What is Appendix FM For UK Spouse & Partner Visas?

Appendix FM is the section of the UK Immigration Rules that provides the legal framework for UK family visas, including spouse, partner, and child visas. This post provides an overview of Appendix FM for a Spouse or Partner visa applications.

Navigating Appendix FM of the UK immigration rules can be a complex process. At Whytecroft Ford, we specialise in Family Visa’s under Appendix FM. For advice or assistance, contact our friendly professional team on 0208 757 5751 or use our Contact Form. 

You can apply for the following types of immigration permissions under Appendix FM:

• Entry Clearance: For first time applicants outside the UK, applying for permission to enter as a family member.
• Further Leave to Remain (FLR): For applicants already in the UK who extending their stay or switching from a different visa category.
• Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR): For applicants who have lived in the UK on a family visa for 5 years and wish to continue living in the UK for the foreseeable future.

When an Appendix FM application is approved, you will be granted the legal right to live, work, and study in the UK. You will be granted permission to stay for 33 months if applied for outside the UK, or 30 months for in-country applications. During this time, you can work freely, but you will have “No Recourse to Public Funds” (NRPF), meaning you cannot claim most state benefits.

Who Can Apply Under Appendix FM?

To be eligible to apply under Appendix FM, you must be the partner, spouse, fiancé(e), or dependent child of a person who has:

• British citizenship,
• Indefinite Leave to Remain, or
• Pre-Settled or Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

You cannot apply from within the UK if you are currently on a Standard Visitor Visa or a visa granted for 6 months or less (unless it is a fiancé(e) visa).

Appendix FM Requirements

A successful Appendix FM application must meet a strict set of rules that assess the applicants character and eligibility, these include:

Suitability Requirements

Suitability criteria assess the applicant’s character to ensure there are no reasons they should be excluded from the UK. In late 2025, these rules were aligned with the broader “Part Suitability” of the Immigration Rules. The Home Office will check for issues like criminal convictions, previous immigration breaches, or unpaid NHS debts.

Relationship Requirements

• Age: Both the applicant and UK partner must be 18 years of age
• Genuine and Subsisting: You must prove that you have met in person your relationship is authentic and ongoing.
• Intent to Live Together: You must intend to live together permanently in the UK.
• Degree of Relationship: You cannot be closely related in a way that makes marriage illegal in the UK.
• Previous Relationships: Any previous marriages or civil partnerships must have permanently broken down (e.g., via a divorce decree absolute).
• Unmarried Partners: If you are not married, you must prove you have been in a relationship similar to marriage for at least two years.
• Fiancé(e)s: You must be seeking entry specifically to marry within 6 months.

Minimum Income Requirement

Meeting the financial threshold is often the most challenging part of Appendix FM. Different thresholds apply depending on the date of your first application. 

• Pre-April 2024 Transitional Rules: If you applied for your family visa before 11 April 2024, you may fall under the old threshold of £18,600 per year (plus additional funds for non-British dependent children).
• New Financial Requirement: For new applicants, the minimum income threshold has increased to £29,000 per year. There is no longer a separate financial requirement for dependent children under this new rule.

Income can be demonstrated through employment, self-employment, pensions, non-employment income (like property rental), or cash savings (which must be strictly calculated and held for 6 months).

English Language Proficiency

Unless you are a citizen of a majority English-speaking country, are over 65, or have a qualifying degree taught in English, you must prove your language skills:

• Entry Clearance: Level A1 (speaking and listening).
• Leave to Remain (Extension): Level A2.
• Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement): Level B1, plus passing the Life in the UK test.

All tests must be taken at a Home Office-approved secure test centre.

For detailed information the complete requirements and application process, visit UK Spouse Visa. 

What is Appendix FM-SE?

Appendix FM-SE is an extension of Appendix FM that specifies the evidential requirements to prove you meet the financial requirements. Even if you earn well over the £29,000 threshold, your application may be refused if your evidence does not meet the specified criteria. Applicants may demonstrate income from specific sources which include:

• Employment Income (Category A & B): You need 6 to 12 months of official payslips, corresponding bank statements showing the exact net salary deposits, and a specific letter from your employer confirming your role, salary, and employment duration.
• Self-Employment (Category F & G): Requires complex documentation including HMRC tax returns (SA302), tax year overviews, business bank statements, and often audited accounts or an accountant’s certificate.
• Non-Employment Income: You can include the applicant or sponsor’s non-employment income. For example, property rental income would require proof of ownership, a tenancy agreement, and bank statements showing rental deposits.
• Pension Income: Official pension statements or letters showing income received from a pension in the 12 months before the date of application can be included.
• Cash Savings (Category D): You must provide 6 months of continuous bank statements showing the funds never dropped below the required amount, alongside a declaration of the source of the funds.

How We Can Assist You

The rules within Appendix FM are highly technical, and Appendix FM-SE leaves no room for error. If you are unsure about the requirements of Appendix FM, or need guidance to ensure your Appendix FM-SE financial documents are sufficient to demonstrate you meet the financial requirement, contact our immigration team.

For advice or assistance, contact our friendly professional team on 0208 757 5751or use our Contact Form. 

Frequently Asked Questions