Yes — as of 2026 the minimum income requirement for most new UK spouse and partner visa applications is £29,000 per year. The widely reported increase to £38,700 has not happened; it was paused and has not been implemented. There is no published timetable for any further rise.
If you are planning to bring a husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner to the UK, the financial requirement is usually the part that causes the most worry. The good news is that there is more than one way to meet it. This guide explains the current threshold, the different ways to qualify, the savings-only route, and who is still protected by the older, lower figure.
The current threshold (and why £38,700 never happened)
The minimum income requirement rose from £18,600 to £29,000 on 11 April 2024. That was the first significant change since the threshold was introduced in 2012, and it remains in place.
The previous government had planned to raise it in stages towards roughly £38,700. The current government paused that plan and asked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the requirement. The MAC’s 2025 review concluded that £29,000 is high by international standards and suggested a more proportionate range of around £23,000 to £25,000. That is a recommendation only — it has not been adopted, and £29,000 remains the figure that applies today.
So if you have seen the £38,700 figure quoted, you can set it aside for now. It is not the current requirement.
The ways to meet the £29,000 requirement
You do not have to meet the requirement through a single salaried job. The Immigration Rules (set out in Appendix FM) allow several sources of income, and some can be combined. In broad terms, the financial requirement can be met through:
- Salaried or non-salaried employment — income from the sponsor (and, in some in-UK cases, the applicant).
- Self-employment or income as a company director.
- Cash savings above a set threshold (see below).
- Non-employment income such as rental income or dividends.
- Pension income.
- Combinations of the above — for example, salary topped up with savings.
Each category has its own evidence rules, and the documentation has to be exact. Getting the evidence wrong is one of the most common causes of refusal, even when the underlying income clearly exists.
The cash savings route
If you are relying on savings alone, the figure is higher than many people expect. To meet the £29,000 requirement through cash savings only, you generally need £88,500 held for the required period and meeting the source-and-control rules. Savings can also be combined with income to bridge a shortfall, which is often a more achievable route than savings alone.
Sponsors on certain benefits: the adequate maintenance test
If the sponsoring partner receives certain specified disability or carer-related benefits, the application can be assessed under the adequate maintenance test instead of the £29,000 income requirement. This test looks at whether the family’s income, after housing costs, is enough to support the household. If this might apply to you, it is worth checking carefully, because it can open a route for families who could not otherwise meet the financial threshold.
Who is protected by the old £18,600 threshold?
Transitional arrangements protect people who were already on the route before the increase. In broad terms, if you already held a fiancé(e), proposed civil partner or five-year partner visa before 11 April 2024, or had applied before that date, you can continue to be assessed against the £18,600 threshold on later applications — provided you are applying to stay with the same partner and remain on that route. Once you have met a particular minimum income requirement on the route, that same level generally continues through to settlement.
Could the requirement go down in 2026?
It might, but there is no guarantee and no published timetable. The MAC has recommended a lower range, and the government paused further increases, but neither of those amounts to a confirmed reduction. For couples deciding whether to apply now or wait, this is really a question of risk: waiting in the hope of a lower threshold carries the risk that it does not come, while your circumstances and the fees may change in the meantime.
A note on fees
Application fees increased on 8 April 2026. The overseas spouse/partner visa fee rose to around £2,064, and the in-UK extension fee (FLR(M)) to around £1,407. Indefinite Leave to Remain and naturalisation fees also rose. Because fees change periodically, check the current figures on gov.uk before you budget.
Get your finances assessed before you apply
The financial requirement is where careful preparation makes the biggest difference. We can tell you which route gives you the strongest application, what evidence the Home Office expects, and how to present it to reduce the risk of refusal.
Start with a free family visa assessment, or read more about our spouse visa, unmarried partner visa and fiancé visa services. You can also see all our UK family visa options.
Written by the team at JPS Immigration — UK immigration advisers authorised and regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA). Our advisers include former UK visa and diplomatic officials. This article is general information, not legal advice, and immigration rules and fees can change at short notice. For advice on your circumstances, contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the spouse visa income requirement £29,000 or £38,700 in 2026?
£29,000. The planned rise to £38,700 was paused and has not been implemented.
How much do I need in savings to meet the requirement?
Around £88,500 if relying on cash savings alone. Savings can also be combined with income to make up a shortfall.
Does my partner’s income in the UK count?
In some in-UK applications, the applicant’s income can be counted alongside the sponsor’s. The rules differ between entry clearance and in-UK applications, so check which applies to you.
Will the income requirement be reduced?
Possibly. The MAC suggested around £23,000–£25,000, but no reduction has been confirmed and there is no timetable.
I’m on the old route — do I still use £18,600?
If you were on a qualifying partner route, or applied, before 11 April 2024 and are staying with the same partner, transitional arrangements generally allow the £18,600 figure to continue to settlement.
Last verified: June 2026. Always confirm current figures on gov.uk before applying, as rules and fees change.
