Appendix FM contains the UK family visa rules for partners and certain other family members. For a spouse, fiancée or unmarried partner application, meeting the financial requirement involves two questions: is the correct amount met, and is it proved using the specified evidence? The answer depends on the application date, visa history and source of income.
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What is the minimum income requirement?
For many new partner applications, the usual minimum income requirement in September 2026 is £29,000 a year. Different financial rules apply where the sponsor receives certain disability or carer’s benefits. Some people extending a partner visa with the same partner remain under transitional rules because they first applied before 11 April 2024.
Our simpler guide answers how much money you need to sponsor your Thai wife. This article explains how the income or savings may be assessed.
| Situation | Financial position to check |
|---|---|
| New spouse, fiancée or unmarried partner application | Usually the £29,000 minimum income requirement, subject to applicable exceptions. |
| Extension with the same partner after a first partner application before 11 April 2024 | Transitional rules may retain the £18,600 base threshold and relevant child additions. |
| Sponsor receiving a specified disability or carer’s benefit | An adequate-maintenance and accommodation assessment may apply instead of the usual minimum income threshold. |
What are the Appendix FM income categories?
The Home Office financial guidance groups income and savings by source. The categories determine how the amount is calculated and which records must be provided:
- Categories A and B: salaried or non-salaried employment, depending on employment history and circumstances.
- Category C: qualifying non-employment income, such as certain rental income or dividends.
- Category D: qualifying cash savings.
- Category E: pension income.
- Categories F and G: self-employment or specified company income, using the applicable financial-year evidence.
Some categories can be combined, but the rules for combining them are not identical. Identify the category before deciding which statements, tax records or employer letters to collect.
Employment income: why are payslips alone insufficient?
For a straightforward employment case, the specified evidence commonly includes payslips, matching bank statements showing the pay received and an employer letter. The letter should confirm details such as the employment, salary, length of service and authenticity of the payslips.
A recent job change, variable income or a sponsor returning from overseas can change the calculation. If you are moving back to the UK from Thailand, check the returning-sponsor rules before relying on an overseas salary and a future UK job offer.
Can savings make up a shortfall?
Qualifying cash savings can sometimes replace income or make up part of a shortfall. For a new entry-clearance partner application under the usual £29,000 threshold, the commonly used calculation for savings alone is £88,500: the £16,000 base amount plus 2.5 times £29,000.
Where savings are combined with qualifying income for that type of application, a common calculation is £16,000 + 2.5 × the annual income shortfall. The amount must be held and evidenced in accordance with the applicable rules. Different calculations can apply at settlement or under transitional requirements, so do not apply this formula to every case.
What if the sponsor is self-employed or runs a company?
Self-employment and income from a specified limited company need a different evidence set from ordinary salaried employment. Tax returns, accounts, business bank statements, company records and proof of ongoing activity may be relevant depending on the category. A director’s salary or dividends cannot simply be treated as a regular employee’s payslips without checking the company rules.
These cases need early planning because the relevant financial year and application date affect which records can be used.
Can pensions or rental income be used?
Qualifying pension income and certain non-employment income may count. The supporting evidence should establish the source, amount and receipt of the income under the relevant rules. If you rely on rent from a property or a pension while living in Thailand, check how that income fits the application and whether it can be combined with other sources.
What if the sponsor receives specified benefits?
Some disability and carer’s benefits take the application outside the usual minimum income requirement. That does not remove the financial test altogether: the couple must usually show adequate maintenance and accommodation, taking account of household income and housing costs.
See our forum answer on sponsoring a Thai wife while receiving DLA or other benefits.
Which documents should you prepare?
The answer follows the income category. Our UK spouse visa documents guide covers the broader application. For the precise financial evidence, use the current GOV.UK overview and detailed Home Office guidance.
Updated September 2026. This guide covers common partner applications; the correct threshold, permitted sources and specified evidence depend on the individual case and rules in force at application.