Last reviewed: 28 July 2026.
A couple applying for a UK partner or spouse visa must show they can support themselves in the UK without relying on public funds. Meeting the financial requirement is where many of these applications succeed or fail. Most new applicants need to show a gross annual income of £29,000. Many refusals come from the evidence. A sponsor who earns well above £29,000 can still be refused when the documents fall short of the specified standard.
The requirement can be met through employment, self-employment, non-employment income, pension income, cash savings, or a permitted combination. This guide provides an overview of the financial requirement and the income categories. It covers cash savings, combining income and the evidence a UK partner or spouse visa needs.
Key overviews
- The minimum income requirement is £29,000 for partners and spouses on the standard family route. It is set out at E-ECP.3.1 for entry clearance and E-LTRP.3.1 for leave to remain.
- New applicants meet a flat £29,000. That figure already accounts for children, so no per-child amount is added on the current threshold.
- A transitional £18,600 threshold still applies to applicants who first applied before 11 April 2024 and continue with the same partner. Child elements are added, with the whole figure capped at £29,000.
- Income falls into Categories A to G under Appendix FM-SE. These cover employment, non-employment income, cash savings, pension income, and self-employment or company-director income.
- Cash savings of £88,500 held for six continuous months can meet the requirement alone on the £29,000 threshold. The figure is £62,500 on the transitional £18,600 threshold.
- Only the applicant’s overseas employment income is disregarded on an entry clearance application. The applicant’s own cash savings, non-employment income and pension income can still count.
- Income sources can be combined within set limits. Cash savings combine with employment and pension income, and stay separate from self-employment and the 12-month part of Category B.
- The requirement is tested again at the FLR(M) extension and at indefinite leave to remain. Transitional status can be lost on a change of partner or a break in the route.
Contents
- What is the financial requirement for a UK partner or spouse visa?
- Which visas the financial requirement applies to
- Which financial threshold applies in 2026?
- Whose income can be counted toward the requirement?
- How the financial requirement is met: the income categories
- Category A: employment of six months or more
- Category B: new jobs and variable income
- Category C: non-employment income
- Category D: cash savings
- Category E: pension income
- Categories F and G: self-employment and company directors
- Combining income sources
- The 28-day rules for financial evidence
- Returning sponsors and overseas or foreign income
- How the financial requirement is re-tested at each stage
- What evidence is required?
- What if the £29,000 threshold cannot be met?
- Worked examples
- What works in practice
- Common financial-requirement refusal points
- Frequently asked questions
What is the financial requirement for a UK partner or spouse visa?
A new partner or spouse applicant must show a gross annual income of £29,000. That figure is the level of income and savings a couple must demonstrate so the applicant can be supported without recourse to public funds. This is the minimum income requirement, known in the Rules as the financial requirement. It is set out at E-ECP.3.1 of Appendix FM for an entry clearance application. For an application for leave to remain, the equivalent provision is E-LTRP.3.1.
The £29,000 figure replaced the long-standing £18,600 threshold on 11 April 2024, under Statement of Changes HC 590. How the figure can be met, and the evidence each source needs, is prescribed in detail by Appendix FM-SE. The rest of this guide works through the requirement category by category.
Which visas the financial requirement applies to
The financial requirement applies across the UK partner and spouse routes under Appendix FM. It applies to the UK Spouse Visa, the unmarried partner route, the civil partner route, the fiancé route and the proposed civil partner route. The same £29,000 threshold and the same income categories apply to each.
Meeting the financial requirement is one of several requirements for a partner or spouse visa. A couple must also meet the accommodation requirement, show a genuine and subsisting relationship, and meet the English language requirement. Each is assessed separately, and this guide covers the financial requirement.
Which financial threshold applies in 2026?
Two thresholds run in parallel in 2026, and which one applies depends on when the applicant first entered the route. New applicants, and applicants applying with a different partner, must meet £29,000. Some applicants first applied under the five-year partner or fiancé route before 11 April 2024, and continue with the same partner. They are assessed against the older £18,600 structure.
The child elements apply only to the transitional £18,600 group. On that route the base figure is £18,600, plus £3,800 for the first child and £2,400 for each further child. The whole figure is capped at £29,000. A child who is already British or settled is left out of the calculation. New applicants meet a flat £29,000 that already accounts for children, so no per-child amount is added.
| Applicant group | Threshold | Per-child addition |
| New applicant, or applying with a new partner | £29,000 (flat) | None (children included in figure) |
| Applied before 11 April 2024, continuing with same partner | £18,600, capped at £29,000 | +£3,800 first child, +£2,400 each further child |
The transitional £18,600 threshold is preserved in limited circumstances. The original application must have been made before 11 April 2024 on the five-year family route. That applicant must be extending or settling with the same partner, with continuous leave on that route. A move to the ten-year route, a gap in leave, or a change of partner ends that protection. Where protection ends, the applicant meets £29,000 at the next application.
