The financial requirement is one of the most important and complex parts of a UK Spouse visa application.

For most new applications under the five-year partner route, the minimum income requirement is £29,000. Different rules apply to applicants who first entered the partner route before 11 April 2024 and to applicants whose sponsoring partner receives certain disability or carer’s benefits.

Meeting the requirement is not simply a question of earning £29,000. The Immigration Rules specify which sources of income qualify, how each is calculated and exactly what evidence must be provided.

If you are preparing an application, our Spouse Visa Support page can help you organise your questions and understand your next step.

What Is the UK Spouse Visa Minimum Income Requirement?

For most applicants making a new partner or Spouse visa application under the five-year route, the current minimum income requirement is £29,000 per year.

The requirement is primarily assessed on the sponsor’s gross income. The applicant’s income can also be taken into account in certain circumstances, but this is not a straightforward combined household income test.

However, the applicant’s employment or self-employment income can only be counted where the applicant is already in the UK, is aged 18 or over and is working legally. Prospective employment income belonging to an applicant applying from overseas does not normally count under the standard financial requirement rules.

This distinction is particularly important for couples applying while the applicant is living outside the UK.

Does Everyone Need to Earn £29,000?

No.

There are important exceptions and transitional arrangements.

If you first applied as a partner before 11 April 2024 and you are extending your permission with the same partner, the transitional minimum income requirement is generally £18,600 rather than £29,000.

Under those transitional arrangements, additional amounts can be required for certain dependent children:

  • £3,800 for the first qualifying child
  • £2,400 for each additional qualifying child

The total income requirement under those transitional provisions is capped at £29,000. British or Irish children, children with pre-settled status and children permanently settled in the UK do not attract the additional amount. Under the new £29,000 route, no additional amounts are required for children regardless of their nationality or status.

If you apply with a new partner rather than the partner connected with your earlier grant, the transitional £18,600 threshold does not apply.

What Income Can Count Towards a Spouse Visa?

The Immigration Rules allow several different sources of income and funds to be used towards the financial requirement.

The qualifying categories are:

  • Salaried employment
  • Non-salaried employment
  • Self-employment
  • Income from certain limited companies
  • Property rental income
  • Dividends and investment income
  • Interest from savings
  • Maintenance payments from a former partner
  • Pension income
  • Certain specified payments and allowances
  • Qualifying academic maintenance grants or stipends
  • Certain royalty income
  • Qualifying cash savings

Different evidence and calculation rules apply to each source.

Two couples with exactly the same household income can face completely different evidential requirements depending on how it is earned. Identifying your income category before gathering documents is essential.

Can Salary From Employment Count?

Yes.

Salary from qualifying employment is one of the most common ways of meeting the financial requirement.

Where someone has been employed by their current employer for at least six months and is relying on their current salary, their current gross annual salary can normally be used, provided the relevant requirements have been met throughout the six months before the application. The specified evidence generally includes payslips covering the relevant period, corresponding bank statements and an employer’s letter.

Appendix FM-SE requires evidence including:

  • Payslips covering the relevant period
  • Corresponding personal bank statements showing the salary being paid
  • A letter from the employer on headed paper, dated at the time of application, confirming the employment, gross annual salary, length of employment and contract type

The calculation can be different where someone has worked for their current employer for less than six months or has variable employment history.

Where the applicant or sponsor has been with their current employer for less than six months, or where the relevant variable-income provisions apply, a different calculation is used. This can require the applicant to demonstrate the required level of income over the 12 months before the application as well as satisfying the relevant current-income test. The calculation is prescribed by Appendix FM-SE and should not be based simply on adding up the previous 12 months’ payslips.

What If Your Income Changes From Month to Month?

Non-salaried or variable income can count, but it must be calculated in accordance with the Immigration Rules.

This can be relevant to people who:

  • Work different hours each month
  • Receive hourly pay
  • Work shifts
  • Have variable monthly earnings
  • Receive other forms of non-salaried employment income

Do not simply multiply the most recent month’s pay by 12. The correct calculation depends on your employment category and the pattern of your earnings.

