Spouse Visa Financial Requirement UK: Complete Guide to Meeting the £29,000 Threshold

The financial requirement is one of the most common reasons UK spouse and partner visa applications are refused. It is technical, evidence-heavy and unforgiving of small mistakes. This 2026 guide from the immigration team at MCR Solicitors in Manchester explains what the financial requirement is, how much you need, the different ways to meet it, the strict documentary rules and the exemptions that may apply to your case.

This article is general information about the law of England and Wales and is not a substitute for tailored legal advice. Immigration thresholds, fees and rules change frequently. Always confirm the current figures on gov.uk or speak to a qualified immigration solicitor before you apply.

What is the spouse visa financial requirement?

When you apply to enter or remain in the UK as the partner of a British citizen or someone settled in the UK, you must normally show that your family can be supported financially without relying on public funds. This is known as the financial requirement and it applies to applications made under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. It affects spouses, civil partners, unmarried partners and fiancé(e)s.

The requirement has two parts: a minimum income requirement (a set level of income and/or savings that the couple must demonstrate) and a set of strict evidential rules found in Appendix FM-SE, which dictate exactly which documents you must provide and in what format. Meeting the income level is not enough on its own; you must also prove it in the precise way the Rules demand.

How much is the minimum income requirement in 2026?

The minimum income requirement was raised significantly in April 2024 and, at the time of writing, sits at £29,000 per year for a partner application. The government has signalled that this threshold is subject to ongoing review and may change following advice from the Migration Advisory Committee, so the figure could differ by the time you apply.

Because this figure is time-sensitive, you must check the current minimum income requirement on gov.uk before relying on any number. The way children are treated within the threshold has also changed in recent years, so do not assume older guidance about additional amounts per child still applies.

The threshold can be met through qualifying income, through cash savings, or through a combination of the two. Understanding which “category” your income falls into is essential, because each category has its own calculation method and evidence list.

Ways to meet the financial requirement

The Immigration Rules divide the sources of income you can rely on into categories. Most applicants meet the requirement using one or more of the following.

Category A and Category B: employment income

Category A applies where the sponsor (and, in in-country applications, the applicant) has been with the same employer for at least six months and earns an annual salary at or above the threshold. This is usually the most straightforward route because you can rely on salary alone.

Category B applies where you have been with your current employer for less than six months, or where your income varies. It has a two-part test: you must show current employment income at the required annual rate, and that you actually earned the required amount in gross income over the previous 12 months. Category B is more complex and is a frequent source of refusals.

Category C: non-employment income

This covers income such as rent from property (other than your own home), dividends from shares, interest from savings, maintenance payments and certain other sources. It is assessed over the 12 months before the application and can be combined with most other categories.

Category D: cash savings

You can meet the requirement using cash savings held for at least six months. There is a base amount that is disregarded before savings begin to count, and the remaining savings are then applied using a set formula linked to the length of the visa. This route is popular with couples who have sold a property or received a lump sum but do not have qualifying employment income. Because the base disregard and multipliers are fixed by the Rules, small shortfalls can cause a refusal, so the calculation must be done carefully.

Category E: pension income

State, occupational and private pensions can count, provided the pension has become a source of income at least 28 days before the application date. Pension income is often combined with savings or other income.

Category F and Category G: self-employment and company directors

If the sponsor is self-employed or a director of a specified limited company, income is assessed either on the last full financial year (Category F) or as an average of the last two financial years (Category G). These categories carry the heaviest documentary burden of all, requiring tax returns, company accounts, evidence from HMRC and more. Timing your application around your financial year end can make a substantial difference.

Combining income sources

Many couples meet the requirement by combining categories, for example a salary plus rental income, or savings plus employment. There are important restrictions on which categories can be combined, and cash savings cannot be combined with certain sources such as self-employment in the same way. Getting the combination wrong is a common and avoidable error.

Exemptions: when the income threshold does not apply

Not every applicant has to meet the standard minimum income requirement. If the sponsor receives certain disability or carer-related benefits, the couple can instead rely on the lower “adequate maintenance” test, which asks whether the family will be adequately maintained without additional recourse to public funds.

Qualifying benefits typically include Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance, Adult Disability Payment and certain related payments. The exact list and the way adequate maintenance is calculated are technical, so you should confirm your eligibility with a solicitor and check the current list on gov.uk.