A stepped rise of the threshold to about £38,700 was floated but was not implemented. A review of the family financial requirements was commissioned instead. The figures above are those currently in force.
Whose income can be counted toward the requirement?
Only the applicant’s overseas employment income is disregarded on an entry clearance application from outside the UK, however large it is. Whose income counts otherwise depends on where the application is made, and the income categories stay the same. The sponsor’s income counts in full. The applicant’s own non-employment income, pension income and cash savings can also count toward the threshold.
An in-country application, including the FLR(M) extension and most switches, lets the applicant add their own UK employment earnings to the sponsor’s. This applies where the applicant is working lawfully under their current leave. Combining the couple’s income this way often resolves a shortfall that the sponsor’s income alone would leave open.
How the financial requirement is met: the income categories
The requirement can be met through income, savings, or a permitted combination. Each source is assessed under a specific category in Appendix FM-SE. The seven categories run from A to G, and each has its own basis of assessment.
| Category | Income source | Basis of assessment |
| A | Salaried or non-salaried employment, 6+ months with current employer | Current annual gross income |
| B | Employment under 6 months, or variable income | Income over the previous 12 months, plus current rate |
| C | Non-employment income (rental, dividends, interest) | Income received in the 12 months before application |
| D | Cash savings | Savings above £16,000, held for 6 months |
| E | Pension income | Annual pension at the current rate |
| F | Self-employment, last full financial year | Gross taxable profit for the last financial year |
| G | Self-employment or company director, averaged | Average of the last two financial years |
Category A: employment of six months or more
Category A is the route for a sponsor, or an in-country applicant, who has worked for the same employer for at least six months. The six months run to the date of application. For salaried work, the figure tested is the lowest gross annual salary across that period. For non-salaried work, it is the gross income over the six months, averaged and annualised under paragraph 13 of Appendix FM-SE. The specified evidence covers six months of payslips, a matching employer letter and the corresponding personal bank statements, set out at paragraph 2.
Category B: new jobs and variable income
A sponsor who has been in the current job for under six months is assessed under Category B. Category B also covers variable income, such as shift, commission or zero-hours pay. It is a two-part test. The current annual rate at the date of application must meet the threshold. The actual gross income received in the 12 months before the application must also meet it.
Both limbs must be satisfied. A strong current rate does not cure a 12-month history that falls short of the threshold.
Category C: non-employment income
Non-employment income is assessed under Category C. This covers property rental, dividends and interest, maintenance payments and certain allowances. It is assessed on the amount received in the 12 months before the application, under paragraph 10 of Appendix FM-SE. The income must continue to be available at the date of application.
Property let for rental must be owned. It cannot be the home the couple rely on for their accommodation. Rental income is a common Category C source, and it has its own evidence and ownership rules.
Category D: cash savings
Cash savings can meet the financial requirement in full, or top up income that falls short. The amount needed follows a fixed formula in Appendix FM-SE. It is £16,000 plus 2.5 times the annual income shortfall. With no qualifying income, that is £16,000 plus 2.5 times £29,000, which is £88,500 on the current threshold. For the transitional group it is £16,000 plus 2.5 times £18,600, which is £62,500.
The savings must be held in cash, under the control of the applicant, the sponsor or both. They must be held for at least six continuous months before the application, under paragraph 11(a). Paragraph 11A allows a limited exception. Funds that came from the sale of property or investments within the six-month period can count, where the sale and the transfer are evidenced.
Category E: pension income
Pension income is counted under Category E, at its current gross annual rate. It can be the applicant’s pension or the sponsor’s. Any UK or overseas state, occupational or private pension can qualify. The pension must have become a source of income at least 28 days before the date of application, under paragraph 20A.
A pension that started inside that 28-day window cannot yet be counted. The evidence is documentation from the pension provider or the Department for Work and Pensions. It must include at least one bank statement showing a payment in the prior 12 months.
Categories F and G: self-employment and company directors
Self-employment income, and income as a director of a specified limited company, are assessed under Categories F and G. Category F uses the gross taxable profit from the last full financial year. Category G averages the last two financial years, which helps where the most recent year alone falls short. A specified limited company is broadly one controlled by the sponsor, their partner or close family.
