Family Visa Financial Requirements in Detail

The Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) is the income threshold that UK sponsors (usually UK-settled partners) must demonstrate they meet before their overseas partner or spouse can be granted a family visa. The MIR was fixed at £18,600 for many years before the government announced a significant phased increase starting in 2024:

• April 2024: MIR raised to £29,000
• January 2025: MIR raised to £34,500
• Early 2025 (full implementation): MIR raised to £38,700

The increase to £38,700 brought the MIR in line with the 25th percentile of UK full-time earnings — a significant policy shift that has substantially reduced the number of couples who can qualify. Applicants who had their visa refused under the previous £18,600 threshold may now face an even higher bar if reapplying.

Additional income thresholds apply if you have dependent children: an extra £3,800 for the first child and £2,400 for each subsequent child. These additional amounts are added on top of the main MIR threshold.

Importantly, the MIR must be met from specified sources of income evidenced in the specified way — it is not sufficient simply to show that the sponsor earns enough in general terms. The type of evidence required depends on which Category the income falls into.

Appendix FM-SE (the evidential appendix to Appendix FM) divides income sources into Categories A through G. Each category has specific evidential requirements. A common source of refusals is sponsors using evidence appropriate to one category when their income actually falls into a different one.

• Category A — Salaried employment (6+ months with current employer): 6 months of payslips and bank statements showing salary credited. This is the most straightforward category for most employed sponsors.
• Category B — Salaried employment (less than 6 months or recently changed employer): Requires evidence of current employment plus an annualised income calculation based on the last 12 months of employment income from all sources.
• Category C — Non-employment income (e.g. rental income, dividends): Evidence of non-employment income received in the 12 months before application, with bank statements showing amounts credited.
• Category D — Cash savings: Bank statements showing £16,000 in accessible savings (over and above the standard MIR) held for at least 6 consecutive months, plus £2.50 for each £1 of income shortfall below the MIR.
• Category E — Pension income: Evidence of pension payments — state pension award letter and 3 months of bank statements showing pension credited.
• Category F — Self-employment (last full financial year): Full year's self-assessment tax return, HMRC self-assessment tax calculation, business accounts, and bank statements.
• Category G — Self-employment (last two full financial years): Two years of self-assessment returns and accounts — used where the last financial year alone does not meet the threshold.

Categories can be combined — for example, a sponsor with part-time employed income (Category A) and rental income (Category C) can combine both to reach the threshold, provided the correct evidence for each category is included.

If the sponsor's income falls short of the MIR, cash savings held in a bank or building society account can be used under Category D to make up all or part of the shortfall. The formula is:

Savings required = £16,000 + (shortfall × 2.5)

For example, if the MIR is £38,700 and the sponsor earns £30,000, the shortfall is £8,700. The savings required would be: £16,000 + (£8,700 × 2.5) = £16,000 + £21,750 = £37,750 in savings.

If the sponsor has no income at all, the full MIR must be covered by savings. At £38,700, this means savings of: £16,000 + (£38,700 × 2.5) = £16,000 + £96,750 = £112,750.

Key rules for the savings category:

• The savings must have been held continuously in a bank or building society for at least the 6 months immediately before the application
• The savings must be accessible — fixed-term or restricted accounts that the sponsor cannot freely withdraw from do not qualify
• The savings must be in the sponsor's name (or jointly with the applicant)
• Evidence must include 6 months of bank statements showing the savings throughout

Savings held abroad in a foreign currency can be used but must be converted to sterling using the closing exchange rate on the date of application, and the statements must clearly show the account holder's name.

A common misconception is that the overseas partner's (applicant's) income can always be counted alongside the UK sponsor's income. In fact, the applicant's income can only be included in limited circumstances under the Rules:

• The applicant's income from employment or self-employment can be counted if it will continue in the UK — for example, if the applicant works remotely for a non-UK employer and that employment will continue after they arrive in the UK, or if they are a specified professional whose skills are readily transferable.
• The applicant's income cannot be counted if it is from a job they will leave upon moving to the UK, or from investments or savings held in their name alone.

For self-employed sponsors, the rules under Category F and G are strict. Income is calculated from the sponsor's share of net profits shown in properly prepared business accounts for the last full tax year (Category F), or averaged over the last two tax years (Category G). It is not sufficient to show business turnover — the net profit after business expenses must meet the MIR. HMRC self-assessment records must be consistent with the accounts submitted.

Where a sponsor has recently become self-employed and does not yet have a full year of accounts, this can create significant difficulties. Seeking advice from both an immigration adviser and an accountant is important in these circumstances.