Spouse Visa UK Financial Requirements 2026 Guidance

This is a complete guide to the UK spouse visa financial requirements in 2026.

This guide applies to anyone applying for the following visas:

• UK Spouse visa (if you are making a spouse visa application from outside the UK)
• FLR (M) visa (if you are making a spouse visa application from inside the UK)
• UK Fiancé(e) visa
• Unmarried partner visa (if you are making the application from either inside or outside the UK)

but first…

What are the Spouse Visa UK Financial Requirements in 2026?

As outlined in Paragraph A1 of Appendix FM-SE, the spouse visa UK financial requirements for 2026 are:

• The application must meet the applicable financial threshold.
• Only permitted sources of income or savings may be used.
• Income must come from specific qualifying periods.
• Specific evidence must be provided, depending on the income sources relied upon.

Let’s explain each of these points clearly and simply.

#1 If the sponsor receives a ‘permitted benefit’, the adequate maintenance test applies.  

This means you do not need to meet the usual income thresholds of £18,600 or £29,000.

These permitted benefits are:

• Adult Disability Payment (Scotland);
• Armed Forces Independence Payment or Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme;
• Attendance Allowance;
• Carer’s Allowance;
• Carer’s Support Payment (Scotland);
• Child Disability Payment (Scotland);
• Constant Attendance Allowance,
• Mobility Supplement or War Disablement Pension under the War Pensions Scheme;
• Disability Living Allowance;
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit;
• Personal Independence Payment;
• Pension Age Disability Payment (Scotland);
• Police Injury Pension;
• Severe Disablement Allowance; or
• Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (Scotland).

If the sponsor receives one of these benefits, the adequate maintenance test will apply instead. This test sets a lower income requirement than the standard threshold. For full details, see our Adequate Maintenance Guidance for 2026 article.

#2 First-time partner visa applications. 

For first-time partner visa applicants, the minimum income threshold is based on the rate in effect when the application is submitted. It is currently £29,000 (gross) — this applies whether or not dependent children are included.

As noted here, the £29,000 threshold remains in place while the government reviews the Migration Advisory Committee’s June 2025 recommendations. It is expected that we get clarity later in 2026.

#3 Partner visa extensions or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) applications where the first partner visa application was submitted before 11 April 2024.

The minimum income threshold is £18,600 for applicants who:

• Submitted their first application as a fiancé(e), proposed civil partner or a married/civil partner before 11 April 2024; and
• Are applying with the same sponsor; and
• Were granted permission on the five-year route to settlement/Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

This £18,600 threshold increases if dependent children are included, as shown in the table below.

#4 Partner visa extensions or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) applications where the first partner visa application was submitted on or after 11 April 2024.

The current guidance sets the minimum income threshold at £29,000. This amount remains the same regardless of any dependent children included in the application.

What income sources can be used to meet the financial requirement?

Only the following permitted income sources can be counted toward the financial requirement:

• Employment income;
• Self-employment income;
• Dividend income;
• Cash savings;
• Pension income;
• Property rental income; and
• Income that falls under ‘other sources of income’.

Source 1: Employment income

#1 For out-of-country applications, it is only the sponsor’s (the “UK partner”) employment income that can be included towards the financial requirement.

Example

The applicant is applying for an out-of-country spouse visa application. .

Even though the applicant earns an equivalent of £70,000 per year as a doctor in the US, the applicant cannot include this to meet the financial requirement.

#2 For in-country partner visa applications (a.k.a. FLR M visa applications), applicants can include their employment income if they are lawfully in the UK with permission to work.

Example

The applicant is in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa and wants to apply for a spouse visa (FLR M visa) from inside the UK.

As the applicant is in the UK lawfully with permission to work, they can include their employment income towards the financial requirement.

#3 The sponsor’s employment income can come from work in the UK or abroad.

Source 2:  Self-employment income

Source 3:  Dividend income

Dividend income can count towards the financial requirement.

• Dividend income from a non-specified limited company; and
• Dividend income from a specified limited company.

The difference matters — the rules and income calculations for each type are entirely different. More information on specified limited companies can be found here.

