we agreed that he would have better life opportunities in Europe. We had a lot of questions, “How do we relocate to the UK? What documents do we need to collect? What UK visa is best for Amid?” Emily’s friends recommended we discuss our case with Imperial & Legal.
Moves like this are particularly sensitive to the financial requirement: the British partner has lived abroad for a long time, so income has to be evidenced under the rules for returning sponsors.
Common mistakes when evidencing income
Most refusals on financial grounds are not about a lack of money but about how the income was evidenced. These are the issues we see most often:
- Savings held for less than 6 months. A large transfer a month before applying resets the period; the exception is proceeds from assets the couple owned throughout.
- The applicant’s overseas earnings included. While the applicant is outside the UK, their salary does not count.
- Categories A and B mixed. For example, a salary from a new employer is combined with savings in a way the rules do not allow.
- Payslips that do not match bank statements. The salary on the payslips and the credits to the account must agree.
- An employer letter missing required details, such as the type of contract, length of employment or gross salary.
- Out-of-date evidence. Statements and payslips must cover the period up to the application date and be issued no earlier than 28 days before it.
- A financial year not yet closed. Self-employed applicants and directors apply before the return for the relevant year has been filed with HMRC.
- Reliance on help from relatives. A promise of support from parents does not count; gifted money must be held in the couple’s own account for 6 months.
Each of these mistakes can be avoided at the planning stage. If you are unsure which category fits your circumstances, or your income is close to the threshold, it is better to check the calculation before applying than after a refusal.
The financial requirement does not end with the first visa — it has to be met at least twice more. That is why the strategy should be built for the whole five-year route from the outset.
The financial requirement at extension and ILR
A spouse visa granted from outside the UK lasts 2 years and 9 months, and an extension adds a further 2 years and 6 months. Under the GOV.UK rules for partners, an ILR application can be made after 5 years of continuous residence in the UK on a partner visa; time spent as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner does not count. More about the status itself is on our page about ILR in the UK.
What to check ahead of a visa extension and an ILR application
- Evidenced income of the couple at the date of each new application
- The threshold that applies: £29,000 or the transitional £18,600
- Savings calculation without the 2.5 multiplier at the ILR stage
- Inclusion of the applicant’s income from employment in the UK
- Continuous residence and the same partner over the whole five years
- English level: A2 for extension, B1 or B2 for ILR
- Preparation for the Life in the UK Test before the ILR application
The English language requirement also needs planning. Under the GOV.UK rules on knowledge of English, level A1 is required for the first visa and A2 for the extension. ILR currently requires B1, and for applications made on or after 26 March 2027 the HC 1691 changes to Appendix KoLL raise it to B2. The government is also considering a wider reform of the qualifying period for ILR, and we track its status on our page about earned settlement. After ILR, an application for British citizenship may be possible; naturalisation has its own separate requirements.
How to plan for the financial requirement in advance
The spouse visa financial requirement is not a single figure but a set of rules on which money counts, over what period and with what evidence. A couple earning more than £29,000 can be refused because of the wrong income category, while a couple with no salary can succeed on the strength of savings or non-employment income. Timing is decisive: 6 months for savings and for employment with one employer, 12 months for non-employment income, and a closed financial year for business income.
Preparation should start six months to a year before the planned application, and the strategy should take the extension and ILR into account from the beginning. Answers to common questions are below.
