UK Spouse Visa Financial Requirement Calculator Check If You Qualify

Bringing your partner to the UK involves meeting several strict requirements, and the one that catches most people out is the financial requirement. Before you spend weeks pulling together documents, it makes sense to check whether you actually meet the threshold first. That is exactly what our UK spouse visa financial requirement calculator is here for.

Below, we have also put together a clear, plain-English guide to how the financial requirement works, how savings are calculated, and what you can do if you are not quite there yet.

Our experienced UK spouse visa solicitors are here to help with all types of UK spouse visa applications from inside and outside the UK. Call us today on 01614644140 to speak with our UK spouse visa solicitors or book an appointment online for a confidential consultation.

What Is the UK Spouse Visa Financial Requirement?

The Home Office requires the UK-based sponsor of a spouse visa application to demonstrate they can financially support their partner without recourse to public funds. This is not just a box-ticking exercise it is one of the most rigorously assessed parts of any application.

The financial requirement applies to spouse visas, partner visas, fiancé visas, and civil partner visas. It also applies when extending leave or applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

The £29,000 Income Threshold Explained

Since 11 April 2024, the minimum gross annual income required to sponsor a spouse or partner is £29,000. This replaced the previous threshold of £18,600 and represents a significant increase for many couples.

Your income must be gross (before tax), and it must come from an accepted source. The most common sources are salaried employment, pension income, and non-employment income such as rental income.

If your income meets or exceeds £29,000, you satisfy the financial requirement through earnings alone. If it falls short, you may be able to top it up with cash savings or meet it through savings entirely.

When Does the £18,600 Threshold Still Apply?

Not everyone is subject to the £29,000 threshold. If you submitted your first application (as a spouse, fiancé, or civil partner) before 11 April 2024, and you are applying with the same sponsor on the five-year route to settlement without dependent children, the original £18,600 threshold may still apply to your extension or ILR application. This is worth confirming with a solicitor before you apply.

How to Use the UK Spouse Visa Financial Requirement Calculator

Our calculator is designed to give you a quick, clear picture of where you stand financially before you formally apply. Simply enter your annual gross income and your cash savings, and the tool will tell you whether you are likely to meet the requirement.

What the Calculator Checks

The calculator factors in:

• Your gross annual income from employment, pension, or non-employment sources
• Your cash savings (and converts them into an income equivalent using the official formula)
• Whether the combination of both meets the £29,000 threshold

Calculator Limitations & Disclaimer

This tool is for guidance only. It does not account for every individual circumstance — for example, it does not apply the adequate maintenance test that is used when the sponsor receives certain disability or carers benefits. For a definitive assessment of your situation, speaking to a qualified immigration solicitor is always the right move.

Meeting the Financial Requirement Through Cash Savings

If your income falls below £29,000, all is not lost. You can meet the financial requirement entirely through cash savings, or use savings to bridge the gap between your income and the threshold.

How Much in Savings Do You Need?

To meet the £29,000 threshold through savings alone, you need a minimum of £88,500 held in a qualifying account for at least six months before the date of application.

If your threshold is £18,600 (for older applications on the route to settlement), the savings figure drops to £65,000.

The Cash Savings Formula Step by Step

UKVI uses a specific formula to convert your savings into an annual income equivalent. Here is how it works:

• Find the lowest total balance in your savings account at any single point during the six months before your application date.
• Subtract £16,000 from that figure.
• Divide the result by 2.5.

The figure you arrive at is the gross annual income equivalent that can be counted towards the financial requirement.

Example: If your lowest balance over six months was £60,000: £60,000 – £16,000 = £44,000 ÷ 2.5 = £17,600 income equivalent

In this case, you would still need an additional £11,400 per year in qualifying income to reach £29,000.

For ILR applications, the formula is different — you subtract £16,000 but do not divide by 2.5, which is significantly more favourable.

Which Bank Accounts Count?

Your savings must be held in a personal current, deposit, or investment account with a regulated financial institution. The account must be in the name of the applicant, sponsor, or both jointly.

The following do not count as cash for this purpose unless liquidated and transferred into a qualifying account for the required period: property equity, bonds, trust funds, or stocks and shares (with the exception of funds held in a UK stocks and shares ISA, which UKVI guidance does permit in certain circumstances).

Savings held in a limited company account are not permitted, as limited companies are treated as separate legal entities under immigration law.

The 6-Month Holding Rule

As a general rule, savings must have been held continuously for at least six months before the application date. However, there are two exceptions:

Sale of investments: If funds previously held in stocks, shares, bonds, or trust funds have been liquidated and transferred into a qualifying account within the six months before applying, they may still be used — provided you can evidence ownership for at least six months prior.

Sale of a property: If you or your sponsor sold a property within the six months before applying, the net proceeds can be counted as savings even if they have not been held for the full six months, provided all mortgage, tax, and legal fees have been settled.

Which Income Sources Can Be Combined With Savings?

Employment Income (Category A & B)

If you have been employed by your current employer for more than six months, you fall under Category A and can combine your salary with cash savings to meet the threshold.

Category B covers those who have been in their current role for fewer than six months. You can still combine savings with part of the Category B test, but there are additional requirements specifically, your current salary must already exceed £29,000.

Pension and Non-Employment Income

Pension income — whether state, occupational, or private — can be combined with savings. Non-employment income such as property rental income, dividends, interest from savings, maintenance payments, and royalty payments can also be combined.

What Cannot Be Combined Self-Employment & Limited Company Income

This is where many applicants are caught out. If you are self-employed, your income cannot be combined with cash savings. The same applies to income drawn from a specified limited company (one in which you or your family members hold shares). In these cases, only the higher of your income or your savings figure will be considered not both together.

Common Reasons Spouse Visa Applications Are Refused

The financial requirement is the single biggest cause of spouse and partner visa refusals. Applications fall down for a number of reasons:

The savings balance dips below the required threshold at any point during the six-month period. Documents do not cover the full required period. Income has been incorrectly categorised. Self-employment income has been incorrectly combined with savings. The source of funds has not been clearly declared.

How to Avoid a Refusal

Getting the financial element right from the outset is critical. A refused application costs you time, money, and potentially significant stress. Working with experienced UK Spouse Visa Solicitors ensures your finances are assessed correctly before you apply, your documents are presented in the format the Home Office expects, and any complexities in your financial situation are addressed proactively.

Get Expert Help From UK Spouse Visa Solicitors

Meeting the financial requirement is not always straightforward, and a mistake can result in a refused application that sets your plans back by months. Our team at UK Spouse Visa Solicitors specialises exclusively in spouse and partner visa applications. We will assess your financial situation carefully, make sure your documents are correct, and give you the best possible chance of a successful outcome.

Call us today on 0161 464 4140 or contact us online to speak with a specialist.

FAQs — UK Spouse Visa Financial Requirements