How to meet the UK spouse visa financial requirement
The £29,000 Minimum Income Requirement explained — the ways to meet it, the evidence you need, and the mistakes that cause refusals.
Key takeaways
- 01The UK spouse visa Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) is currently £29,000 a year, according to gov.uk.
- 02You can meet it through salaried employment, self-employment, cash savings, certain other income, or a combination.
- 03Cash savings must usually be held for at least 6 months — check gov.uk for the current threshold and formula.
- 04Evidence is as important as the figure: payslips, bank statements, and employer letters must match exactly.
Ways to meet the requirement
The main categories accepted by UKVI. Many applicants combine more than one.
Salaried employment
Income from a salaried job, typically evidenced with 6 months of payslips and matching bank statements, plus an employer letter.
Self-employment
Income as a sole trader, director, or partner, evidenced with tax returns (SA302), company accounts, and business bank statements for the relevant financial year.
Cash savings
Savings above a set threshold, held for at least 6 months, can meet part or all of the requirement. See gov.uk for the current figure.
Combination
You can often combine sources — for example salaried income plus cash savings — to reach £29,000. The rules on combining vary by source.
How to evidence your income
A practical sequence for putting your financial evidence together.
- Step 01
Confirm the current requirement on gov.uk
Check the current Minimum Income Requirement (currently £29,000) and the rules for your situation at gov.uk/uk-family-visa/proof-income before gathering anything.
- Step 02
Choose how you'll meet it
Decide whether you'll rely on salaried employment, self-employment, cash savings, other income, or a combination — each has different evidence rules.
- Step 03
Gather matching financial evidence
Collect payslips, bank statements, employer letters, and/or tax documents covering the required period, making sure the figures reconcile exactly across documents.
- Step 04
Check your totals against £29,000
Annualise your income or value your savings and compare against the published threshold. VisaEvo's calculator can do this maths for you.
- Step 05
Organise it into your application pack
Bundle the evidence in a clear, labelled order so a caseworker can follow it. Missing or disorganised evidence is a common cause of delay and refusal.
Common mistakes
The financial requirement causes a large share of spouse visa refusals — usually over evidence, not the amount.
- Payslips that don't match the amounts shown in bank statements.
- Savings that haven't been held for the full required period.
- Missing or out-of-date employer letters.
- Using gross vs net figures incorrectly when calculating income.
- Assuming a single high month covers the requirement instead of the annualised figure.
VisaEvo's financial calculator lets you enter your income and savings and compare them to the published £29,000 threshold before you apply. It does the maths — you interpret the result and decide what to do next.
Frequently asked questions
Don't let a missing document delay your visa.
Be ready when you apply. Organise documents, check the financial requirement, and build checklists from gov.uk guidance.
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