Spouse Visa Financial Requirement: £29,000 in 2026

TL;DR

The UK Spouse visa financial requirement is £29,000 per year as of April 2024 (raised from £18,600). The British/settled sponsor must demonstrate this through salary, self-employment, savings of £88,500+, or a combination. Children add £3,800 (first) and £2,400 (each additional). The requirement applies at every stage — initial, extension, and ILR.

How to meet £29,000

The Home Office defines several "categories" of acceptable financial evidence under Appendix FM-SE:

Category A — Salaried employment (6 months at current employer)

The sponsor has been with the same UK employer for at least 6 months earning at least the equivalent of £29,000/year. Each of the 6 months must individually meet the pro-rata threshold. Evidence:

• 6 months of payslips
• 6 months of corresponding bank statements
• Employer letter confirming role, salary, contract type, start date

Most common category. Cleanest documentation.

Category B — Salaried employment (any combination)

Total UK earnings in the past 12 months from any employer plus current salaried role meets the threshold. Used by sponsors who've changed jobs in the last year. Evidence:

• 12 months of payslips and bank statements showing £29,000+ in earnings
• Current employer letter showing ongoing role

Trickier to evidence — needs continuity of employment evidence across changes.

Category F/G — Self-employment

Sponsor is self-employed (sole trader, partnership, or limited-company director). Evidence:

• Most recent SA302 / tax calculation showing £29,000+ income
• Full company accounts if a limited-company director
• Bank statements covering the relevant period
• Business address and HMRC self-assessment / corporation tax registration

Self-employment cases face more scrutiny. Use an accountant familiar with UKVI requirements.

Cash savings (£88,500+)

The sponsor or applicant holds at least £88,500 in cash savings continuously for 6 months in their own name (or joint with the partner). This is the "savings only" route.

If you're combining savings with shortfall income, the formula is:

£16,000 + (income shortfall × 2.5)

E.g. if the sponsor earns £20,000/year (£9,000 short of £29,000), the savings needed are £16,000 + (£9,000 × 2.5) = £38,500.

Non-employment income

Pension, rental, dividends, investment income — all count if evidenced consistently. Less commonly used as the sole source.

Combined income (applicant + sponsor)

Only counts if the applicant is already in the UK with permission to work — for example, switching from Skilled Worker to Spouse. For first-time applications from outside the UK, only the sponsor's income counts.

When the £29,000 increased from £18,600

Effective 11 April 2024. The Home Office's rationale was bringing the family route financial requirement in line with rising living costs.

Transitional protection: anyone who applied before 11 April 2024, or who held leave on the family route on that date, can rely on the previous £18,600 threshold for any extension or ILR application within the same continuous family-route journey.

Anyone applying for the first time after 11 April 2024 falls under the new £29,000 threshold.

Children

The financial requirement increases for dependent children:

• +£3,800 for the first non-British child to be sponsored
• +£2,400 for each additional non-British child

So a couple with two non-British children needs:

£29,000 + £3,800 + £2,400 = £35,200/year

British or settled children (already living in the UK) don't increase the requirement.

Common refusal reasons

Wrong category claimed

Many applicants try to use Category A but don't have 6 months at the same employer, then get refused. Cat B is the alternative for that case. Read the rules carefully and pick the right category.

Self-employment evidence missing

SA302 / tax calculation is mandatory for self-employed sponsors. A letter from an accountant alone isn't enough. Many self-employed applicants get rejected for missing the formal tax document.

Bank statements not matching payslips

Pay date on payslip vs credit date on bank statement diverges by more than a day or two. Always reconcile before submitting; get a covering letter from the employer if there's a legitimate gap (bank holiday, payment system delay).

Savings dipped below threshold

The £88,500 must be held continuously for 6 months. A single mid-period dip (even by £1) invalidates the whole claim. Don't move the savings around in the 6-month window.

Combined income claimed when not eligible

Applicant's overseas earnings cannot be combined with sponsor's UK earnings for first applications from outside the UK. This catches many couples where both partners earn but the applicant is overseas.

What about the 10-year route?

If you genuinely can't meet £29,000 but you have a British child or a child resident in the UK for 7+ years, the 10-year family route under Article 8 (Right to Family Life) is an option. The route:

• Doesn't have a fixed financial threshold
• Requires demonstrating that refusing the visa would breach Article 8 ECHR
• Leads to ILR after 10 years (instead of 5)
• Costs more in total (more applications across longer journey)

The 10-year route is harder to evidence and benefits from professional immigration advice. Engage an IAA-registered adviser for these cases.

Documentary checklist

For Cat A (most common):

1. 6 months of payslips
2. 6 months of bank statements
3. Most recent P60
4. Employer letter confirming role, salary, start date

For full personalised list including the relationship and accommodation evidence that pairs with this, run our Checklist generator. Use the Bundler to merge in canonical UKVI order.