This comprehensive guide explains the UK Spouse visa financial requirements for 2026, including the £29,000 income threshold, the savings formula calculation (£16,000 + shortfall × 2.5), exemptions for sponsors on disability benefits, the transitional £18,600 protection for pre-April 2024 applicants, and how to prepare your bank statements and financial evidence. Whether you're relying on employment income, self-employment, savings, pension, or a combination, this guide covers everything needed to meet the Appendix FM-SE specified evidence rules and avoid refusal on the most common ground for Spouse visa rejections.
Source: Appendix FM-SE Immigration Rules + Home Office MIR Guidance (updated November 2025)
Spouse Visa UK Financial Requirements Overview 2026
The UK Spouse visa financial requirements ensure that UK sponsors can support their partner without recourse to public funds. The current minimum income threshold is £29,000 per year — increased from £18,600 on 11 April 2024. This guide explains how to meet the requirement through employment income, self-employment, cash savings, pension income, or a combination of qualifying sources. The financial requirement is the most common ground for Spouse visa refusal, so understanding Appendix FM-SE evidential rules is critical.
For complete eligibility on the underlying Spouse visa (relationship, English, accommodation requirements), see our UK Spouse visa requirements pillar. If your application is referred for credibility assessment after a financial documentation query, see our UK Spouse visa interview guide for what to expect.
UK Spouse Visa Income Threshold 2026
The current UK Spouse visa minimum income requirement is £29,000 per year gross income (before tax). This threshold increased from £18,600 on 11 April 2024 and remains unchanged for 2026 — proposed further increases to £34,500 and £38,700 are paused following the Migration Advisory Committee review of June 2025. The £29,000 figure applies regardless of dependent children. If using savings alone, you need £88,500 held continuously for at least 6 months.
Income Threshold Timeline and Transitional Protection
| Period / Application Type | Income Threshold | Savings Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-11 April 2024 — transitional protection | £18,600 (still applies) | £62,500 |
| 11 April 2024 onwards — new applications | £29,000 (current) | £88,500 |
| Future increases (MAC review) | Paused — no scheduled change | — |
Is the £29,000 Before or After Tax?
The £29,000 income requirement is gross income (before tax). This means total annual salary before any deductions for income tax, National Insurance, or pension contributions. If your employment contract states a salary of £29,000 or more, you meet the income threshold — regardless of what your take-home pay is after deductions. The Home Office uses gross figures consistently across all income categories.
Future Threshold Changes — Currently Paused
The previous government announced plans to increase the threshold to £34,500 in late 2024 and then £38,700 in early 2025 — aligning with the Skilled Worker visa salary threshold. The Labour government commissioned a Migration Advisory Committee review, which published its findings in June 2025. As of May 2026, no further changes have been implemented. The £29,000 figure remains in effect for all new applications. The MAC's report did not recommend a specific threshold but described options ranging from £17,000 to £29,000+ and rejected the idea that the family route should mirror the Skilled Worker threshold.
Spouse Visa Savings Formula: The 2.5× Calculation
The UK Spouse visa savings formula is: £16,000 + (income shortfall × 2.5) = required savings. The first £16,000 of savings is always disregarded as a "fixed floor." The 2.5 multiplier reflects the 2.5-year initial visa grant period. To meet the full £29,000 requirement using savings alone, you need £88,500: that is £16,000 + (£29,000 × 2.5). Savings must be held continuously for at least 6 months prior to application in an accessible account.
Savings Calculator: Step-by-Step Examples
The savings formula works in two directions: (1) calculating required savings to meet a known shortfall, or (2) calculating the income equivalent of existing savings. Both use the same underlying formula:
- Formula: Required savings = £16,000 + (Income shortfall × 2.5)
- Reverse formula: Income equivalent = (Total savings − £16,000) ÷ 2.5
- Example 1 — Savings alone (no income): Shortfall = £29,000. Required savings = £16,000 + (£29,000 × 2.5) = £88,500
- Example 2 — Income £24,000 + savings: Shortfall = £5,000. Required savings = £16,000 + (£5,000 × 2.5) = £28,500
- Example 3 — Income £20,000 + savings: Shortfall = £9,000. Required savings = £16,000 + (£9,000 × 2.5) = £38,500
- Example 4 — Income £27,000 + savings: Shortfall = £2,000. Required savings = £16,000 + (£2,000 × 2.5) = £21,000
- Example 5 — Pre-April 2024 protected (£18,600): Savings alone = £16,000 + (£18,600 × 2.5) = £62,500
What Counts as Eligible Savings?