The evidence is prescribed in detail, with no evidential flexibility. It includes the Self Assessment tax return and tax calculation, the SA300 or SA302, and the business accounts. A company case also needs the CT600, with business and personal bank statements, set out at paragraphs 7 and 9. The gross taxable profit is the figure counted. Turnover passing through the business is left out of the calculation.
Combining income sources
Most categories can be combined to reach the threshold, within limits Appendix FM-SE sets. Category A, Category C, Category E and cash savings combine with each other freely. A salaried sponsor can top up with rental income, a pension or savings. The restrictions are specific, and they are worth stating clearly.
- Cash savings stay separate from self-employment and company-director income under Categories F and G, under paragraph 13(f).
- Cash savings stay separate from the part of Category B income assessed over the previous 12 months, under paragraph 15(b)(iv).
- Self-employment income under Categories F and G must all fall within the same financial year or years used for the assessment.
The aim is to choose a combination the evidence fully supports across each specified period.
The 28-day rules for financial evidence
Two separate 28-day rules run through the financial requirement, and they do different jobs. The first is an evidence-dating rule. The specified documents must generally be dated no earlier than 28 days before the date of application. A payslip, bank statement or employer letter that is too old cannot be used for the current period.
The second is the pension rule at paragraph 20A. Under it, a pension must have been in payment at least 28 days before the date of application to count under Category E. One rule concerns how recent the paperwork is. The other concerns how long the pension has been in payment. Both are common points of difficulty, and each is addressed in the relevant category guide.
Returning sponsors and overseas or foreign income
A sponsor currently working abroad can rely on overseas income, under a stricter dual test at paragraph E-ECP.3.2 of Appendix FM. The sponsor must have earned the equivalent of at least £29,000 in qualifying overseas employment for the six months before the application. The sponsor must also hold a confirmed UK job offer, starting within three months of return, that itself meets the threshold. A failure on either limb closes the overseas-employment route.
Pension income is treated differently, because it is location-neutral under Category E. A returning sponsor drawing a qualifying pension is assessed in the ordinary way, wherever they are resident.
How the financial requirement is re-tested at each stage
The financial requirement is reassessed at every stage of the route, and meeting it once does not carry it forward. It is tested at the initial application. It is tested again at the FLR(M) extension after 33 months. A final assessment comes at indefinite leave to remain on the five-year route.
A sponsor who comfortably met the threshold at entry can still fall short at extension, where their income has since dropped. Transitional £18,600 status can also be lost between stages, where the applicant changes partner or leaves the five-year route.
What evidence is required?
Each category has its own specified-evidence list under Appendix FM-SE. The evidence must cover the full assessment period. The main requirements by category are these.
- Categories A and B: payslips for the relevant period, a matching employer letter, and personal bank statements showing the salary paid in.
- Category C: proof of ownership of the asset and the income received, with bank statements showing receipt.
- Category D: personal bank statements showing the savings held for six continuous months.
- Category E: a pension statement or letter confirming the annual amount, with a bank statement showing payment.
- Categories F and G: the Self Assessment tax return and tax calculation, the business accounts, and business and personal bank statements.
Documents not in English or Welsh must be submitted with a certified translation. A precise evidence pack matters as much as the underlying figure, because the specified-evidence standards are exacting on each category.
What if the £29,000 threshold cannot be met?
Two alternatives exist within the Immigration Rules where the standard financial requirement is met with difficulty. The first is the adequate maintenance test. It applies where the sponsor receives a specified disability benefit or carer’s allowance. In that situation the £29,000 figure is set aside. The couple are assessed on whether they can be adequately maintained without recourse to public funds.
The second is the exceptional circumstances route. It can apply where refusing the application would breach the right to family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. These cases depend on discretion, and they call for tailored legal advice before an application is made.
Worked examples
The following anonymised examples show how the rules apply in practice. The threshold used is £29,000.
Salary topped up with savings (Categories A and D). A sponsor earns £20,000 of qualifying salaried income, leaving a £9,000 shortfall. The savings required are £16,000 plus 2.5 times £9,000, which is £38,500. The requirement is met where the sponsor evidences the £20,000 salary for the specified period and holds £38,500 for six continuous months.
Variable income in a new job (Category B). A sponsor started an hourly-paid job four months before applying. Under Category B the application is assessed on both the current annualised rate and the actual gross income over the previous 12 months. Each limb must reach £29,000. A strong current rate does not cure a short 12-month history.
