Key Points
- Salary, pension and non-employment income combine freely.
- Cash savings can top up salary, pension and non-employment income.
- Savings cannot normally be combined with self-employed or own-company income.
- Each source needs its own full set of evidence.
What can be combined
| Source | Combines with savings? | Combines with other income? |
|---|---|---|
| Employment, 6 months or more | Yes | Yes |
| Employment, less than 6 months | Yes, for part of the test | Yes |
| Pension | Yes | Yes |
| Non-employment income | Yes | Yes |
| Self-employment | No | Yes, with employment, pension and non-employment income |
| Own limited company | No | Yes, with employment, pension and non-employment income |
Combining the applicant's and the sponsor's income
For an application from overseas, the applicant's employment does not count. The applicant's savings, pension and non-employment income do.
For an application from inside the UK, both partners' employment income can be counted, provided the applicant has permission to work.
An example
A sponsor earns £24,000 in a job held for two years and receives £3,000 a year in rent from a flat. Together that is £27,000, leaving a shortfall of £2,000. Savings of £21,000 held for six months would cover it: £16,000 plus two and a half times £2,000.
Keep the evidence separate
Each source is checked against its own evidence rules and its own period. Present them one at a time, with a short summary showing how the total is reached.
Official Sources
This page is general information, not legal advice. The rules and figures are set by the Home Office and can change.