Spouse Visa Income Threshold: £29,000 a Year

Current Income Threshold: £29,000

The minimum income requirement for a UK Spouse Visa is £29,000 a year, as set out on the GOV.UK proof of income page. GOV.UK states that the applicant and their partner usually need to prove that their combined income is at least £29,000 a year.

It replaced the £18,600 figure that had been in place since 2012. The increase took effect on 11 April 2024. People who made their first application before that date are assessed against the older rules when they extend: £18,600 a year, plus £3,800 for the first child and £2,400 for each further child, up to a maximum of £29,000.

There are exceptions. If the sponsoring partner receives one of the disability or carer benefits listed on GOV.UK — such as Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance or Carer's Allowance — the £29,000 figure does not apply. Instead the couple must show they have enough money to house and support themselves without relying on additional public funds.

For a full explanation of how to meet this requirement, including through savings and self-employment, see our Spouse Visa financial requirement guide.

The Proposed Increase to £38,700

£38,700 is a proposal. It is not the figure in force, and it has never been the figure in force. When the rise to £29,000 was announced in the Home Office announcement of 11 April 2024, the then government said the requirement would rise twice more, to £34,500 and then to £38,700, by early 2025. Neither rise was written into the Immigration Rules, so neither took effect.

The £38,700 figure was chosen to match the Skilled Worker visa salary threshold as it stood at the time. That threshold has since risen to £41,700.

The Migration Advisory Committee, the independent body that advises the government on migration policy, was asked to review the family visa financial requirement and published its review on 10 June 2025. GOV.UK still gives the requirement as £29,000. Any change would have to be made through the Immigration Rules before it applied to applications.

For a detailed timeline of all changes, see our income threshold timeline guide.

History of the Income Threshold

Understanding how the threshold has changed over time helps explain where it may go next:

• Before 2012: There was no fixed income threshold. The Home Office assessed whether the sponsor could support the family "adequately" without recourse to public funds, with no specific figure.
• 2012 to 2024: A fixed threshold of £18,600 was introduced following the Migration Advisory Committee's recommendation. Additional amounts applied for dependent children (£3,800 for the first child, £2,400 for each subsequent child).
• 11 April 2024: The threshold increased to £29,000. For applications made under the new rules, the separate additional amounts for children no longer apply.
• 2025 to 2026: The £29,000 threshold remains in place. The further rises to £34,500 and £38,700 announced in 2023 were never made law. The Migration Advisory Committee reviewed the requirement and published its report on 10 June 2025.

How the Threshold Affects Different People

The income threshold does not affect all applicants equally. Here is how it impacts different groups:

Younger Couples

The figure does not change with age. Someone in the first years of their working life is measured against the same £29,000 as someone at the end of a long career. Where income falls short, the rules allow savings to be counted instead, as set out below.

People Outside London

The figure is the same everywhere in the United Kingdom. There is no regional variation in the minimum income requirement, so the same £29,000 applies whatever pay levels are in the area the sponsor lives in.

Self-Employed Sponsors

Self-employed people often have variable income. A good year followed by a poor year can cause problems. However, the Home Office allows you to use either the last full financial year or an average of the last two years, which can help smooth out fluctuations.

Sponsors with Savings

The rules allow savings to be counted instead of income, or alongside it. The formula in Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules is £16,000 plus 2.5 times the shortfall between the income shown and £29,000. Someone with no qualifying income would therefore need £88,500. The savings must have been held for the whole of the 6 months before the date of application.

What If the Threshold Changes During Your Application?

The figure that applies to an application is the one in force on the date it is submitted. An application submitted while the requirement is £29,000 is assessed against £29,000, even if the requirement changes while the application is being decided.

That does not carry over to later applications. An extension, or an application for indefinite leave to remain (settlement), is assessed against the rules in force on the date that application is made — apart from the older £18,600 rules, which continue to apply at extension to people whose first application was made before 11 April 2024.

If the Requirement Changes

A change to the minimum income requirement takes effect through a statement of changes to the Immigration Rules, which is published on GOV.UK and normally gives a date from which the new figure applies. Until such a statement is made, the figure stays at £29,000. Three things are worth knowing about how a change would work:

• The date of application is what counts. A new figure applies to applications made on or after the date the change takes effect.
• Savings can stand in for income. The £16,000 plus 2.5 times the shortfall formula applies to whatever the figure is at the time, and the savings must have been held for the 6 months before the application.
• Regulated advisers exist for individual questions. Rowan gives published information, not advice about a particular case. An immigration solicitor or an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority can advise on an individual situation.

The Threshold and Other Visa Routes

The £29,000 threshold is specific to the Spouse Visa and family route. Other visa routes have their own financial requirements:

• The Skilled Worker visa has a general salary threshold of £41,700 (with lower thresholds for some occupations).
• Student visas require evidence of funds for tuition and living costs, not an income threshold.
• Visitor visas require you to show you can support yourself during your stay, but there is no fixed figure.

For a full overview of all UK visa costs and financial requirements, see our complete UK visa fees guide.

Key Points to Remember

The income requirement is one of the parts of a spouse visa application where the rules are most exact. The points below are what this guide covers:

• The figure in force is £29,000 a year. It is published on the GOV.UK family visa proof of income page, which is the place to check it before applying.
• People whose first application was made before 11 April 2024 are assessed at extension against £18,600, plus £3,800 for the first child and £2,400 for each further child, up to £29,000.
• Savings can be counted: £16,000 plus 2.5 times the shortfall, held for the 6 months before the application.
• £38,700 is proposed, not current. A change would be made through a statement of changes to the Immigration Rules.
• For the rest of what a spouse visa application involves, see our Spouse Visa requirements guide.

Questions and answers