- Cash savings: Money in current/savings/instant access accounts (UK or overseas) held for 6+ consecutive months
- Joint accounts: Full amount counts if held jointly by applicant and sponsor; only your share counts if held with a third party
- Property sale proceeds: Can be used WITHOUT the 6-month holding rule if from sale of property within 6 months — must show proof of sale, completion, and funds transfer
- Investment liquidation: Stocks, shares, bonds converted to cash within 6 months — must evidence prior 6-month ownership of the underlying investment
- Gifts and inheritance: Permitted but must be held for 6 months; source must be declared and lawful
- Account types: Must be in regulated financial institution, withdrawable on demand, in applicant's/sponsor's/joint name
Acceptable Income Sources (Categories A-G)
Appendix FM-SE divides income into 7 categories. Each has specific qualifying periods and evidence requirements. Most applications use Category A or D, but understanding all categories is important when income comes from multiple sources or when employment is recent.
| Category | Income Source | Qualifying Period | Key Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category A | Salaried — same employer 6+ months | 6 months | 6 months payslips + bank statements + employer letter |
| Category B | Salaried — less than 6 months OR variable income | 12 months | Current annual salary + 12 months gross income evidence |
| Category C | Non-employment (rental, dividends, investments) | 12 months | Tenancy/dividend documents + bank statements |
| Category D | Cash savings only | 6 months continuous | £88,500 minimum + 6 months bank statements |
| Category E | Pension | 28 days minimum receipt | Pension statement + bank statements showing payments |
| Category F | Self-employment — last full financial year | 1 financial year | SA302 + tax returns + business accounts + accountant letter |
| Category G | Self-employment — average of last 2 years | 2 financial years | 2× SA302/accounts + accountant letter |
Combining Income Sources
Most income categories can be combined to reach £29,000, but specific combinations are restricted under Appendix FM-SE:
- Allowed combinations: Cat A + savings; Cat B + savings; Cat C + savings; Cat E (pension) + savings; Cat A/B + Cat C + Cat E
- NOT allowed: Cat F or G (self-employment) + savings — self-employment income must meet £29,000 alone or combined with non-savings income
- Sponsor + applicant income: Applicant's income only counts if they are already in the UK with permission to work (in-country switching/extension) — not for entry clearance from abroad
- Pension income: Must have been received for at least 28 days before application
Self-Employment Income (Categories F & G)
Self-employed sponsors must use either Category F (most recent full financial year only) or Category G (average across last 2 financial years). The figure used must be gross taxable profits before deductions — not net profit after expenses. Some Home Office caseworkers incorrectly assess net profit, so it's important the gross figure exceeds £29,000 with margin where possible. If you're a director of a limited company drawing salary + dividends, you may use Cat F/G for company director income. Required evidence: SA302 self-assessment statement, full tax return, audited or unaudited business accounts depending on requirement, accountant's letter on headed paper, business bank statements, VAT certificate (if turnover £79,000+), and personal bank statements showing income payments.
UK Spouse Visa Financial Requirement Exemptions
Sponsors receiving certain disability benefits or Carer's Allowance are exempt from the £29,000 threshold. Instead, the "Adequate Maintenance Test" applies: household income after housing and council tax costs must be sufficient at a level equivalent to UK Income Support. This is a significantly lower threshold than £29,000 in most cases. Qualifying benefits include DLA, PIP, Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance, Armed Forces Independence Payment, and War Pensions Scheme benefits.