Source 4: Cash savings

If the applicant or sponsor holds cash savings over £16,000, these funds can either reduce or fully meet the financial requirement.

Cash savings may also be ignored if the requirement is already met through another permitted income source.

Where the adequate maintenance test applies (because the sponsor receives a permitted benefit), there is no minimum savings amount needed to count cash savings toward the requirement.

• £62,500 in savings meets the requirement alone when the threshold is £18,600.

• £88,500 in savings meets it alone when the threshold is £29,000.

Source 5: Pension income

Source 6: Property rental income

Property rental income can be included towards the financial requirement.

Source 7: Other sources of income

These include the following sources of income:

• Dividends or other income from investments, bonds, trust funds or stocks and shares (from a non-specified limited company);
• Widowed Parent’s Allowance, Bereavement Payment, Bereavement Allowance & UK Maternity Allowance;
• A maintenance grant or stipend (that is not a loan) which is given because of undergraduate or postgraduate research or study;
• Payments under the War Pensions Scheme, the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and the Armed Forces Attributable Benefits Scheme;
• Interest from savings;
• On-going payments from a structured legal settlement;
• On-going royalty payments; and
• On-going insurance payments.

Identify the correct Category for the income relied on

Choosing the correct income category is essential – selecting the wrong one can result in a refusal.

Note: Most of this article applies to applications not involving permitted benefits like Disability Living Allowance or Carer’s Allowance. For details on the adequate maintenance requirement, see our guide here.

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Employment income

#1 You must first identify whether the employment income is from a ‘specified limited company’ or not.  

If your employment income is not from a specified limited company, the relevant categories are Category A and Category B.

If your employment income is from a specified limited company, the relevant categories are Category F and Category G.

Employment income from a non-specified limited company in the UK

#1 If the employed partner has been with their current employer for 6 months or more at the time of application, start by checking if the financial requirement can be met under Category A.

If not, consider Category B, as applicants employed for over 6 months can rely on either Category A or B.

#2 If the employed partner has been with their current employer for less than 6 months, only Category B can be used.

Employment income from a specified limited company in the UK

If the employed partner’s income comes from a specified limited company, the application must be made under Category F or Category G.

In practice, 99% of applications rely on Category F as Category G requires double the supporting documents.

Self-employment income

Under the Immigration Rules, self-employment income applies to those who are sole traders, partners, or franchise owners.

It is assessed under Category F or Category G.

Do not confuse this with employment income from a specified limited company — they are treated as entirely separate Categories under the Immigration Rules.

Dividend income

If dividend income is from a ‘specified limited company‘, this is included under Category F or Category G.

If dividend income is not from a ‘specified limited company’, this is included under Category C.

Cash savings

Cash savings are included under Category D.

Pension

Pension income is included under Category E.

Property rental

Property rental income is included under Category C as “non-employment income“.

Other sources of income

The following are other sources of income that can be included under Category C as “non-employment income:

• Dividend income or other income from investments, stocks and shares, bonds or trust funds (only if this is not from a ‘specified limited company’).
• Interest from savings.
• Maintenance payments from a former partner of the applicant in relation to the applicant or any children of the applicant and their former partner. Also, maintenance payments from a former partner of the applicant’s partner in relation to that partner.
• UK Maternity Allowance, Bereavement Allowance, Bereavement Payment and Widowed Parent’s Allowance.
• Payments under the War Pensions Scheme, the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and the Armed Forces Attributable Benefits Scheme.
• A maintenance grant or stipend (not a loan) associated with undergraduate study or postgraduate study or research.
• Ongoing insurance payments.
• Ongoing payments from a structured legal settlement.
• Ongoing royalty payments.

The sponsor receives a PERMITTED BENEFIT

Categories A-G do not strictly apply to those who receive one of the following permitted benefits:

• Adult Disability Payment;
• Armed Forces Independence Payment or Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme;
• Attendance Allowance;
• Carer’s Allowance;
• Child Disability Payment;
• Constant Attendance Allowance;
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA);
• Industrial Injury Disablement Benefit;
• Mobility Supplement or War Disablement Pension under the War Pensions Scheme;
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP);
• Police Injury Pension; and
• Severe Disablement Allowance

This is because the ‘adequate maintenance test‘ will instead apply.