Self-employment (Category F). A self-employed sponsor’s last full financial year showed £31,000 of gross taxable profit. Under Category F, that exceeds £29,000. It is evidenced by the Self Assessment tax return, the business accounts, and the business and personal bank statements for the same year.
What works in practice
The financial requirement is best met where the chosen category matches the sponsor’s actual circumstances. The evidence must also cover the full specified period to the day. Three practical points recur.
- A sponsor with steady salaried work of six months or more is assessed under Category A on the current salary. This is the simplest evidential position, and it avoids the 12-month history a Category B case must show.
- Where income sits just below the threshold, a modest cash-savings top-up can close the gap. The formula is £16,000 plus 2.5 times the shortfall, and the six-month holding period must be complete before the application.
- A director of a specified limited company is assessed under Categories F and G. Classifying the income correctly, and matching the company evidence to the financial year, keeps the application consistent.
To check which category fits the couple’s circumstances and confirm the evidence, contact the firm before an application is made. Call the Whytecroft Ford team on 0208 757 5751.
Common financial-requirement refusal points
Most financial-requirement refusals come from the evidence. A sponsor who genuinely earns above £29,000 can still be refused where the documents fall short. The recurring causes are consistent.
- A Category A payslip or employer letter falls outside the 28-day or six-month window.
- Under Category B, a sponsor relies on a recent pay rise whose 12-month history falls short.
- A specified-limited-company sponsor has income classified under the wrong category.
- Savings are moved from a non-qualifying source within the six-month holding period.
- A document set carries mismatched names that a marriage certificate or deed poll would tie together.
Each cause is an evidence point that careful preparation resolves before submission.
Frequently asked questions
How much do you need to earn for a UK partner or spouse visa in 2026? New applicants must show a gross annual income of £29,000, the minimum income requirement under Appendix FM. The figure can be met through income, savings, or a permitted combination.
Whose income counts toward the financial requirement? For an initial entry clearance application, only the applicant’s overseas employment income is disregarded. The sponsor’s income counts in full, and the applicant’s own cash savings, non-employment income and pension income can also count.
Does the £29,000 threshold apply to an FLR(M) extension? The threshold depends on when the applicant first applied. Applicants who first applied before 11 April 2024 and continue with the same partner remain on £18,600, capped at £29,000. Those who entered the route on or after that date meet £29,000.
Can self-employment income be combined with cash savings? No. Self-employment and company-director income under Categories F and G stay separate from cash savings, under paragraph 13(f) of Appendix FM-SE. Self-employment is assessed on the last financial year, or the average of the last two years under Category G.
Are dependent children included in the £29,000 figure? On the £29,000 route, dependent children are accounted for within the figure and do not increase it. On the transitional £18,600 route, additional sums apply. These are £3,800 for the first child and £2,400 for each further child, with the whole figure capped at £29,000.
Can cash savings alone meet the requirement? Yes. Savings held in cash for six continuous months can meet the requirement without any income. That is £88,500 on the £29,000 threshold, or £62,500 on the transitional £18,600 threshold. Funds from the recent sale of property or investments can count under the paragraph 11A exception, where the sale is evidenced.
Could the £29,000 financial requirement change? The £29,000 figure has applied since 11 April 2024 and remains in force. Any change would come through a statement of changes to the Immigration Rules, so confirm the figure in force on the date of your application against GOV.UK.
How Whytecroft Ford can help
The financial requirement is the most common point of difficulty on the family route, because the specified-evidence standards are exacting on each category. A sponsor earning well above £29,000 can still be refused where the payslips, bank statements or employer letter fail to align to the day.
The Whytecroft Ford immigration team advises couples on the UK Spouse Visa, the unmarried partner route, the fiancé route and FLR(M) extensions. This work includes selecting the correct income category, calculating any savings shortfall, and assembling an evidence pack that matches the specified-evidence rules. The firm confirms eligibility early and prepares the application before submission. To discuss the financial requirement with an experienced immigration adviser, call 0208 757 5751 or use our contact form.
Sources
- Immigration Rules Appendix FM (GOV.UK)
- Immigration Rules Appendix FM-SE (GOV.UK)
- Family life (as a partner or parent) financial requirement caseworker guidance (GOV.UK)
The material in this article is provided for guidance and general information only and is not intended to constitute legal or other professional advice on your circumstances upon which you should rely. In particular, the information should not be used as a substitute for a full and proper consultation with a suitably qualified professional. UK Immigration Rules are subject to change. Please do contact the Whytecroft Ford team if you require further advice.
