The financial requirement is the most common reason UK spouse and partner visa applications are refused. Meeting the threshold is not enough on its own — the evidence must be presented correctly and in the format specified under Appendix FM-SE of the Immigration Rules.
What Is the Current Financial Threshold?
For most applications made in 2026, the minimum income requirement (MIR) is £29,000 gross per year. This threshold has been in place since 11 April 2024, when it replaced the previous figure of £18,600.
The proposed further increases to £34,500 and then £38,700 have been paused. Following a Migration Advisory Committee review published in June 2025, the government has not implemented any further increase. The £29,000 figure remains in force for all new applications as of May 2026.
Important — Transitional Protection: If you submitted your first application as a spouse, civil partner, fiancé(e), or proposed civil partner before 11 April 2024, and you remain on the same partner route with the same partner, the previous threshold of £18,600 continues to apply to your extension and ILR applications. This protection applies for the entire five-year route to settlement, provided continuous leave is maintained.
Who Must Meet the Requirement?
The requirement applies at every stage of the partner route: the initial entry clearance or in-country application, the 30-month extension (FLR(M)), and the final settlement (ILR) application.
For initial applications made from outside the UK, only the UK-based sponsor’s income ordinarily counts. At the extension stage, the applicant’s own UK income can also be included, which often makes meeting the threshold easier.
There is no additional income requirement for dependent children. The flat-rate threshold applies regardless of family size.
What Types of Income Count?
Appendix FM-SE divides income into categories. The main ones are:
Employment income (Categories A and B) — Gross salaried income from a UK employer. The sponsor must have been employed for at least six months and provide six months of payslips and matching bank statements, together with an employer letter confirming salary, role, and duration. Gross income means before tax and National Insurance.
Self-employment income (Categories F and G) — Net profit from self-employment or as a director of a specified limited company, assessed over the most recent full tax year (Category F) or averaged across the two most recent tax years (Category G). Required evidence includes SA302 tax calculations, HMRC tax-year overviews, and business accounts.
Non-employment income (Category C) — Rental income from UK property, dividend income, and certain other sources. Assessed over the 12 months prior to application.
Pension income (Category E) — State pension, occupational pension, or private pension, assessed as gross annual income.
Cash savings (Category D) — Explained below.
Overseas income generally does not count for initial out-of-country applications. Benefits, informal payments, and income not evidenced under the Appendix FM-SE rules cannot be relied upon.
The Savings Formula
If income falls short of the threshold, cash savings can be used to make up the difference. The formula is:
Required savings = £16,000 + (annual income shortfall × 2.5)
The first £16,000 of savings is always disregarded. The multiplier of 2.5 reflects the initial 2.5-year visa period.
Examples:
- No income: shortfall £29,000 → savings needed: £16,000 + (£29,000 × 2.5) = £88,500
- Income £25,000: shortfall £4,000 → savings needed: £16,000 + (£4,000 × 2.5) = £26,000
- Income £20,000: shortfall £9,000 → savings needed: £16,000 + (£9,000 × 2.5) = £38,500
Savings must have been held continuously in a regulated account for at least six months before the application date. The Home Office will use the lowest balance across the six-month period, not the balance at the point of application. Savings can be held by the sponsor, the applicant, or jointly.
To meet the £18,600 threshold using savings alone (transitional protection cases): £16,000 + (£18,600 × 2.5) = £62,500.
The Adequate Maintenance Alternative
Sponsors who receive certain disability or carer benefits are exempt from the minimum income threshold. In these cases, the Home Office applies the adequate maintenance test instead, assessing whether the couple can support themselves without recourse to public funds. Qualifying benefits include Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Carer’s Allowance, Armed Forces Independence Payment, and certain others.
If adequate maintenance applies, the couple must show their combined net income exceeds the applicable Income Support level for a household of their size. This test can be easier to meet in some circumstances.
How JPS Can Help
The financial requirement is highly technical, and the consequences of getting the evidence wrong are significant. We assess your financial position before any application is submitted, identify the correct category and threshold, and ensure the evidence is structured in the way that meets the Home Office’s specified requirements. If your application has already been refused on financial grounds, see our spouse visa refusal guide for your next steps.
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
Does the £29,000 apply to extensions as well as first applications?
Yes, for applicants who first applied on or after 11 April 2024. Those who applied before that date remain on the £18,600 threshold for the entire five-year route under transitional protection.
Can my partner’s overseas salary count for an initial application from abroad?
Ordinarily no. For out-of-country initial applications, only UK-source income can be relied upon. Overseas income may be considered in limited circumstances at the extension stage if it continues in the UK.
What documents do I need for employment income?
Six months of consecutive payslips, six months of bank statements showing the salary credits, and an employer letter confirming your job title, salary, and length of employment. All documents must match.
Can I use property equity to meet the savings requirement?
Not directly. Property equity does not count as savings. Proceeds from a property sale can count if the funds are held as cash in a regulated account and evidenced over the required period.
