New Financial Requirement Effective 11 April 2024
From 11 April 2024, the financial requirement for first-time applicants on the partner route will increase
to £29,000 gross per year. This requirement applies to applicants who make their first application after
this date. If the applicant has dependent children applying alongside them, the income threshold will
still be £29,000.
To meet the financial requirement, the UK-based partner must earn at least £29,000 gross annually. If
the partner's employment income under Category A is less than £29,000, the applicant can supplement
it with savings. The required savings must equal £16,000 plus an additional sum equivalent to 2.5 times
the shortfall between the partner’s income and £29,000.
The applicant’s income from overseas employment does not count toward meeting the financial
requirement, but their savings, rental income, or pension (if applicable) do count along with the UK
partner's income.
Meeting the Financial Requirement: Various Sources
Applicants can meet the minimum income threshold for a same-sex partner visa through the following
methods:
Employment Income: Income from the UK partner’s employment or self-employment, and in
some cases, the applicant’s income if they are already in the UK with work permission (Category
A or B).
Non-Employment Income: Income from sources such as property rental or dividends from
shares (Category C).
Cash Savings: Savings exceeding £16,000 that have been held by the applicant or their partner
for at least six months (Category D).
Pension Income: Income from state, occupational, or private pensions held by the applicant or
their partner (Category E).
Self-Employment Income: Income from self-employment or as a director/employee of a
specified limited company in the UK, based on the relevant financial year(s) (Category F or G).
When Is Exemption from the Financial Requirement Applicable?
If the applicant's partner is receiving certain benefits or allowances in the UK, the applicant may be
exempt from meeting the standard financial threshold of £29,000. Instead, they will need to
demonstrate “adequate maintenance.” The relevant benefits include:
Carer’s Allowance
Disability Living Allowance
Severe Disablement Allowance
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Attendance Allowance
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Armed Forces Independence Payment or Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces
Compensation Scheme
Constant Attendance Allowance, Mobility Supplement, or War Disablement Pension under the
War Pensions Scheme
Police Injury Pension
If these benefits are received for a child, the applicant can also meet the financial requirement through
“adequate maintenance.” Evidence required to prove receipt of these benefits is detailed in Appendix
FM-SE.
Formula for Calculating Adequate Maintenance
To determine if the applicant meets the adequate maintenance requirement, the Home Office UKVI uses
the following formula:
A - B ≥ C
Where:
A represents the net income (after tax and National Insurance deductions)
B denotes housing costs (rent and council tax)
C is the amount of Income Support a similar British family would receive.
Adequate Accommodation Requirement
Applicants must provide evidence that there will be adequate accommodation for their family, including
any other family members residing in the same household, without relying on public funds.
Accommodation will be deemed inadequate if it:
Is or will be overcrowded
Violates public health regulations
English Language Requirement
To meet the English language requirement, the applicant must show they:
Are from a majority English-speaking country
Have passed an English language test in speaking and listening at CEFR level A1 with a Home
Office-approved provider
Hold an academic qualification recognized by UK Ecctis as equivalent to a Bachelor’s, Master’s,
or PhD degree in the UK, and was taught in English
Are exempt due to:
o Being aged 65 or over
o Having a disability (physical or mental) that prevents meeting the requirement
o Exceptional circumstances that hinder meeting the requirement before entry to the UK