Written by Basharat Hussain, IAA-regulated immigration lawyer (Level 1, ref F201800051), Immigration Inn, Bedford.
The financial requirement is the part of a spouse or partner visa that causes the most refusals. The rule itself is short, but the evidence behind it is detailed, and a small gap in payslips or bank statements can sink an otherwise strong application. This guide explains the £29,000 figure, who it applies to and the ways you can meet it.
What is the £29,000 rule?
GOV.UK says that you and your partner usually need to prove that your combined income is at least £29,000 a year. This applies to first applications and to extensions where the first application was made on or after 11 April 2024.
The figure is the same whether or not you have children. The old system added extra amounts for each child, and that only survives for people on the older rules.
Who still uses the £18,600 figure?
If your partner first applied for their visa before 11 April 2024 and you are now extending that same visa, the lower requirement still applies. GOV.UK says you will need to prove a combined income of at least £18,600 a year, plus £3,800 for the first child and £2,400 for each additional child who is not British or settled.
Check the date of the very first application, not the latest one, before you work out which figure applies to you.
Whose income counts?
For an application made from outside the UK, the income usually has to come from the partner who lives in the UK. Once the applicant is in the UK with permission to work, their earnings can count too, for example at the extension stage.
The main sources the rules accept are:
- salaried or hourly employment
- self-employment and income from a company you own (with tax returns and accounts)
- pensions
- rental and investment income
- cash savings above £16,000
Some benefits do not count as income. If your partner receives certain disability or carer’s benefits, the £29,000 rule does not apply in the usual way, and you instead need to show you can support yourselves adequately.
Employment income: the 6-month test
If the UK partner has worked for the same employer for at least 6 months and earns £29,000 or more, the evidence is usually straightforward. You provide 6 months of payslips, matching bank statements and a letter from the employer.
If they changed jobs less than 6 months ago, the rules ask for two things. The current salary must be at least £29,000, and they must have actually received at least that amount in the 12 months before the application. A recent pay rise on its own is often not enough.
Using savings
Savings can top up income or replace it completely. Only the amount above £16,000 counts, and it is spread across the visa period. For a first application, the shortfall in income is multiplied by 2.5, and that amount must be held on top of the first £16,000.
That means savings alone meet the rule at £88,500 (£16,000 plus £29,000 × 2.5). The money must have been held in an account in your name, your partner’s name or both, for at least 6 months before you apply.
Common mistakes we see
- Payslips and bank statements that do not match, or a missing month
- An employer letter that leaves out the start date, salary or type of contract
- Counting overtime or bonuses without enough history to support them
- Applying in the middle of a tax year when self-employed income has not been filed yet
- Savings that moved between accounts during the 6-month period without a clear trail
Is the figure going to change?
The £29,000 level remains in place at the time of writing, while the government reviews the Migration Advisory Committee’s 2025 report on the family rules. Always check the current figure on GOV.UK before you apply, because the rules that apply are the ones in force on the date you submit.
How we help
Basharat Hussain is an IAA regulated immigration lawyer and ACCA-trained accountant, so he reads payslips, accounts and bank statements the way a caseworker will. Our spouse visa packages start from £350, with the price confirmed in writing once we have assessed your case. You can book a consultation at our Bedford office or by video.
Get started for just £50. A £50 working fee gets your case moving: we study your case, review your documents and confirm your package fee in writing before you pay anything more. WhatsApp us or call 01234 962804.
This article is general information, not legal advice for your situation. Rules checked on GOV.UK in October 2026.