Written & reviewed by Sunaree Ko, Founder · Sourced from GOV.UK
The 2026 spouse visa income rule in 30 seconds
The UK spouse/partner visa minimum income requirement is £29,000 gross per year. It has applied to new applicants since 11 April 2024 (replacing £18,600). If you rely on savings alone instead of income, the figure is £88,500. Crucially, the planned rises to £34,500 and then £38,700 are PAUSED — they are not in force, and £29,000 is the figure to plan around in 2026. For the full route — relationship evidence, English test, fees and how this fits the whole application — see our UK spouse visa hub.
Snapshot — the financial requirement (2026)
Beware the £18,600 and £38,700 numbers still circulating on Thai sites. For a fresh 2026 application the figure is £29,000 — not the old £18,600, and not the proposed (paused) £38,700. Always confirm the live figure on gov.uk before you plan.
What the minimum income requirement is (and isn't)
£29,000 is a GROSS figure — that is, before income tax and National Insurance are taken off. Net pay or take-home pay does not count. It is an ANNUAL figure, and it can be combined across the couple where the rules allow (see the combining section). It is the income proven over a defined look-back period, not just a single month's pay.
Income is read either at the date of application (the current annual rate) or averaged over a look-back period, depending on which income category applies — explained category by category below. The 12-month look-back matters most for variable or newly started income.
One more thing: this is the FINANCIAL requirement only. It sits alongside — but is separate from — the English-language test, the TB test, your relationship evidence, the visa application fee and the NHS health fee (IHS). The money you must SHOW here is different from the money you PAY in fees. See the cost of the spouse visa fee plus IHS, and the full UK visa cost in baht.
Want a quick sense of the fee + IHS side while you plan the income evidence? Our cost calculator converts both to today's baht.
Who has to meet it — sponsor income vs applicant income
The UK-based partner is the SPONSOR. To sponsor, they generally must be a British citizen, settled (with Indefinite Leave to Remain), have EU settled status, or hold refugee or humanitarian-protection status (some pre-settled-status sponsors also qualify under the rules). Their income is the anchor of the financial requirement.
Applying from Thailand (entry clearance)
For an application made from outside the UK, generally only the SPONSOR's UK income or savings count toward the £29,000. The Thai applicant's earnings in Thailand usually do NOT count. This is the most common situation for Thai–UK couples.
Switching in-country
If the applicant is already in the UK on an eligible visa and is switching, the APPLICANT's UK income can also count. This changes which documents you prepare — UK payslips and bank statements rather than Thai ones.
Why this matters for Thai couples: whose income counts decides whose payslips and bank statements you gather — and which Thai-language documents will need certified Thai→English translation before they go to VFS.
Which income category are you? (the decision tree)
The rules split income into categories A to G. Most lay guides skip this, but knowing your category tells you exactly which evidence to gather. Read the plain-language router, then jump to your category's evidence section below.
| Your situation | Likely category |
|---|---|
| Employed by someone, same employer 6+ months | Category A |
| Employed under 6 months, or variable / zero-hours | Category B |
| Live off rent, dividends (non-director), interest, maintenance | Category C |
| Relying on cash savings | Category D |
| Pension (state, private or overseas, in payment) | Category E |
| Self-employed sole trader / partner — most recent year | Category F |
| Self-employed / company director — average of last two years | Category G |
Categories A–G are from the immigration rules (Appendix FM / FM-SE). This router is a plain-language guide, not an eligibility decision — which category fits, and whether you meet it, is determined by the rules on gov.uk. Limited-company directors are treated under the 'specified limited company' branch of Category F/G.
Not even sure the spouse route is the right one? Our router can point uncertain readers to the right visa page.
Employment income: Category A and Category B
Category A — same employer for 6+ months
If the sponsor (or, when switching, the applicant) has been with the current employer for at least 6 months, you generally use the current annual salary. For salaried work, that is the gross annual salary at the date of application. For non-salaried or hourly work, the lowest level of pay over the previous 6 months is annualised. The total must reach £29,000.
Category B — under 6 months, or variable income
If they have been with the employer under 6 months, or income varies, Category B applies. Here two tests usually run together: the current annual rate AND the actual gross income received over the previous 12 months — a 12-month look-back. Both generally need to reach the level required.
Employment evidence checklist
- 6 months' payslips (Category A) — or 12 months for Category B.
- Personal bank statements over the same period showing the salary credited (must match the payslips).
- An employer letter confirming role, gross salary, start date, type of contract and that the employment is genuine.
- P60 where relevant (annual UK tax summary).
Build a personalised evidence list — and flag which items need certified translation — with the checklist tool.
Self-employment & company directors: Category F and G
Category F uses the most recent financial year. Category G averages the last two financial years — useful if one year was stronger. You choose the basis that works, within the rules. The financial year here is the UK tax year or the company's accounting year, not a rolling 12 months.
Sole traders / partnerships — evidence
- SA302 tax calculation from HMRC.
- HMRC tax year overview.
- Business bank statements for the relevant year.
- Evidence of registration as self-employed / with HMRC.
- Annual accounts where required.
Limited-company directors (specified limited company) — evidence
- Company accounts.