The length of the employment and the pattern of earnings can affect which calculation applies.

Can Both Partners’ Salaries Be Combined?

Qualifying employment income belonging to both partners can be combined in some applications.

However, the applicant’s employment income is taken into account under the standard rules only if the applicant is already in the UK, is aged 18 or over and is working legally.

For example, if a British sponsor earns £22,000 per year and their partner is already legally working in the UK with qualifying income of £10,000 per year, their qualifying incomes can be combined to meet the £29,000 requirement. The applicant must hold valid immigration permission allowing them to work – the income will not count otherwise.

An applicant applying from overseas cannot rely on a job they expect to obtain in the UK after their visa is granted.

What If the British Sponsor Is Working Overseas?

Special provisions apply where the sponsor is working overseas and intends to return to the UK, sometimes referred to as the overseas employment provision.

Where the relevant requirements are met, the sponsor’s overseas employment income can be taken into account together with a qualifying UK job offer starting within three months of their return.

The calculation differs depending on the sponsor’s employment history, including whether they have been with their current overseas employer for at least six months.

Evidence of the UK employment must include information such as the job offer, salary and starting date.

This is one of the more complex parts of the financial requirement. Sponsors returning from overseas should not attempt to calculate their qualifying income without checking the precise rules.

Can Self-Employment Income Count?

Yes.

Income from self-employment can count towards the Spouse visa financial requirement, but the evidential requirements are different from those for ordinary salaried employment.

For UK self-employment as a sole trader, partner or franchisee, Appendix FM-SE requires financial and tax evidence relating to the relevant financial year, together with evidence that the self-employment is ongoing. This can include tax records, bank statements and evidence of continued trading.

The income calculation uses either:

  • The last full financial year
  • An average of the last two full financial years

The method used depends on how the application is structured.

If you are self-employed, plan around the relevant financial year. Bank statements alone will not normally satisfy the specified evidence requirements for self-employment income.

Can Income From Your Own Limited Company Count?

Yes, but the Immigration Rules apply a specific regime to companies – broadly, those where shares are held by the applicant, their partner or specified family members, with the remaining shares held by fewer than five other people.

Appendix FM-SE contains separate requirements where the person is a director or employee of a limited company and shares are held by that person, their partner or specified family members, with the remaining shares held by fewer than five other people.

Where these rules apply, evidence can include:

  • The company’s CT600 Corporation Tax return
  • Companies House registration
  • Company accounts
  • Business bank statements
  • Payslips and personal bank statements where salary is relied upon
  • Dividend vouchers and bank statements where dividends are relied upon

Income from employment or dividends from a specified limited company is subject to the specific rules rather than being assessed under the ordinary employment rules. Treating it as salary is one of the most common errors in Spouse visa applications involving business owners.

Can Rental Income Count?

Yes.

Income received from property rental can qualify as non-employment income.

Where rental income is relied upon, Appendix FM-SE requires evidence of ownership of the property, personal bank statements showing receipt of the rental income and a rental agreement or contract.

The income relied upon must meet the relevant calculation and evidential requirements.

Simply owning a property does not create qualifying annual income. It is the qualifying rental income derived from the property, calculated and evidenced in accordance with Appendix FM-SE, that can count towards the requirement. The property must generally be owned by the person relying on the income, must not be their main residence, and the relevant rental income must be properly evidenced.

Can Dividends or Investment Income Count?

Yes.

Qualifying dividends and income from investments, stocks, shares, bonds or trust funds can count as non-employment income.

The required evidence includes:

  • Ownership of the investment
  • The amount of the investment or dividend
  • Relevant portfolio or dividend documentation
  • Bank statements showing receipt of the income

Different provisions apply where dividends come from a UK limited company caught by the specific company rules in Appendix FM-SE.

Can Interest From Savings Count as Income?

Yes.

Interest earned from qualifying savings can be treated as non-employment income.

The savings themselves and the interest they generate are assessed separately. Interest can qualify as non-employment income; the savings themselves qualify under the separate cash savings rules.

If you are relying on interest as income, Appendix FM-SE requires bank statements showing the amount of savings held and the interest paid into the relevant account.

