The UK spouse visa financial requirement means that in 2026 you normally need to show an income of at least £29,000 a year, or enough cash savings to make up the difference, to sponsor a husband, wife or partner. With savings alone, you need £88,500. Most refusals in partner cases come from the way income is evidenced, not from the amount itself.
- The minimum income requirement has been £29,000 since 11 April 2024. The planned rise to £38,700 has not gone ahead.
- Savings above £16,000 can cover a shortfall: you need £16,000 plus 2.5 times the shortfall.
- If you first applied as a partner before 11 April 2024, the older £18,600 threshold can still apply.
- Sponsors who receive certain disability or carer benefits are exempt and must show adequate maintenance instead.
How much do you need to earn to meet the spouse visa financial requirement?
For most new applications, the couple must show a gross annual income of £29,000. The figure is the same whether you apply from outside the UK, switch inside the UK or extend. It does not increase if you have children.
The income usually has to come from the UK sponsor. The applicant’s own earnings only count if they are already in the UK with permission to work when the application is made.
Which income counts
Appendix FM sets out the sources you can rely on, known as categories. The most common are:
| Source | How it is assessed |
|---|---|
| Salaried job held for 6 months or more | Your current annual gross salary must be at least £29,000. |
| Job held for less than 6 months, or variable pay | Current salary must meet £29,000 and you must have earned £29,000 in the previous 12 months. |
| Self-employment or company director | Based on the last full financial year, or an average of the last two years, backed by tax returns and accounts. |
| Non-employment income | Rental income, dividends and investment income, evidenced over the previous 12 months. |
| Pension | State, occupational and private pensions count at their annual amount. |
| Cash savings | Savings above £16,000, held for at least 6 months, can top up income or be used alone. |
Some sources can be combined, for example salary plus rental income, but not every combination is allowed. This is where many applications go wrong.
Using savings only: the £88,500 rule
If you rely only on savings, the formula is £16,000 plus 2.5 times £29,000, which comes to £88,500. The money must be in the name of the sponsor, the applicant or both, and must have been held for at least 6 months.
Combining income and savings: a worked example
Say the sponsor earns £24,000. The shortfall is £5,000, so the savings needed are:
(£5,000 × 2.5) + £16,000 = £28,500
At the settlement (ILR) stage the multiplier is 1 instead of 2.5, so the same couple would need £16,000 plus £5,000, which is £21,000.
Earning under £29,000?
Savings, a second income or an exemption may still get you there. Send us your payslips and bank statements and an IAUK adviser will tell you which route works before you pay any Home Office fees.
If you first applied before 11 April 2024
If the applicant was first granted permission as a partner before 11 April 2024 and is applying again with the same partner, the old rules still apply at extension and settlement. The threshold is £18,600, plus £3,800 for the first non-British child and £2,400 for each additional child.
Who is exempt from the spouse visa financial requirement?
If the sponsor receives certain benefits, the £29,000 figure does not apply. Instead, the couple must show they can be adequately maintained without extra public funds. Qualifying benefits include Carer’s Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance and Armed Forces Independence Payment.
In rare cases, the Home Office can also consider other income sources where refusing would break the right to family life, for example where there are exceptional circumstances involving children.
What if your partner is moving to the UK with you?
If you are a British or settled sponsor living abroad and returning to the UK together, your overseas earnings can count. In most cases you will also need a confirmed job offer in the UK, starting within three months of your return, that meets the threshold.
Why spouse visa applications get refused
- Payslips that do not cover the full 6 months required.
- Bank statements that do not show the matching salary payments.
- Savings held for less than 6 months, or recent large deposits that cannot be explained.
- Relying on income that cannot be combined with other sources.
- Missing tax returns or accounts for self-employed sponsors and company directors.
Frequently asked questions
Is the spouse visa minimum income still £29,000 in 2026?
Yes. The threshold has been £29,000 since 11 April 2024, and the earlier plan to raise it to £38,700 has not been implemented.
Is the £29,000 before or after tax?
It is gross income, before tax and National Insurance.
How much savings do I need for a spouse visa with no income?
£88,500, held for at least 6 months.
Does my partner’s income count?
Only if your partner is already in the UK with permission to work when you apply. Income they earn abroad does not count.
Do children increase the amount?
Not under the £29,000 rules. Extra amounts for children only apply to people still on the pre-April 2024 rules.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Figures checked against GOV.UK and Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. We confirm the current figures at your free assessment. This article is general information, not advice on your individual case.
Sources: GOV.UK: family visa income requirement, Immigration Rules: Appendix FM-SE.