Exceptional circumstances and human rights

Even where a couple cannot meet the financial requirement in the usual way, an application need not always fail. Under the exceptional circumstances provisions of Appendix FM (often referred to by the paragraph references GEN.3.1 and GEN.3.2), the Home Office must consider whether refusal would result in unjustifiably harsh consequences and would breach the right to family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

In these cases, other credible and reliable sources of financial support, such as help from a third party or the applicant's own prospective earnings, may be taken into account even though they would not normally count. These arguments are fact-sensitive and legally complex, and a well-prepared application supported by strong evidence is essential.

The evidence rules: getting Appendix FM-SE right

The financial requirement is refused as often for evidential failures as for genuine shortfalls in income. Appendix FM-SE sets out mandatory rules about which documents must be supplied and how they must look. Depending on your category, you may need:

• Payslips covering the relevant period, usually the last six months for Category A;
• Personal bank statements showing the salary being paid in, corresponding to the payslips;
• A letter from the employer confirming employment, salary, length of employment and that the documents are genuine;
• A signed contract of employment where required;
• For savings, bank statements covering the full qualifying period showing the funds were held throughout;
• For self-employment, tax calculations and tax year overviews from HMRC, company accounts, business bank statements and confirmation of ongoing trading.

Documents must generally be original or in an accepted format, must cover the correct dates, and must be consistent with one another. Missing a single required document, or supplying statements that do not line up with payslips, can lead to refusal even where the underlying income is clearly sufficient.

Common reasons the financial requirement is refused

• Gaps or inconsistencies between payslips and bank statements;
• Bank statements that do not cover the full required period, or savings held for less than the minimum time;
• Using Category B without meeting both the current-rate and the 12-month earnings tests;
• Miscalculating the cash savings formula and falling just short;
• Incorrectly combining categories that the Rules do not allow to be combined;
• Self-employed applications submitted with incomplete HMRC or company documents;
• Relying on an out-of-date income threshold after the Rules have changed.

How MCR Solicitors can help

Our Manchester-based immigration solicitors advise couples across the UK on spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner and fiancé(e) visa applications. We assess which financial category best fits your circumstances, calculate the figures accurately, build a compliant Appendix FM-SE evidence bundle, and, where the standard requirement cannot be met, prepare human rights and exceptional circumstances arguments to give your application the best possible chance.

If you are worried about meeting the financial requirement, or a previous application has been refused, speak to us before you apply. Call MCR Solicitors on 0161 466 1280 for advice tailored to your family's situation.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum income for a UK spouse visa in 2026?

At the time of writing the minimum income requirement is £29,000 per year, following the increase introduced in April 2024. This figure is under ongoing review and may change, so you should always confirm the current threshold on gov.uk before you apply.

Can I use savings instead of a salary to meet the requirement?

Yes. Cash savings held for at least six months can be used to meet the financial requirement, either on their own or combined with income. A fixed base amount is disregarded first and the remainder is applied using a set formula, so the calculation must be done precisely to avoid falling short.

Does my partner's income count, or only the sponsor's?

For entry clearance applications from outside the UK, you generally cannot rely on the applicant's overseas earnings. The applicant's UK-based income can usually be counted for in-country applications where they have permission to work. The rules on whose income counts differ by category, so it is important to check your specific situation.

What happens if we cannot meet the financial requirement?

You may still succeed if the sponsor receives a qualifying disability or carer's benefit, in which case the lower adequate maintenance test applies, or if refusal would breach your right to family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. These routes are complex and benefit from professional legal support.

How long do bank statements and payslips need to cover?

For salaried employment under Category A this is usually the last six months, and for cash savings the funds must generally be held for at least six months before the application. The exact period depends on your category, and documents must be consistent with each other to satisfy Appendix FM-SE.

Are children included in the financial requirement?

The way dependent children affect the threshold has changed in recent years. Do not rely on older guidance describing separate additional amounts per child, as this may no longer apply. Check the current position on gov.uk or ask a solicitor how your children affect the figure you need.

Should I get legal advice before applying?

Given how often the financial requirement is refused for technical and evidential reasons, professional advice can save you the cost, delay and stress of a refusal. MCR Solicitors can review your finances and evidence before you apply. Call us on 0161 466 1280.