- Company Tax Return (CT600).
- Companies House records.
- Business bank statements.
- Dividend vouchers with matching personal bank statements.
- PAYE records / payslips if the director also draws a salary.
Refusal trigger: it is NET PROFIT or income drawn that counts toward £29,000, not the company's turnover. Using turnover instead of net profit/drawings is one of the most common reasons self-employed applications fall short.
The cash savings route: Category D (the £88,500 number)
The £16,000 disregard
The first £16,000 of cash savings never counts. The rules treat it as a buffer the family needs anyway, so only savings ABOVE £16,000 do any work toward the requirement.
£88,500 to meet the requirement on savings alone
To meet the whole requirement on savings alone, you need £88,500. The maths is simple: £16,000 + (£29,000 × 2.5) = £88,500. The 2.5 multiplier is because savings are expected to cover the 2.5-year (30-month) initial visa.
The income-equivalent formula (topping up a salary)
If you have some income but not the full £29,000, savings above £16,000 can top it up. The income credit is: (savings − £16,000) ÷ 2.5. So £41,000 of savings adds (41,000 − 16,000) ÷ 2.5 = £10,000 of 'income' to whatever salary you already show.
| Sponsor salary | Shortfall vs £29,000 | Savings needed £ | Savings needed ฿ (approx) |
|---|---|---|---|
| £29,000 | £0 | None (income met) | — |
| £25,000 | £4,000 | £26,000 | ≈ ฿1,131,000 |
| £20,000 | £9,000 | £38,500 | ≈ ฿1,674,750 |
| £15,000 | £14,000 | £51,000 | ≈ ฿2,218,500 |
| £0 | £29,000 | £88,500 | ≈ ฿3,849,750 |
Savings needed = £16,000 + (shortfall × 2.5), using the gov.uk formula (savings floor £16,000, multiplier 2.5). Worked example: a £20,000 salary leaves a £9,000 shortfall, needing £16,000 + (£9,000 × 2.5) = £38,500. Baht is indicative at ~฿43.5/£1 and changes daily. These are illustrative figures based on the published formula, not an eligibility assessment — confirm the rules on gov.uk.
The 6-month continuous-holding rule
The savings must usually be held for at least 6 months before the application, and must NOT dip below the required level at any point in those 6 months. A single dip can break the requirement, so do not move the money around during this window.
Where savings can legitimately come from
Savings can come from your own funds, the proceeds of selling a property, or a genuine gift — but the source can be queried. Keep a clear paper trail for any large deposit (a sale contract, a gift letter, the giver's statement). The rules look at whether the money is genuinely yours, not just the balance on one day.
Work out the savings figure for your situation — including the (savings − £16,000) ÷ 2.5 top-up — with the funds checker. It shows the published evidence options, not a pass/fail verdict.
Other income: Category C (non-employment) and Category E (pensions)
Category C — non-employment income
Category C covers rental income from property, dividends (where you are not a company director), interest from savings, and certain maintenance payments. Evidence basics are the source documents (tenancy agreement, dividend vouchers, statements) plus bank statements showing the money received over the relevant 12 months.
Category E — pensions
State, private and overseas pensions can count, but the pension must be in payment (you are receiving it). Evidence basics are the pension provider's documents and bank statements showing the payments arriving.
Combining income sources (and what you can't combine)
You can often add categories together to reach £29,000 — but not every combination is allowed. Get this wrong and an application that 'should' add up will fall short.
What CAN combine
Employment (Category A or B) can combine with non-employment income (C), pensions (E) and cash savings (D). This is the usual way a salaried sponsor tops up with rent, a pension or savings.
What CANNOT combine
Cash savings (Category D) CANNOT be combined with self-employment or specified-limited-company income (Category F or G). That single rule catches many self-employed sponsors by surprise. Also note: when combining F/G with other categories, the same-financial-year rule applies and the income source must still exist at the date of application.
| Category | Combine with savings (D)? | Combine with employment (A/B)? | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| A / B — Employment | Yes | — | The usual anchor income. |
| C — Non-employment | Yes | Yes | Rent, dividends, interest. |
| D — Cash savings | — | Yes | NOT with F/G. |
| E — Pension | Yes | Yes | Must be in payment. |
| F / G — Self-employed | NO | Yes (same financial year) | Cannot add cash savings. |
Combine rules from the immigration rules (Appendix FM-SE). The key prohibition: cash savings (D) cannot combine with self-employment / specified-limited-company income (F/G). This is general information, not advice — confirm the current combine rules on gov.uk.
Dependent children: the add-ons
Here is a point many money pages get wrong for 2026. For NEW applicants under the £29,000 flat rule (first application on or after 11 April 2024), there is NO per-child uplift — the £29,000 figure does not rise for any children. The per-child add-ons only apply under the old transitional rule.
| Situation | Child uplift |
|---|---|
| New applicant — £29,000 flat rule (from 11 Apr 2024) | None — £29,000 does not increase for children |
| Transitional — £18,600 base (first applied before 11 Apr 2024): first child | +£3,800 |
| Transitional — £18,600 base: each additional child | +£2,400 |
Per gov.uk: the £29,000 flat figure carries no child uplift for new applicants. The £3,800 / £2,400 add-ons belong to the old £18,600 transitional route (those whose first successful partner application was before 11 April 2024, continuing with the same partner). A Thai applicant applying fresh in 2026 is a new applicant under £29,000. Confirm on gov.uk.
