Spouse Visa Financial Requirement 2026 Explained

What Is the Financial Requirement?

The financial requirement (detailed on the GOV.UK proof of income page) is a rule that says the UK-based sponsor must have a minimum income before their partner can get a UK Spouse Visa. The government introduced it to make sure families can support themselves without relying on public funds.

In 2026, the minimum income threshold is £29,000 per year. This figure has increased from £18,600 (the previous rate that applied for many years). For a full timeline of how the threshold has changed, see our income threshold timeline guide.

The financial requirement applies when you first apply for a Spouse Visa, and again when you extend it. You must meet the threshold at both stages. The income must be from lawful sources, and you must be able to prove it with documents.

Who Needs to Meet the Financial Requirement?

The UK-based sponsor is the person primarily responsible for meeting the financial requirement. This is the British citizen or person with settled status who is sponsoring their partner's visa.

In some cases, the applicant's income can also count. If the applicant already has permission to work in the UK (for example, they are switching from another visa), their earnings can be combined with the sponsor's. If the applicant is applying from abroad, only the sponsor's income typically counts unless the applicant has overseas employment that can be verified.

Third-party income (such as a parent's or friend's income) cannot be used to meet the requirement. The income must belong to the sponsor or the applicant.

How to Meet the Requirement with Employment Income

The most common way to meet the financial requirement is through salaried employment. If the sponsor earns £29,000 or more per year from their job, they meet the threshold.

The Home Office will want to see:

• Payslips: At least 6 months of payslips from the current employer.
• Bank statements: 6 months of bank statements showing salary payments being received.
• Employer letter: A letter from the employer confirming the job title, salary, start date, and type of contract (permanent, fixed-term, etc.).
• P60: The most recent P60 showing annual earnings and tax paid.

If the sponsor has changed jobs within the last 6 months, additional evidence from the previous employer may also be needed. The key is to show a consistent income at or above £29,000.

For a complete list of all documents, see our Spouse Visa documents checklist.

Meeting the Requirement with Savings

If your income is below £29,000, you can use savings to make up the difference. The formula for calculating how much savings you need is:

£16,000 + 2.5 x (£29,000 minus your actual income) = required savings

For example, if the sponsor earns £22,000 per year, the shortfall is £7,000. The savings needed would be £16,000 + (2.5 x £7,000) = £33,500.

If you have no income at all, you would need £16,000 + (2.5 x £29,000) = £88,500 in savings.

The savings rules are strict:

• The money must have been held for at least 6 months before the application date.
• The savings must be in a bank or savings account. Property, investments, or pensions do not count.
• The savings can belong to either the sponsor or the applicant, or be held in a joint account.
• You must provide bank statements covering the full 6-month period showing the balance never dropped below the required amount.

Understanding the full cost of a Spouse Visa will help you plan your savings alongside the application fees and Immigration Health Surcharge.

Self-Employment Income

Self-employed sponsors can use their business income to meet the requirement. The Home Office accepts income from sole traders, freelancers, and company directors.

You will need to provide:

• Your most recent SA302 tax calculation from HMRC.
• The corresponding tax year overview.
• Bank statements showing income received over the relevant period.
• If you are a company director, also provide company accounts and evidence of your salary and dividends.

The Home Office will look at either your last full financial year or an average of your last two financial years, whichever is more favourable to you. If your most recent year shows £29,000 or more, that is sufficient. If it shows less, but your average over two years meets the threshold, that can also work.