Alternatively, qualifying savings can potentially be relied upon as cash savings under the separate savings rules.

Can Pension Income Count?

Yes.

Income from a UK or overseas state pension or a private pension can count towards the financial requirement.

Evidence must include official documentation confirming the pension entitlement and amount, together with evidence showing payment into the relevant account.

Pension income does not need to have been received for six months, but the pension must generally have become a source of income at least 28 days before the date of application.

Can Maintenance Payments From a Former Partner Count?

Qualifying maintenance payments can count as non-employment income.

This can include certain payments from:

  • A former partner of the applicant for the maintenance of the applicant or their children
  • A former partner of the sponsor for the maintenance of the sponsor

Appendix FM-SE requires evidence of the maintenance arrangement and bank statements demonstrating that the payments relied upon were received.

A promise of financial support from friends or relatives does not count. There is no category in Appendix FM-SE for third-party financial support of this kind – it will not be accepted.

Can Maternity, Paternity or Sick Pay Count?

Statutory or contractual maternity, paternity, adoption and sick pay can be taken into account where the relevant requirements are met.

Appendix FM-SE contains specific provisions for evidencing these forms of pay, including employer evidence, payslips and bank statements.

Periods of unpaid maternity, paternity, adoption, parental or sick leave are also treated specifically within the income calculation rules rather than simply being counted as periods with zero employment income.

Applicants who have recently taken family or sick leave should therefore check the specific calculation that applies.

Can You Use Cash Savings Instead of Income?

Yes.

Qualifying cash savings can be used to meet all or part of the minimum income requirement – but savings cannot be combined with self-employment income or with certain employment calculations.

Under the standard £29,000 threshold, savings above £16,000 can be taken into account.

For an initial partner application or extension, the standard calculation is:

(Cash savings – £16,000) ÷ 2.5 = amount that can count towards the annual income requirement

At the current £29,000 threshold, an applicant relying entirely on cash savings needs £88,500 in qualifying savings.

For example:

£88,500 – £16,000 = £72,500

£72,500 ÷ 2.5 = £29,000

Savings can also be used to cover a shortfall in qualifying income, but only where the income source is compatible. Savings cannot top up self-employment or close company income.

How Long Must Cash Savings Be Held?

Under the standard cash-savings rules, the qualifying savings must generally have been held by the applicant, sponsor or jointly for at least six months before the application and must be under their control. The Immigration Rules contain specific provisions for certain funds derived from investments or the sale of property, so the six-month rule should not be applied without checking the source and history of the funds.

They must be held in an account in the name of:

  • The applicant
  • The applicant’s partner
  • Both jointly

You should be able to provide evidence explaining the source of the savings and demonstrating that the funds meet the ownership, control and holding-period requirements.

The account must allow the funds to be accessed immediately. An account can still qualify even where an early withdrawal penalty applies, provided the funds are genuinely accessible.

There are specific provisions for funds recently transferred from investments and for proceeds from the sale of property, provided the relevant ownership and evidential requirements are met.

Can Family Members Give You Money for the Application?

A genuine gift can become qualifying cash savings, provided it meets all of the relevant requirements – including the six-month holding period.

A promise from a family member to financially support the couple is not accepted as part of the standard minimum income calculation.

Where gifted money is relied upon as cash savings, it must meet the relevant savings requirements, including the applicable ownership, control and holding-period rules.

This means money being available in a parent’s or friend’s bank account is not the same as the applicant or sponsor holding qualifying cash savings.

Can You Combine Savings With Salary?

Qualifying cash savings can be combined with certain income sources to meet a shortfall in the minimum income requirement.

For example, if the applicable requirement is £29,000 but qualifying employment income is £25,000, the income shortfall is £4,000.

Using the standard savings calculation:

£4,000 × 2.5 = £10,000

£10,000 + £16,000 = £26,000

So £26,000 in qualifying cash savings can cover a £4,000 annual income shortfall – provided those savings have been held for at least six consecutive months and all other requirements are met.

However, cash savings cannot be combined with self-employment income or with the 12-month assessment part of employment income. Always check whether your specific income categories are compatible before building your application around a combination.