How is the gross annual income calculated under each of the Categories?

Category A (Employment income from a non-specified limited company)

#1 You must first determine whether the employment income is salaried or non-salaried.

Since the Home Office calculate salaried and non-salaried employment income completely differently, it is crucial to get this right.

Category B (Employment income from a non-specified limited company)

#1 You must first determine whether the employee is either salaried or non-salaried.

We provided an overview of this here, under the sub-heading ‘Category A (Income from a non-specified limited company).

This is also discussed in more detail in our article “Category A or B, F or G? [UK Visa Financial Requirements Guide]“.

Category C (Non-employment income)

The general rule is that you can include the gross income received in the 12 months before submitting the application.

However, this rule may change if Category C income is combined with other sources, such as Category F.

Category C (Property rental income)

The general rule is that the gross income received in the 12 months before the application date can be counted toward the financial requirement.

This rule may vary if other income sources are included — for example, when rental income is combined with Category F.

When calculating property rental income, exclude management fees such as payments to estate agents.

If the property is co-owned with a third party (e.g., a family member who is not the applicant or partner), only the applicant or partner’s share of the income can be included.

Category D (Cash savings)

We discuss this in detail in our article “Cash Savings Guidance for 16000 – 62500+ Spouse & UK Partner visas in 2026“.

Category E (Pension income)

The starting point is that you can include the gross annual pension income being received on the date the Home Office fees are paid online (which is when the online application is technically submitted).

It usually doesn’t matter how much pension income was received in the previous 6 or 12 months.

What matters is that the pension became an active income source at least 28 days before the application date.

Example

The applicant began receiving their pension on 1 February 2026, with a gross annual income of £40,000.

From March 2026, they can use this pension income alone to meet the financial requirement.

The amount counted toward the requirement will be £40,000. The relevant figure will not have been the gross amount received in the 12 months before applying.

Category F (Employment and/or dividend income from a specified limited company)

More income about specified limited company income can be found here.

Category F (Self-employed income as a sole trader, in a partnership or franchise)

For those who are self-employed (as a sole trader, as a partnership or as a franchise), you should:

#1 Ensure the accounts for the most recent financial year are completed.

This is essential because the gross annual income from self-employment is based on the gross taxable profits from your share of the business during the last full financial year.

The ‘last full financial year’ for self-employed individuals in the UK is the most recent period running from 6 April to 5 April that has fully passed before the date of application. This is the case even if the intended date of application is just after 5 April (e.g., 6 or 7 April).

Example

Nicholas is self-employed as a sole trader.

Nicholas wants to submit a UK spouse visa application on 1 February 2026.

In this case, the most recent full financial year will therefore be 6 April 2024- 5 April 2025.

If Nicholas wants to submit a UK spouse visa application on 1 July 2026, the most recent full financial year will be 6 April 2025 – 5 April 2026.

#2 Note that the guidance states to not include deductible allowances, expenses, or liabilities when calculating your gross annual income from self-employment.

The figure used must represent the gross taxable profits before any deductions applied for tax purposes. An accountant is best placed to confirm this amount accurately.

If possible, the net profit figure should exceed the minimum income threshold. This is because we have seen that some Home Office caseworkers go by the net profit figure despite the wording of the Immigration Rules and guidance.

In addition, if any of the following documents cannot be provided, an accountant’s certificate of confirmation will be required:

(1) A certificate of VAT registration and the VAT return for the last full financial year (a copy or print-out) confirming the VAT registration number, if turnover is in excess of £79,000 or was in excess of the threshold which applied during the last full financial year;

(2) Evidence to show appropriate planning permission or local planning authority consent is held to operate the type/class of business at the trading address (where this is a local authority requirement); or

(3) A franchise agreement signed by both parties.

Finally, it should also be noted that this self-employment income must still be a source of income at the time of application.

Category G (Employment and dividend income from a specified limited company)

Add together the gross employment and gross dividend income from the last two full financial years, as shown in the two most recent CT600 company documents.

Then, calculate the average by dividing the total by two.

This average is the income amount you can include toward the financial requirement under Category G.

