UK Family Visa Financial Requirements: Complete Guide to Income Thresholds

Income Threshold Breakdown

Base Financial Requirement: £29,000

The £29,000 threshold applies to spouse visas, partner visas, and fiancé visas. This represents gross annual income before taxes and must be maintained throughout the visa period.

Real mistake we’ve seen: Applicants calculating based on net income rather than gross. The Home Office requires proof of £29,000 gross income, not take-home pay. Always work with pre-tax figures.

Additional Requirements for Children

Each dependent child adds £3,200 to your income requirement:

• One child: £32,200 total
• Two children: £35,400 total
• Three children: £38,600 total

What this means for you: The Home Office counts all children who will be part of the application, regardless of their current location. If your child is already in the UK on a different visa, they still count toward your financial calculation.

Income Calculation Methods

The Home Office uses specific calculation periods:

Category A (Salaried Employment):

• 6 months of payslips
• Annual salary must meet threshold
• Consistent employment with same employer

Category B (Self-Employment):

• Latest tax year SA302 plus tax year overview
• Must demonstrate ongoing business activity
• Income averaged over 12-month period

Category C (Non-Employment Income):

• Rental income, dividends, pension income
• Must be received in UK
• Evidence of continuity required

If you’re applying from India, Nigeria, or Pakistan: High-refusal rate countries require extra attention to income documentation. Ensure every document is clearly translated, notarized, and demonstrates verifiable income sources.

Acceptable Income Sources

Employment Income: The Foundation

Salaried employment provides the most straightforward path to meeting requirements. The Home Office looks for:

Consistency Indicators:

• Same employer for 6+ months
• Regular salary payments
• Contracted hours matching actual work

Real mistake we’ve seen: Applicants submitting payslips that show irregular hours when their contract states fixed salary. This raises red flags about employment authenticity. Ensure your payslips align with your employment contract.

Self-Employment: Higher Scrutiny, Higher Reward

Self-employed sponsors face additional scrutiny but can include business profits, dividends, and director’s salary.

Required Evidence:

• SA302 tax calculation from HMRC
• Tax year overview (not just P60)
• Company accounts if limited company
• Evidence of ongoing business activity

What this means for you: The Home Office wants to see that your business is legitimate and continuing. Recent invoices, client contracts, and business bank statements strengthen your case significantly.

Combined Income Strategies

Sponsors can combine multiple income sources:

• Employment + rental income
• Self-employment + savings
• Partner’s employment + sponsor’s business income

Optional—but strongly recommended by AVID experts: When combining income sources, create a clear financial summary document. This helps caseworkers quickly understand your financial position and reduces processing delays.

Savings as Income Alternative

The savings threshold offers an alternative route:

• £88,500 in savings covers the base requirement
• Additional £2,400 per child
• Must be held for 6 months before application

Savings Calculation Method: Total savings required = £62,500 + (£2.50 × income shortfall)

Example: If you earn £25,000 annually, you’re £4,000 short. You’d need £62,500 + (£2.50 × £4,000) = £72,500 in savings.

Financial Evidence Portfolio

Employment Documentation Standards

Essential Documents:

• 6 months of payslips (original, not photocopies)
• Employment contract showing salary
• Letter from employer confirming employment
• P60 from most recent tax year

What this means for you: Generic HR letters won’t suffice. Your employer letter must specifically state your salary, employment start date, and confirm your ongoing employment status.

Bank Statement Requirements

Technical Requirements:

• 6 months of statements
• All pages included (no gaps)
• Clearly show salary deposits
• Bank-issued (not online printouts)

Real mistake we’ve seen: Applicants submitting statements with missing pages or unclear deposit sources. Every salary payment must be clearly identifiable and match your payslip dates.