Applicants using several sources of income should therefore check that those particular sources are permitted to be combined.

What If Your Partner Receives Disability or Carer’s Benefits?

If the sponsoring partner receives one of the specified benefits, the applicant does not have to meet the £29,000 minimum income requirement.

Specified benefits include, among others:

  • Personal Independence Payment
  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Attendance Allowance
  • Carer’s Allowance
  • Carer Support Payment
  • Adult Disability Payment
  • Child Disability Payment
  • Armed Forces Independence Payment

Instead, the couple must demonstrate adequate maintenance and adequate accommodation without relying on additional public funds.

The caseworker considers the household’s income and housing costs rather than applying the standard £29,000 threshold.

The adequate maintenance test considers whether the couple’s household income and housing costs leave them above the applicable income support threshold. It is calculated differently from the standard requirement and must not be approached using the £29,000 formula.

Do Benefits Count Towards the £29,000 Requirement?

Ordinary benefits and public funds cannot be added to salary to reach £29,000. The categories of qualifying income are defined in Appendix FM-SE and most standard benefits are not included.

The Immigration Rules specify the income sources that can be relied upon.

There is also an important distinction between using a payment as qualifying income and the sponsor receiving one of the specified disability or carer’s benefits that removes the applicant from the minimum income requirement entirely and places them under the adequate maintenance test instead.

Applicants relying on any state payment should check how that particular payment is treated under Appendix FM and Appendix FM-SE.

What Evidence Do You Need to Prove Your Income?

The evidence depends on the source of income.

Employment Income

For employment income, the required evidence includes:

  • Payslips
  • Bank statements
  • An employer’s letter

Self-Employment Income

For self-employment income, the required evidence includes:

  • Tax returns
  • Evidence of tax paid
  • Business accounts
  • Business and personal bank statements
  • Evidence of ongoing trading

Non-Employment Income

For non-employment income, the required evidence includes:

  • Property ownership documents and tenancy agreements
  • Investment certificates
  • Dividend vouchers
  • Pension statements
  • Bank statements showing receipt of the income

Cash Savings

For cash savings, bank statements and a declaration explaining the source of the funds are required.

Appendix FM-SE specifies the evidence required for the source being relied upon. Meeting the income threshold is necessary but not sufficient. An application can be refused even where income is genuinely adequate if the evidence does not satisfy the specific requirements of Appendix FM-SE for the income category relied upon.

Can You Apply If You Do Not Meet the Minimum Income Requirement?

Failing to meet the standard minimum income requirement does not necessarily mean that an application must be refused. Appendix FM contains provisions requiring consideration of whether refusal would result in unjustifiably harsh consequences for the applicant, their partner or a relevant child such that refusal would breach Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Where the relevant exceptional-circumstances provisions apply, the decision-maker must consider other credible and reliable sources of income, financial support or funds that are available to the couple, including certain prospective earnings or third-party financial support.

A grant in circumstances where the standard financial requirement is not met will generally place the applicant on the 10-year route to settlement rather than the five-year partner route. The outcome depends on the particular circumstances and the applicable Immigration Rules.

Applicants who cannot meet the standard financial requirement but believe that exceptional or human-rights circumstances apply should consider obtaining regulated immigration advice.

Common Financial Requirement Mistakes

The most common reasons for financial requirement refusals are when applicants:

  • Use the wrong income threshold
  • Assume overseas earnings belonging to the applicant will count
  • Use the wrong calculation for someone employed for less than six months
  • Provide payslips without matching bank statements
  • Rely on savings that have not been held for the required period
  • Assume a family member’s savings belong to the applicant
  • Combine income sources that cannot be combined
  • Treat business income as ordinary employment salary
  • Calculate self-employment income using the wrong financial year
  • Rely on an expected future salary that cannot be counted
  • Overlook the adequate maintenance rules where the sponsor receives a specified benefit

Identify your income category first. Collecting evidence without knowing which category applies – and which calculation method it requires – is one of the most avoidable causes of refusal.

Visit our Spouse Visa Support page to organise your questions and understand your next step.