Category G (Self-employed income as a sole trader, in a partnership or franchise)

Ask your accountant to calculate your mean average gross taxable profits from your share of the business over the two most recent full financial years.

They should exclude any deductible allowances, expenses, or liabilities that reduce the gross taxable profits used for tax purposes.

This average amount is the income you can include toward the financial requirement under Category G.  

What income can you COMBINE to satisfy the financial requirement?

Let’s discuss each Category and see what can and what cannot be combined.

Combining salaried or non-salaried employment from 6 months’ employment under Category A

Category A can be combined with:

• Non-employment income sources under Category C.
• Cash savings under Category D.
• Pension income under Category E.
• Self-employment income under Category F and Category G (as long as it falls within the relevant financial year(s)).
• Income from being a director or employee of a ‘specified limited company’ under Category F and Category G (as long as it falls within the relevant financial year(s)).

Category A cannot be combined with:

• Category B employment income.

Example 1

The sponsor earns income from two employers.

They have worked over 6 months with one employer and under 6 months with the other.

To include income from both, both must be calculated under Category B, since Category A cannot be combined with Category B.

If the job held for over 6 months meets the financial requirement alone, they can instead include only that income under Category A.

Example 2

The applicant wants to submit an in-country UK spouse visa application.

The applicant has worked in the UK for more than 6 months.

The sponsor has worked less than 6 months.

Because the sponsor has not yet reached 6 months of employment, they have three options:

1. Count both incomes under Category B (based on up to the previous 12 months’ income);

2. Wait until the sponsor reaches 6 months employment and then use Category A for both; or

3. Include only the applicant’s income if it alone meets the financial requirement.

Combining salaried or non-salaried employment under Category B

Category B can be combined with:

• Non-employment income sources under Category C.
• Cash savings (to a certain extent – see the ‘combining Category B and Category D – cash savings’ box below) under Category D.
• Pension income under Category E.
• Self-employment income (as long as it falls within the relevant financial year(s)) under Category F and Category G.
• Income from being a director or employee of a ‘specified limited company’ (as long as it falls within the relevant financial year(s)) under Category F and Category G.

Category B cannot be combined with:

• Category A employment income.

Combining rental income (& other non-employment income sources)

Category C can be combined with:

• Employment income under Category A and Category B.
• Cash savings under Category D.
• Pension Income under Category E.
• Self-employment income (as long as it falls within the relevant financial year(s)) under Category F and Category G.
• Income from being a director or employee of a ‘specified limited company’ (as long as it falls within the relevant financial years, see #4 below) under Category F and Category G.

Combining cash savings

Category D can be combined with:

• Employment income under what is known as ‘Category A’.
• Employment income under ‘Category B’, but only with part 1 of the test (see the example listed in Category B of this step).
• Non-employment income sources under Category C.
• Pension Income under Category E.

Category D cannot be combined with:

• Self-employment income under Category F and Category G.
• Income from being a director or employee of a ‘specified limited company’ under Category F and Category G.

Combining pension income

Category E can be combined with:

• Employment income under Category A and Category B.
• Non-employment income sources under Category C.
• Cash savings under Category D.
• Self-employment income (as long as it falls within the relevant financial year(s)) under Category F and Category G.
• Income from being a director or employee of a ‘specified limited company’ (as long as it falls within the relevant financial year(s) under Category F and Category G.

Combining income from self-employment under Category F or Category G

Category F (self-employed income) can be combined with:

• Employment income under Category A and Category B.
• Non-employment income sources (e.g. property rental income, maintenance payments, click here to see the full list) under Category C.
• Pension Income under Category E.
• Other Category F self-employment income.

Category F (self-employed income) cannot be combined with:

• Cash savings under Category D.
• Specified limited company income under Category F.

Combining income from a specified limited company under Category F or Category G

Category F (specified limited company income) can be combined with:

• Employment income under Category A or Category B.
• Non-employment income sources under Category C.
• Pension Income under Category E.

Category F (specified limited company income) cannot be combined with:

• Cash savings under Category D.
• Income from self-employment as a sole trader, as a partnership or as a franchise under Category F or Category G.

