In 60 seconds
- Primary authority: Appendix FM-SE; Home Office "Family migration: financial requirement" guidance. Verify the threshold on the day of application.
- Core rule: meet the threshold via one of seven categories (A–G) of evidence; mixing categories is allowed only as the rules permit.
- Documents: payslips, bank statements, employer letter, contract, P60, SA302, accounts (depending on category).
- Timing: salaried evidence covers six months; self-employed evidence covers a full tax year; cash savings must be held for at least six months.
- Main risk: hitting the threshold "in fact" but failing FM-SE on form — for example, payslips that match the bank statements but are unsigned.
- Reviewed by Denise Platter Cabrera, Esq. (CA Bar #298948, Certified Specialist — Immigration & Nationality Law).
The rule in plain English
Under Appendix FM, the spouse visa applicant must show a minimum income or equivalent. The threshold has changed multiple times since the 2024 reforms — verify on the day of application via Appendix FM-SE. Income can come from the sponsor, the applicant (in some cases), cash savings, non-employment income, or a combination.
Read the UK spouse visa document checklist (2026): what UKVI actually wants for how the financial bundle sits inside the wider application.
Who this guide is for
Likely fit
Your sponsor is in salaried or self-employed work in the UK; or has cash savings held continuously for six months; or receives qualifying non-employment income.
Needs review
Your sponsor receives a specified disability or carer benefit, which exempts the application from the income threshold under the 'adequate maintenance' test.
Usually not a fit
Your sponsor is reliant on Universal Credit alone with no qualifying disability benefit; the application will fail the financial requirement on those facts.
Categories A through G
Category A. Salaried employment with the same employer for at least six months at the required level. Six months of payslips, bank statements, and employer letter required.
Category B. Salaried employment for less than six months, or with variable income. Last 12 months of income annualised, plus current employment at the required level.
Category C. Non-employment income (rental, dividends, maintenance). Last full financial year of evidence required.
Category D. Cash savings held continuously for six months at or above the savings threshold (calculated using the formula below).
Category E. Pension income. Annual pension statement required.
Category F. Self-employment as a sole trader, partner, or director of a small specified company — last full financial year.
Category G. Self-employment over the last two financial years (averaged).
The cash-savings formula
Cash savings can substitute for income. The formula is: required savings = £16,000 + 2.5 × (income shortfall × 2.5 years). The £16,000 is a baseline disregard. Savings must be held in the sponsor's, applicant's, or joint name continuously for six months and must come from a permitted source (gift acceptable; loan not).
Salaried vs self-employed
Salaried sponsors fit Categories A or B. Self-employed sponsors fit Categories F or G with substantially heavier evidence: SA302 (tax calculation), tax year overview, business bank statements, personal bank statements, accounts. Director sponsors of "specified limited companies" must include CT600, articles, and corporate accounts.
The exception for adequate maintenance
Where the sponsor receives Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance, or specified other benefits, the income threshold is replaced by the "adequate maintenance" test. The applicant must show that combined household income, after rent and council tax, leaves no less than the equivalent income support level for the household size.
Common mistakes
Mixing Categories A and F without checking the rules.
Combination not permitted under FM-SE.
Cash savings held for fewer than six months.
Category D fails on duration.
Self-employed sponsor missing SA302.
Income deemed unevidenced.
Payslips that do not match bank statements to the penny.
Income deemed inconsistent.
Treating the threshold as 'roughly met'.
Decisions are arithmetic, not judgmental.
Frequently asked questions
Can the applicant's overseas income count?
Does a third party gift of cash savings count?
What if my sponsor changed jobs three months ago?
Can I include rental income from a UK property?
Does the threshold apply to ILR applications too?
This guide is general information, not legal advice for your specific situation. A licensed attorney or regulated adviser should review your documents before you rely on a strategy or deadline.
The process at a glance
- 01Identify Category
Determine which financial requirement category applies to your situation
The UK spouse visa has seven categories (A through G) for meeting the financial requirement. Category A covers salaried employment with the same employer for at least six months. Category B covers variable income or employment under six months. Category D covers cash savings. Review each category carefully to determine which one(s) apply to your circumstances.
- 02Gather Income Evidence
Collect six months of comprehensive income evidence
For employment income, collect six consecutive monthly payslips, six months of corresponding bank statements showing the salary deposits, an employer letter confirming job title, salary, and length of employment, and HMRC P60 or tax returns if self-employed. Ensure every document is dated within 28 days of the application date.
- 03Calculate Savings
Calculate required cash savings using the Category D formula
If using cash savings, the required amount is calculated as: £16,000 + 2.5 x (income shortfall). Savings must be held continuously for six months in a regulated financial institution. Gifts from family are acceptable; loans are not. The full required amount must be in the account when the application is submitted.
- 04Verify Compliance
Double-check that every document meets Home Office specifications
Ensure all foreign-language documents include certified translations. Payslips and bank statements must be on official letterhead or stamped by the issuing institution. Check that the total meets or exceeds £29,000 per year (or the applicable threshold for your application date). Organise documents in the order specified by the Appendix FM-SE guidance.
Flashcards
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What you learned
End-of-guide quiz
3 questions
- 01
How long must cash savings be held continuously under Category D?
- 02
Which of the following is a permitted source for Category D cash savings?
- 03
What test replaces the income threshold when the sponsor receives specified disability benefits?
0 / 3 answered
Official sources
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