UK
UK spouse visa financial requirement: £29,000, savings and the evidence rules
For partners of British citizens and settled persons applying from outside the UK, the financial requirement is the most technical part of the file, and the part where avoidable refusals happen.
By The Visa Blueprint · 3 min read
The threshold
The minimum income requirement is £29,000 gross a year, in force since 11 April 2024. New applicants no longer add an amount for children. Family rules change often, so check gov.uk before you file.
Ways to meet it
| Situation | How it works |
|---|---|
| Sponsor employed 6+ months with the same employer | Salary at the threshold, shown by 6 months of payslips and matching bank statements, plus an employer letter |
| Variable income or under 6 months | 12-month look-back |
| Self-employed or director of a small company | Last full financial year, or average of the last two |
| Savings | £16,000 + 2.5 × the shortfall, held in cash for 6 months; savings alone: £88,500 |
| Pension, rental or investment income | Counted with specified evidence |
| Sponsor receives a listed disability or carer benefit | No minimum income; "adequate maintenance" test instead |
An applicant applying from abroad generally cannot count their own overseas salary. Promises of support from relatives do not count.
The specified evidence rules (Appendix FM-SE)
This is where files fail:
- Payslips covering the six months before the application.
- Bank statements for the same period showing the salary paid in, on bank stationery, or electronic statements stamped by the bank on every page.
- Evidence must end no earlier than 28 days before the application date.
- Only salary actually visible on the statements counts.
The employer letter
It must confirm, on headed paper, dated and signed:
- the employment and the gross annual salary;
- the length of employment;
- the period over which the current salary has been paid;
- the type of employment (permanent, fixed-term or agency).
A missing line is enough for a refusal.
Beyond money
You also need English at A1 (unless exempt), accommodation that is adequate and not overcrowded, a genuine relationship and a TB test if you have lived in a listed country. The visa fee from outside the UK is £2,064, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per year. Standard decisions take about 12 weeks.