Self-Employment Evidence Deep Dive

Beyond basic tax returns, self-employed applicants need:

Ongoing Business Proof:

• Recent invoices (within 3 months)
• Client contracts or work orders
• Business bank statements
• Professional qualifications or certifications

If you’re applying from countries with complex tax systems: Ensure your accountant provides clear explanations of how your income calculations align with UK requirements. The Home Office needs to understand your financial position without guesswork.

Third-Party Financial Support

Acceptable Support:

• Gift money from family (with gift letters)
• Ongoing financial support from relatives
• Inheritance or legal settlements

Documentation Requirements:

• Source of funds evidence
• Relationship proof to gift giver
• Legal documentation for settlements

Optional—but strongly recommended by AVID experts: When using gift money, provide the donor’s bank statements showing the funds’ origin. This prevents delays from additional evidence requests.

Alternative Meeting Strategies

Property Assets and Investments

While property can’t directly count toward income requirements, it can support your case:

Rental Income Strategy:

• UK rental property income counts fully
• Overseas rental income requires currency conversion
• Must demonstrate continuing rental agreements

Property Sale Strategy:

• Selling property to meet savings requirement
• Funds must be readily available
• Consider capital gains tax implications

Pension Income Optimization

UK Pension Income:

• State pension counts toward requirement
• Private pension income acceptable
• Must demonstrate ongoing payments

Overseas Pension Considerations:

• Currency conversion required
• Proof of continuing payments
• May need professional translation

Creative Income Combinations

Hybrid Approaches:

• Part-time employment + savings
• Consultancy income + investment dividends
• UK employment + overseas property rental

What this means for you: The Home Office allows creative approaches to meeting requirements, but every income source must be thoroughly documented and sustainable.

Common Financial Mistakes

Calculation Errors That Cost Applications

Gross vs. Net Income Confusion: Many applicants calculate based on take-home pay rather than gross salary. The Home Office requires gross income figures before tax and national insurance deductions.

Currency Conversion Mistakes: When including overseas income, use the exchange rate from the date of application, not historical averages. Provide evidence of the exchange rate used.

Documentation Timing Issues

Bank Statement Gaps: Statements must be consecutive with no missing months. A single missing statement can trigger a refusal.

Payslip Date Misalignment: Payslips must align with bank statement deposits. Unexplained discrepancies raise authenticity concerns.

Insufficient Evidence Provision

Real mistake we’ve seen: Applicants providing only basic required documents without supporting evidence. Strong applications include context documents like employment contracts, business registration certificates, and detailed financial summaries.

If you’re applying from Bangladesh, Ghana, or Sri Lanka: Extra documentation strengthens applications from countries with higher scrutiny levels. Consider providing additional supporting evidence even when not explicitly required.

Savings Evidence Shortfalls

Six-Month Rule Violations: Savings must be held for six months before application. Large deposits shortly before application submission raise red flags about funds’ origin.

Joint Account Complications: When using joint accounts, clearly demonstrate your access to funds and relationship to the account holder through marriage certificates or civil partnership documentation.

Resources from AVID

📎 Downloadable Resources

Financial Requirements Checklist

• Income calculation worksheet
• Document collection timeline
• Evidence organization template

📝 Sample Documentation

• Employer letter template
• Financial summary format
• Savings evidence organization guide

📄 Application Planning Tools

• Timeline calculator
• Cost estimation worksheet
• Evidence tracking spreadsheet

🧠 Common Applicant FAQs

Q: Can I combine my income with my partner’s overseas income? A: Yes, but overseas income requires additional documentation including employment verification, tax records, and currency conversion evidence.

Q: How do I prove self-employment income if I’m a freelancer? A: Provide SA302 tax calculations, client contracts, invoices, and business bank statements showing regular income deposits.

Q: What if I don’t meet the income requirement but have substantial savings? A: You can use savings as an alternative, requiring £88,500 plus £2,400 per child, held for six months before application.

Q: Can rental income from overseas property count toward the requirement? A: Yes, but you must provide rental agreements, proof of payments, and currency conversion documentation.