Carve-out: British or settled children are excluded
Under the transitional uplift rule, British citizen children and children who are settled in the UK are excluded from the calculation — they do not add to the figure. For new £29,000-rule applicants this is moot, because there is no child uplift at all. Families bringing children should also see the family visa page.
If you can't meet £29,000: exemptions & exceptional circumstances
Benefit-based exemption
If the UK sponsor receives certain qualifying disability or carer's benefits, the £29,000 income figure is replaced by an 'adequate maintenance' test — broadly, whether the family's income after housing costs is enough to support everyone without needing extra public funds. This is a different, generally lower bar, but it is narrow and tightly evidenced.
Exceptional circumstances (GEN.3.1 / Article 8)
Separately, there is an exceptional-circumstances route where refusing the visa would breach the right to family life (Article 8 ECHR / paragraph GEN.3.1 of the rules). Whether this applies to a specific case is an eligibility and legal-strategy question.
Whether an exemption or exceptional circumstances applies to YOUR case is an eligibility assessment, and arguing it well is legal work. We do not assess this. For these routes, speak to a regulated immigration adviser (IAA-registered, formerly OISC) or a solicitor. See also our information page on what to do if a visa is refused.
Common financial mistakes that lead to refusal
These are things the rules require, framed as a checklist — not a verdict on whether you will or won't qualify:
What the rules require — watch for these
- Using the wrong evidence period or look-back (Category A vs B).
- Gaps in payslips or bank statements within the required period.
- Savings dipping below the required level at any point in the 6 months.
- Using company turnover instead of net profit / drawings (self-employed).
- A missing or incomplete employer letter.
- Bank statements that do not match the payslips.
- Thai-language documents submitted without certified translation.
- Trying to combine cash savings with self-employment income (not allowed).
The 2026 outlook: £29,000 now, £38,700 paused, MAC's lower range
Here is the timeline, because Thai sites disagree on it. The base rose from £18,600 to £29,000 on 11 April 2024. The further planned rises — to £34,500 and then £38,700 — were NOT implemented. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) reported on 10 June 2025 advising against the £38,700 alignment and recommended a lower range of roughly £23,000–£28,000. As of June 2026, the government has not decided and there is no published timetable.
What it means for planning timing (informational, not advice): the live figure to prepare for is £29,000. Nobody can promise it will or won't change, so monitor gov.uk and prepare evidence to the current rule. For the wider picture of 2026 fee and rule changes, see our UK visa changes 2026 guide.
How this carries through: extension (FLR-M) and settlement (ILR)
The financial requirement is re-tested at the 2.5-year extension (FLR-M) and again at settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain, ILR). Transitional protection keeps the old £18,600 base for those whose first successful partner application was before 11 April 2024 and who continue with the same partner. A fresh 2026 applicant is on the £29,000 rule throughout. For the full route from entry to settlement, see our spouse visa hub.
Doing this from Thailand: documents, certified translation & VFS
Which Thai-side documents need certified Thai→English translation
Any document not in English or Welsh needs a certified Thai→English translation. In a financial bundle that typically means: Thai bank statements or passbooks used to evidence savings (or the applicant's income in switching cases); relationship documents such as the marriage record (kor ror) or registration; and any Thai-issued financial document in the bundle. A certified translation must state it is accurate and show the translator's name, date, signature and contact details. The marriage certificate in particular is one most spouse applicants need translated.
How the financial bundle ties to the VFS step
Once your category is identified and the evidence assembled, ordered and (where needed) translated, you give biometrics at a VFS Global centre in Bangkok, Chiang Mai or Phuket. Your status is then issued as an eVisa accessed through a UKVI account (vignette stickers were replaced for visitor applicants from 25 February 2026). Our VFS guide walks through booking and the day itself.
Need the financial and relationship documents translated and certified? Get a quick quote for the document set.
We help you prepare and present your evidence: document preparation, certified Thai→English translation, and VFS appointment booking. We do NOT give regulated immigration advice and we do not assess your eligibility or your chances. The figures and rules here are general information from gov.uk.
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Frequently asked questions
How much income do I need for a UK spouse visa in 2026?
Has the £38,700 increase happened?
Can I use savings instead of income, and how much?
Can I combine savings with self-employment income?
Does my Thai partner's overseas income count?
How much extra for children?
How many months of payslips do I need?
How long must savings be held?
What if we can't meet £29,000?
Do Thai-language financial documents need translation?
Last reviewed: June 2026. This page is general information based on public gov.uk sources (uk-family-visa / proof of income partner, and the MAC family-visa financial-requirements review), not regulated immigration advice and not an eligibility assessment. The figure is £29,000 for new applicants from 11 April 2024; the £38,700 rise is paused. Rules and figures change — confirm the current position on gov.uk before you rely on it. Baht figures are indicative at ~฿43.5/£1 and change daily.