Qualifying Exempt Benefits
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) — replaced DLA for working-age adults
- Adult Disability Payment (Scotland) — replaced PIP in Scotland
- Attendance Allowance — for those over State Pension age
- Carer's Allowance
- Carer Support Payment (Scotland)
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Guaranteed Income Payment (Armed Forces Compensation Scheme)
- Constant Attendance Allowance, Mobility Supplement, War Disablement Pension (War Pensions Scheme)
- Police Injury Pension
The Adequate Maintenance Test
If exempt, you must instead show "adequate maintenance" — defined in Appendix FM-SE paragraph 12B as: total household weekly net income (after deducting housing costs and council tax) must equal or exceed the equivalent of UK Income Support for a couple. This is calculated as a weekly figure, multiplied across the family unit. The test is significantly more flexible than the £29,000 threshold and considers all benefits, savings, and qualifying income together.
UK Spouse Visa Bank Statement Requirements
Bank statements must cover the full 6-month qualifying period (or 12 months for Categories B/C), clearly show salary deposits matching your payslips, be dated within 28 days of application submission, and display all transactions without redactions. For savings claims, statements must show the required amount has been held continuously for the full 6 months — even a single dip below the required level on any day invalidates the claim.
Bank statements are crucial evidence for the spouse visa supporting documents — see our UK Spouse visa document checklist for the complete document inventory. They must include all of the following:
- Account holder's name matching application name
- Account number and sort code (or IBAN/SWIFT for foreign accounts)
- Bank name, address, and logo on each page
- Statement date within 28 days of application submission
- Continuous 6-month period (or 12-month for Cat B/C) — no gaps
- Clear salary deposits matching payslip amounts (Cat A) — name of payer where possible
- Opening and closing balances visible on each statement page
- All pages present (multi-page statements must include every page)
- For savings: minimum required balance maintained throughout entire 6-month period
Electronic vs Printed Statements
Electronic statements are accepted if they meet all the above requirements. If your bank only issues digital statements, request a covering letter from the bank on official letterhead confirming the authenticity of the electronic statements. Self-printed online statements are acceptable provided they bear the bank's logo, your name and account details, and full transaction history. For foreign currency accounts, use the official OANDA exchange rate (oanda.com) on the date of application and include conversion calculations as a separate document.
Common Bank Statement Mistakes
- Submitting only 3 months of payslips when 6 are required (Cat A error)
- Statements ending more than 28 days before application
- Inconsistent dates between payslips and bank statements
- Including overtime/bonuses that don't meet the 6-month consistency rule
- Savings dropping below required level on any day during 6 months
- Missing pages or partial month statements
- Self-printed statements without bank header/logo
- Foreign currency accounts without OANDA conversion proof
- Minimum income: £29,000 gross (before tax) for new applications since 11 April 2024
- Transitional protection: £18,600 still applies to pre-April 2024 applicants on continuous leave
- Savings formula: £16,000 + (shortfall × 2.5) = required savings
- Savings alone: £88,500 (or £62,500 for transitional applicants)
- Bank statements: 6 months continuous, dated within 28 days of application
- Self-employment restriction: Categories F/G cannot be combined with savings
- Exemptions: Sponsors on PIP/DLA/Carer's Allowance use Adequate Maintenance Test instead
- Future increases paused: £34,500 / £38,700 plans paused after MAC review June 2025
- Spouse visa pillar: Relationship, English, accommodation rules covered separately
- Extension stage: Both partners' incomes can be combined — see UK Spouse visa extension guide
- Path to settlement: Financial requirement also applies at Spouse visa ILR stage
Frequently Asked Questions
Spouse Visa Financial Requirements: FAQs
What is the UK Spouse visa financial requirement in 2026?
The current UK Spouse visa financial requirement is £29,000 gross annual income. This applies to all new applications submitted on or after 11 April 2024. Pre-April 2024 applicants on continuous leave with the same partner remain on the £18,600 threshold under transitional protection. The £29,000 figure is unchanged for 2026 — proposed increases to £34,500 and £38,700 are paused following the Migration Advisory Committee review of June 2025.
