Spouse Visa Financial Requirement 2026: The £29,000 Rule
The financial requirement is often the hardest part of a UK spouse or partner application. This guide explains the position as at October 2026 for straightforward applications under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules.
The current threshold
For partner applications made on or after 11 April 2024, the minimum income requirement is £29,000 gross a year. The same figure applies whether or not children are included in the application. The previously reported increase to £38,700 has not been introduced.
Whose income counts
The requirement is usually met by the UK sponsor, meaning the British citizen or settled partner. Where the applicant is already in the UK with permission to work, their UK employment income may also be counted. Overseas earnings of an applicant applying from abroad do not usually count at the first application.
Ways to meet the requirement
Salaried employment, where the sponsor has been with the current employer for at least six months
Salaried or non-salaried employment where the six-month test is not met, assessed over the previous 12 months
Non-employment income such as rental income or dividends
Cash savings, alone or combined with income
Pension income
Self-employment, or work as a director of a specified limited company, assessed over a full financial year
Using cash savings
Savings must be held for at least six months before the application. The first £16,000 cannot be used. Above that, savings can make up a shortfall in income: for a first application or extension, the amount above £16,000 is divided by 2.5. Relying on savings alone therefore requires £88,500.
Applicants who first applied before 11 April 2024
If you first applied as a partner before 11 April 2024 and are extending with the same partner, the earlier thresholds continue to apply: £18,600, plus £3,800 for the first child and £2,400 for each additional child who needs to be counted.
When the threshold does not apply
Where the sponsor receives certain disability or carer-related benefits, the application is assessed under the adequate maintenance test instead of the £29,000 threshold.
Evidence
Appendix FM-SE sets out the specified evidence, such as payslips, bank statements, an employer letter and tax documents. Missing or inconsistent evidence is a common reason for refusal, so the documents should be checked carefully before submission.
How we can help
Waltham Law Chambers is an IAA-regulated immigration adviser in Leyton, East London. We assess straightforward partner applications, check the financial evidence against the rules and prepare the application where instructed. Cases needing exceptional circumstances or human rights arguments are referred to an appropriately authorised provider. We do not guarantee outcomes.
This article is general information as at October 2026 and is not advice on your individual circumstances. Always confirm the rules in force on the date you apply.
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