Key Points
- Most new applications: £29,000 per year.
- Different rules apply in transitional cases and where certain benefits are received.
- What counts depends on the source of the money, the period it covers and the evidence supplied.
- Each financial category has its own evidence rules.
The real question
The important question is not simply how much money you have. It is which financial category applies, what income can be counted, over what period, and what evidence must be supplied.
Couples are refused with incomes well above the threshold because the evidence did not match the category they relied on.
How can the requirement be met?
Depending on the circumstances, qualifying resources may include:
- Employment income
- Certain non-employment income
- Self-employment
- Income from a specified limited company
- Pension income
- Cash savings
- Permitted combinations of income and savings
Choose your financial situation
- Employed for 6 months or moreEmployment Income
- Recently started a job or changed employerNew Employment
- Sole traders and partnershipsSelf-Employment
- Director of your own companyCompany Director
- Using savings, alone or with incomeCash Savings
- State, occupational or private pensionPension Income
- Rental, dividends or other incomeNon-Employment Income
- Using more than one sourceCombining Income
- Partner receives certain benefitsAdequate Maintenance
Whose income counts?
For an application from outside the UK, employment income is normally the sponsor's. The applicant's overseas job does not count, because it will end when they move.
For an application from inside the UK, the applicant's income can also count if they have permission to work. Savings, pension and non-employment income of either partner can count at any stage.
Transitional cases
Some applicants who entered the partner route before 11 April 2024 and are extending with the same partner remain subject to different financial rules. For them the earlier threshold of £18,600 can still apply, with additional amounts where dependent children are included.
These cases should be assessed according to the rules that apply to the individual's immigration history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the £29,000 figure before or after tax?
It is gross income, meaning before tax and National Insurance.
Does the requirement go up if we have children?
Under the current rules for new applications there is no additional amount for children. Additional amounts for children remain relevant in some transitional cases that started before 11 April 2024.
Can a relative promise to support us instead?
Not under the standard rules. Third party support is only considered in limited exceptional circumstances.
Official Sources
This page is general information, not legal advice. The rules and figures are set by the Home Office and can change.