Is the £29,000 before or after tax?
The £29,000 is gross income — before tax, National Insurance, and any other deductions. Your employment contract salary is what counts, not your take-home pay. If your contract shows £29,000 or more annual salary, you meet the income threshold regardless of net pay. The Home Office uses gross figures consistently across all 7 income categories under Appendix FM-SE.
How does the Spouse visa savings formula work?
The savings formula is: Required savings = £16,000 + (Income shortfall × 2.5). The first £16,000 of savings is always disregarded. The 2.5 multiplier reflects the 2.5-year initial visa grant period. To meet the full £29,000 requirement through savings alone, you need £88,500: that's £16,000 + (£29,000 × 2.5). Savings must be held continuously for at least 6 months before application in an accessible account, and the balance must never drop below the required level during this period.
Are there exemptions from the financial requirement?
Yes. Sponsors receiving qualifying disability benefits or Carer's Allowance are exempt from the £29,000 threshold. Qualifying benefits include DLA, PIP, Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance, Armed Forces Independence Payment, and War Pensions Scheme benefits. Exempt sponsors must instead pass the "Adequate Maintenance Test" — household income after housing and council tax costs must equal UK Income Support equivalent for a couple. This is significantly more flexible than the £29,000 standard threshold.
Can I combine income and savings to meet the requirement?
Yes — but with restrictions. Salaried income (Cat A/B), non-employment income (Cat C), and pension (Cat E) can all be combined with savings (Cat D). Self-employment income (Cat F/G) CANNOT be combined with savings. Calculate your income shortfall (£29,000 minus annual income), then apply the formula: Required savings = £16,000 + (shortfall × 2.5). For example, if you earn £24,000, your shortfall is £5,000, so you need savings of £28,500 to supplement your income.
How many months of bank statements do I need?
For Category A salaried employment: 6 months consecutive bank statements showing salary deposits matching payslips. For Category B (less than 6 months in current job, or variable income): 12 months. For Category D (cash savings): 6 months showing the required amount held continuously without dips. For Category C (non-employment income): 12 months. All statements must be dated within 28 days of application submission and show your name, account details, and bank logo on every page.
Is the £18,600 threshold still in force?
Yes — the £18,600 threshold is NOT obsolete. It remains in force for applicants who submitted their first Spouse, Partner, or Fiancé visa application before 11 April 2024 AND who continue applying with the same partner on continuous leave. This transitional protection covers extensions and ILR applications throughout the 5-year route. Plus £3,800 for the first child and £2,400 for each additional child. If there is any break in leave, the new £29,000 threshold applies. Cash savings under transitional rules: £62,500.
Can the applicant's income count towards the requirement?
Only in specific circumstances. For entry clearance applications (from outside the UK), only the sponsor's income can be counted — the applicant's overseas income does not qualify even if they're employed abroad. For in-country applications (extensions or switching), the applicant's UK employment income CAN be combined with the sponsor's income, provided the applicant has permission to work. Both partners' incomes counting is one of the key advantages of extension applications, often making the £29,000 threshold easier to meet.
What happens if I fail to meet the financial requirement?
Financial requirement failures are the most common ground for Spouse visa refusal. Options include: (1) wait until you can demonstrate the threshold (e.g., complete 6 months in a higher-paying job); (2) build savings to bridge the gap; (3) apply via the 10-Year Route on Article 8/exceptional circumstances grounds — but this requires demonstrating "unjustifiably harsh consequences" of refusal; (4) explore exemption if sponsor is on a qualifying disability benefit; (5) if already refused, consider whether to appeal the refusal or submit a fresh application addressing the financial gap.
For broader refusal context, see our UK Spouse visa refusal reasons guide. If you're applying as a fiancé(e) rather than spouse, the same financial requirement applies — see our UK Fiancé visa guide. For complete fee structures across the lifetime of the partner route, see our complete Home Office fees. For official guidance, consult Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules and GOV.UK financial requirements guidance.