The spouse visa UK comes with some pretty strict requirements. It is one of the best options for couples to stay together in the UK when one already has the right to stay there. However, there are various other requirements as well. One of the most essential and also quite steep requirements is the spouse visa UK financial requirements. We will take a closer look at all the various requirements for the UK spouse visa while paying close attention to the financial requirements. Let’s dive in!
Checking Your Eligibility for UK Spouse Visa
Before you move ahead and check the various requirements, you will first need to ascertain if you are eligible to apply for a spouse visa UK. So, who can apply for this visa?
As the name suggests, this visa is for spouses only. However, there are some additional requirements. For starters, you will need to be at least 18 years of age to be eligible to apply. Also, your partner, who is currently staying in the UK, needs to satisfy one of the following criteria:
- Your partner is a British or Irish citizen
- Your partner has the indefinite right to remain in the UK and is currently residing in UK
- Your partner holds the settled status under the EU settlement scheme and is currently a British resident
- Your partner is in the UK as a protected person under the humanitarian protection
- Your partner holds the Turkish Businessperson Visa or the Turkish Work Visa and is staying in the UK
- Your partner is staying in the UK as a stateless person
- Your partner has been living in the UK since before 1st January 2021 and is from the EU, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, or Liechtenstein.
It is also imperative that you and your partner plan on living in the UK permanently henceforth.
If you satisfy the above conditions, then you are entitled to apply for a spouse visa UK. So, now let’s take a look at the spouse visa UK financial requirements. After all, it happens to be one of the most challenging aspects of the entire process.
Minimum Financial Requirements for UK Spouse Visa
When you are applying for a spouse visa in the UK, the one extremely important thing to prove is that you and your partner can support yourselves and the family financially without having to depend on the Government for the schemes. To ascertain this, there are a few minimum financial requirements that you will be required to meet. This includes showing income proof of you and your partner.
Income Requirement for Spouse Visa in the UK
To be eligible for the spouse visa, you will need to show that you meet the minimum income requirements. For couples, in general, the annual joint income has to be £29,000. This requirement is for anyone who is applying fresh for the spouse visa now. However, the requirement changes in two cases:
- If your partner is receiving carer’s or disability benefits
- If you had first applied for the visa with this same partner before 11th April 2024 as fiance, fiancee, or proposed civil partner, and now want it to be extended.
The proof of income need not always be in terms of the salary you are receiving. In case the income you and your partner have does not meet the minimum requirements, you have the option to use your savings and include it to meet the minimum financial requirements as well.
If Your Partner Receives Carer’s or Disability Benefits
For those whose partner is receiving one of the following carer’s or disability benefits, there is no requirement to meet minimum income:
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Child Disability Allowance
- Adult Disability Allowance
- Police Injury Pension
- Armed Forces Independence Payment or Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
- Personal Independence Payment
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
You will need to provide proper documents to establish that your partner falls under this category and that you are exempted from the requirement of having a minimum income criteria.
For Original Visa Applications Sent Before 11 April 2024 and Current Visa Renewal Application
If you are applying for an extension of your visa and had originally successfully applied for the spouse visa before 11th April 2024, as fiance, fiancee, or proposed civil partner, the minimum income requirement is £18,600 per annum. This is a combined requirement for you and your partner.
In this case, there is a requirement for additional income in case you have children. For the first child, the minimum requirement will be £3,800 more per annum. For the second child onwards, the minimum requirement increases by £2,400 per child per annum. However, if the total minimum annual income to meet the spouse visa UK financial requirements increases beyond £29,000, you will need to only show proof of £29,000 per annum total income.
If You Do Not Have The Minimum Annual Income
In case you are unable to meet the minimum spouse visa UK financial requirements, you might still be able to apply for the visa. It will be under the following two conditions:
- You have children who have been living in the UK for 7 years at least and it is not reasonable for them to leave now, or they are British or Irish citizens
- It will breach your human rights if you are made to leave the UK or you are prevented from entering the UK
Under these specific circumstances, your visa can either be granted or renewed. You will need to apply accordingly and plead your case properly. Under such situations, it is advisable to get support from an authorized agent or to seek guidance from immigration law practitioners. The information about these agents or law practitioners is available from the Home Office website of the UK government as well.
Not being able to meet the minimum income requirement for the spouse visa UK will prevent you from applying to get settled unless you have spent at least 10 years in the UK.
Sign in to leave a comment.