The minimum income threshold for a UK Fiancé Visa in 2026 is £29,000 gross per year. This guide explains exactly how to meet the financial requirement through employment, savings, or a combination of both — and who may qualify for an exemption.
2026 Update: The £29,000 income threshold has been in place since 11 April 2024 and remains unchanged for 2026. Proposed increases to £34,500 and £38,700 are paused following the Migration Advisory Committee review of June 2025. If your first Fiancé Visa application was approved before 11 April 2024, transitional protection may mean the old £18,600 threshold still applies to you.
What Is the Financial Requirement for a UK Fiancé Visa?
To bring your fiancé(e) to the UK, the UK-based sponsor must demonstrate a gross annual income of at least £29,000 before tax. This is known as the Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) and is set out under Appendix FM of the UK Immigration Rules.
It is the sponsor’s income that primarily counts — not the applicant’s overseas earnings. The applicant’s income from abroad is only considered if they are already earning in the UK in a permitted immigration category at the time of application.
£29,000 – Minimum gross annual income — in force 2026
£88,500 – Savings required if meeting threshold by savings alone
£16,000 – Minimum savings that can be combined with income
Accepted Income Sources
The Home Office accepts several categories of income under Appendix FM-SE. Each source has its own documentary evidence requirements, and inconsistencies between documents are a common cause of refusal even where income is sufficient.
- Employment income – Six months of payslips from the same employer, personal bank statements showing corresponding credits, and an employer letter confirming the role, start date and salary. The sponsor must have been employed with the same employer for at least six months at the point of application.
- Self-employment income – An HMRC tax year overview and SA302 tax calculation for the most recent complete tax year, along with six months of business bank statements. Income is assessed from the last full tax year, not from recent months.
- Non-employment income – Rental income, dividends, and similar ongoing sources may count. Evidence must show the income is genuine, regular and sustainable. Dividend income from a limited company is assessed under specific rules in Appendix FM-SE.
- Pension income – State and private pension income from both the applicant and sponsor may be used. Official pension statements confirming the gross annual amount are required.
- Maternity allowance and bereavement benefits – These may be counted by the UK-based sponsor where received from a UK government body. Supporting documentation from the relevant government agency is required.
Using Cash Savings to Meet the Financial Requirement
If employment or other income falls below £29,000, cash savings above £16,000 can be used to make up the shortfall. Savings must have been held continuously in a bank account for at least six months before the application is submitted. The source of the savings must be declared.
How the Savings Formula Works
The Home Office formula for combining savings with income is: (Savings − £16,000) ÷ 2.5 = Income Equivalent. Subtract the result from £29,000 to find the remaining income required.
Example — £40,000 in savings:
£40,000 − £16,000 = £24,000
£24,000 ÷ 2.5 = £9,600
£29,000 − £9,600 = £19,400 income still required
→ With £40,000 in savings, you need to show £19,400 in annual income from other sources.
Meeting the requirement through savings alone: You need at least £88,500 held for six consecutive months — no other income required.
Exemptions from the £29,000 Requirement
Sponsors in receipt of certain disability and armed forces benefits are exempt from the standard income threshold. In these cases, the couple must still demonstrate they can adequately support themselves in the UK without recourse to means-tested public funds, but the £29,000 figure does not apply.
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Armed Forces Independence Payment or Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
- Mobility Supplement, Constant Attendance Allowance or War Disablement Pension under the War Pensions Scheme
- Police Injury Pension
Transitional Protection: The £18,600 Threshold
If your first Fiancé Visa, Spouse Visa or Partner Visa application was submitted and approved before 11 April 2024, you may remain on the lower £18,600 threshold for extensions and ILR — provided your relationship is continuous. You do not need to meet the £29,000 requirement at the extension or settlement stage if transitional protection applies.
If you are making a first application now, the £29,000 threshold applies in full. There is no transitional protection for new applications.
Important: Evidence must match exactly – The financial requirement is the most frequently cited reason for Fiancé Visa refusal. Most refusals are not because income is below the threshold — they arise from how income is documented. Payslips must correspond exactly to bank statement credits. Savings must be evidenced with six consecutive months of statements. Online bank statements must be bank-stamped or accompanied by a verification letter. See our guide to UK Fiancé Visa refusal reasons for more detail.
Common Financial Evidence Mistakes
- Payslips that do not match bank statement credit entries for the same dates
- Self-employment income assessed from the current year rather than the most recent complete tax year
- Savings held for fewer than six consecutive months before the application date
- Online bank statements submitted without a bank stamp or verification letter
- Dividend income incorrectly categorised under Appendix FM-SE
- Overseas income of the applicant counted when it does not qualify under the Rules
How JPS Can Help
For expert guidance on your UK Fiancé Visa financial requirements, contact JPS Immigration — IAA-regulated advisers led by ex-UK visa and diplomatic officials.
mail@jpsimmigration.com | +44 (0) 333 577 0034
IAA-Regulated Immigration Adviser & Founder, JPS Immigration
Former UK Home Office Immigration Officer & British Diplomatic Service Entry Clearance Officer
22+ years’ experience | BBC News contributor | LinkedIn profile
Immigration rules change frequently — always verify current fees and thresholds on GOV.UK before applying.
Government fees change without notice. Always verify at GOV.UK
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my fiancé(e)’s overseas income count towards the £29,000?
Generally, no. The applicant’s overseas income does not count unless they are returning to the UK alongside the sponsor and have a confirmed offer of UK employment expected to begin within three months of arrival. In most Fiancé Visa cases, only the UK-based sponsor’s income is assessed.
Does the threshold increase if we have children?
No. Since April 2024, the £29,000 threshold applies regardless of the number of dependent children included in the application. The previous requirement for additional income per child no longer applies under the current rules.
Will the financial threshold increase again?
The government had planned to increase the threshold to £34,500 and then £38,700. These increases are currently paused following the Migration Advisory Committee’s June 2025 review. No confirmed implementation date has been announced. The threshold remains at £29,000 for all applications submitted in 2026.
What if I cannot meet the £29,000 requirement?
If you cannot meet the standard financial threshold and no exemption applies, there may be exceptional circumstances routes available in limited cases — for example, where refusal would breach human rights obligations. These routes are narrow and complex. Speak to one of our advisers before deciding how to proceed.
Related Pages
- UK Fiancé Visa — Overview & Eligibility
- UK Fiancé Visa Documents Checklist 2026
- Why UK Fiancé Visa Applications Are Refused
- Switching from Fiancé Visa to Spouse Visa
- UK Fiancé Visa Processing Time 2026
- UK Spouse Visa
- Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
- Official GOV.UK Guidance: Family Visa (Fiancé) ↗
- Appendix FM-SE: Specified Evidence Rules ↗