Understanding the spouse visa financial requirement
If you are planning to apply for a UK partner / Spouse visa under the family visa scheme in 2024, you will need to understand how to meet the Spouse visa Income & financial requirements. The Spouse visa financial requirement, contained in Appendix FM, defines how much you must earn or have in savings before you can apply for a spouse visa. The purpose of the Spouse visa financial requirement is to ensure that individuals who come to the UK to join family members do not place a large cost burden on the state. By understanding the spouse visa financial requirement at the outset, you can ensure that your visa application is supported by the information needed to prove your eligibility.
In the following sections, we will explain the spouse visa income requirements, the exemptions that apply, how to apply for a spouse visa extension after 2.5 years, how to prove your financial stability, and how you can use savings and other forms of income to meet the requirement.
Spouse visa income requirement
As of 11th April 2024, anyone applying for a UK Spouse visa must have a minimum income of £29,000 per year. For those who first applied as a spouse or partner prior to 11th April 2024 and are now extending your visa, the previous financial threshold of £18,600 per year applies.
In addition, the following Spouse visa financial requirement rules apply:
- Income and cash savings must be in the name of the applicant, their partner or jointly
- All employment or self-employment income must come from working legally.
- All income and savings must be lawfully derived, and
- Where an applicant relies on the income of an applicant in the UK, they must be here with permission to work, and their hours of work must not exceed any limit specified in their leave conditions.
Spouse Visa Extension After 2.5 Years
Spouse Visas are normally granted for an initial period of 30 months (2.5 years), at which point holders must apply for an extension if they wish to remain in the UK. When applying for a Spouse visa extension, you will need to prove that you still meet the financial requirements. This involves providing updated evidence of your income or savings to prove that you continue to meet the necessary financial thresholds.
Ensuring financial stability
It is important to understand that meeting the financial requirement is not just about meeting a set income threshold. You will also need to show that you have ongoing financial stability. This is why the Home Office want to see 6 months of payslips and an employer letter confirming the duration of employment. If the Home Office has concerns that your income is not stable, they may refuse your Spouse visa application.
Seeking professional advice
Navigating the financial requirements for a UK spouse visa can be challenging. The harsh reality is that even a small error or omission on your application may lead to refusal. By seeking professional advice from an immigration law firm such as A Y & J Solicitors, you can relax in the knowledge that your application meets all of the necessary criteria for a positive outcome.
We will review your case, advise you on how any issues can be addressed, ensure that all of the necessary documents have been sourced, and prepare and submit your spouse visa application. We will then answer any questions raised by the Home Office.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can savings be used to meet the financial requirement for a spouse visa?
Yes, savings can be used to meet the UK Spouse visa financial requirement. Here are the important points to understand if you are relying solely or partially on savings:
- If you do not meet the income threshold through earnings alone, you can use savings of over £16,000 to cover the shortfall.
- To calculate the effect of your cash savings on meeting the Spouse visa financial requirements, you need to divide the amount over £16,000 by 2.5 (the number of years of your initial visa) and minus the result from £29,000. For example, if you have £30,000 in savings, the calculation is as follows:
- £30,000 – £16,000 = £14,000
- £14,000 / 2.5 = £5,600
- £29,000 – £5,600 = £23,400
- This means you will only need to demonstrate that you and your partner have a combined income of £23,400 or more.
Spouse visa financial requirement exemptions
There are certain exemptions to the financial requirement for a Spouse visa. If the UK partner receives any of the following benefits or allowances, the minimum income threshold does not apply:
- Disability Living Allowance
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment or Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
- Constant Attendance Allowance, Mobility Supplement or War Disablement Pension under the War Pensions Scheme
- Police Injury Pension
- Child Disability Payment
- Adult Disability Payment
What documents do I need to provide to demonstrate financial eligibility for a spouse visa?
To prove that your joint income meets the spouse visa financial requirement, you can provide:
- Payslips covering a period of 6 months prior to the date of application if the person has been employed by their current employer for at least 6 months, or payslips covering any period of salaried employment in the period of 12 months prior to the date of application if the person has been employed by their current employer for less than 6 months.
- A letter from the employer confirming the person’s employment and gross annual salary, duration of employment, and type of employment (permanent, fixed-term contract or agency).
- HMRC tax returns and business accounts for self-employed applicants
- Bank statements showing that any savings funds in excess of £16,000 have been held for at least six months.
If you are relying on income from other sources, you will need to provide a suitable form of evidence (e.g. pension statement or bank statement showing interest on savings).
What happens if my partner does not meet the income threshold?
If your partner does not meet the income threshold, your application may be refused. However, there are other options, such as combining income and savings, to meet the requirement.
You may also be able to apply for a visa or extend your stay if you have a child in the UK who is a British or Irish citizen or has lived in the UK for 7 years, and it would be unreasonable for them to leave the UK.
Can I combine my income with my partner’s to meet the financial requirement?
Yes, you can combine your income with your partner’s income to meet the financial requirement. This can include earnings from employment, self-employment, or other sources of income.
Are there any alternative ways to meet the financial requirement for a spouse visa?
You can meet the Spouse visa income requirement in a number of ways, including through:
- Income from employment
- Self-employed income
- Savings
- Pensions
- Non-employment income including:
- Property rental
- Dividends or other income from investments, stocks and shares, bonds or trust funds
- Interest from savings
- Maintenance payments from a former partner of the applicant
- 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 for undergraduate study, postgraduate study or research
- Ongoing insurance payments
- Ongoing payments from a structured legal settlement
- Ongoing royalty payments
How can I seek assistance if I have questions or concerns about the financial requirements for a UK spouse visa?
If you have any questions or concerns about the financial requirements for a UK spouse visa, please speak to a member of our friendly and understanding family immigration law team, who can advise you based on your unique circumstances. We will handle the process for you, ensuring that your UK Spouse visa is approved on the first attempt and without delay.