What financial documents do you need to submit for a UK spouse visa?

This will depend entirely on the source(s) of income being included in the application

Three key sources will tell you what financial documents are required – Appendix FM-SE, Family Migration: Appendix FM and Appendix HM Armed Forces Minimum income requirement and Family Migration: Appendix FM and Adult Dependent Relative – Adequate maintenance and accommodation.

Category A employment income

Category A applies to employment income held for more than 6 months from an employer that is not a specified limited company.

Mandatory documents

For each source of employment income relied upon (from current or previous employment within the 12 months before applying), you must include:

i) Pay slips covering the 6 months immediately before the date of application (the date the online form is submitted).

ii) If pay slips are not formal, a letter from the employer on company-headed paper, signed by a senior official, confirming their authenticity.

iii) Personal bank statements showing the corresponding salary payments for the same 6-month period.

iv) A letter from the employer confirming:

• The person’s employment and gross annual salary;
• Length of employment;
• The period over which they’ve been paid the salary relied on;
• The type of employment (permanent, fixed-term, or agency).

Because of these details, the letter must be specific and precise.

v) If the person is a director of a UK limited company, include proof that the company is not a specified limited company.

Optional documents

These are not mandatory but may be requested by the Home Office if not submitted in the first place:

i) An employment contract;

ii) A P60 covering the 6 months before the application date.

Special considerations

There is flexibility regarding document periods for applicants who have received maternity, paternity, adoption, or sick pay. We discuss this further here.

When employment income is combined with self-employment or specified limited company income, the document period changes – it must align with the relevant self-employment or company financial year instead of the usual 6 months before submission.

Category B – Employment Income

The following mandatory documents must be provided for each source of employment income relied upon (whether that is from current or previous employment):

i) Pay slips covering any period of salaried employment in the 12 months before the date of application (the date the online form is submitted).

ii) If pay slips are not formal, include a letter from the employer on company-headed paper, signed by a senior official, confirming their authenticity.

iii) Personal bank statements covering the same period as the pay slips.

iv) A letter from the employer confirming:

• The person’s employment and gross annual salary;
• Length of employment;
• The period over which they have been paid the salary relied on;
• The type of employment (permanent, fixed-term, or agency).

Again, this letter should be written in a very specific way.

v) If the person is a director of a UK limited company, provide evidence that the company is not a specified limited company.

Optional documents

i) The employment contract;

ii) A P60 covering the relevant period relied on.

Additional notes

When employment income is combined with self-employment or specified limited company income, the document period must align with the relevant self-employment or company financial year.

Importantly, employment income not yet received at the date of submission cannot be combined with self-employment or specified limited company income.

Category C non-employment income

The required documents for the many sources of different Category C non-employment income are outlined in paragraph 10 of Appendix FM-SE here.

Category D cash savings

It is mandatory to provide the following two documents:

1) Personal bank or savings statements showing at least the level of cash savings relied upon in the application has been held in an account or accounts in the name(s) of the applicant, sponsor, or the applicant and sponsor jointly throughout the required period (the 6 months before submitting the application unless one of the specific provisions applies).

2) A declaration regarding the source or sources of the cash savings. Additional documents are required where one of the specific provisions applies (i.e., where there has been a sale of property or investments, stocks, shares, bonds or trust funds within the 6 months before applying).

We discuss this further in the video at the top of this page.

Category E pension income

It is mandatory to provide the following two documents:

1) Official documentation from the Department for Work and Pensions (in respect of the Basic State Pension and the Additional or Second State Pension) or other government department or agency, including the Veterans Agency; an overseas pension authority; or a pension company.

This official documentation must confirm the pension entitlement and amount.

If there have recently been any cash withdrawals from the pension, the official documentation confirming the pension entitlement and amount must reflect the current pension income that is being received when you submit the online application.

2) At least one personal bank statement in the 12-month period prior to the date of application showing payment of the pension into the person’s account.

Category F self-employment income as a sole trader, partner or franchise

The required documents are set out in paragraph 7 of Appendix FM-SE here.

Category F specified limited company income

The required documents are set out in paragraph 9 of Appendix FM-SE here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Summary