Financial Requirements For A 'Partner Visa' Application In The UK 2024

Self-employment Minimum Income Requirement 

To apply for a Partner visa from inside the UK in 2024, you and/or your partner must be able to show that you have either a single or combined income of at least £29,000 per year. One way to meet this requirement is through self-employment income.

To prove the level of income required, you must be able to show that the position has been held for at least 6 months of employment and that the yearly income is either equal to or in excess of £29,000 as of 11th April 2024. Where you have been in the position for less than 6 months or where your income varies on a monthly basis, you are able to rely upon the income from the last full financial year in order to meet the requirement. It is also possible to take the average of the last two financial years preceding the date of application.

For example, if you are unable to meet the financial requirement by relying on income from one year of self-employment because either you have been the position for less than one year or have earned less than £29,000, you can combine the last two years income. If in the first year of self-employment, the gross annual income was £35,000 and in the second year (the most recent year) it was £23,000 or more, you are able to take an average which would equate to £29,000 over the course of the last two financial years.

What evidence is required

In order to evidence the level of income from self-employment, you must provide the following evidence:

• Annual self-assessment tax returns (SA300/SA302).
• Proof of registration with HMRC as self-employed.
• Evidence of your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number.
• Business and personal bank statements covering the full period relied on.

In addition, you must provide one of the following:

• Audited accounts for the full period relied on.
• If you are not required to produce audited accounts, you must provide one of the following:
  • A certificate of Value Added Tax (VAT) registration and the VAT return for the full period relied upon if turnover is in excess of £79,000 per year; or
  • Evidence of ownership of the property, land or unit confirming local authority consent to operate the business at the trading address.

If you are a director or employee of a specified limited company

Where you are a director or employee of a specified limited company, you must provide:

• A company tax return (CT600) for the full period relied on.
• Evidence of registration with Companies House.
• Audited accounts (or unaudited where audited is not required) for the full period relied on accompanied by a certificate of confirmation from a certified accountant.
• Business bank statements covering the full period relied on.
• An appointment report confirming your position.

In addition, you must provide one of the following:

• A certificate of VAT registration and the VAT return for the full period relied upon if turnover is in excess of £79,000.00 per year;
• Proof of ownership of the business premises; or
• Proof of registration with HMRC as an employer for PAYE and National Insurance (NI) with proof of the PAYE reference number.

If you receive a salary

If as a director or employee, you must also provide the following:

• Payslips for the full period relied on.
• A P60 for period relied on (if applicable).
• Bank statements for the full period relied on showing receipt of income.

Meeting Financial Requirements Without Sufficient Employee Income

How do I meet the financial requirement if I do not have any income from employment or cannot meet the requirement because I do not earn enough? If you are unable to meet the financial requirement because you do not earn enough or do not have an employment income, you are able to meet the requirement by relying on savings or via adequate maintenance.

Savings

You can meet the financial requirement by relying solely on cash savings of £88,500. This must be held by you, your partner or you can rely on combined savings which must have been held for at least 6 months prior to the date of application in either of your names.

The savings can be held in a current account, deposit account or investment account. The account must meet all of the following requirements in order for the savings to be relied upon:

• The bank/savings account is a current, deposit or investment account.
• The account is held by a financial institution regulated by the appropriate regulatory body for the country in which that institution is operating.
• Regular bank statements are accessible and able to be provided when requested.
• Statements cover the necessary time period required (6 months or more).
• Savings are held in cash (or their cash value is clear).
• The savings can be immediately withdrawn when necessary (with or without penalty).
• All total funds are under the control of the person and/or their partner, whom is named in the application, for the necessary time period required (6 months or more).
• Sourcing of the funds is legal and the source of the funds has previously been declared.

It is possible to meet the financial requirement by combining savings with income from employment or self-employment if your income falls short of meeting the requirement. Should you have any concerns or queries, regarding this, please do not hesitate to contact us for additional support.

Public funds

You can also meet the financial requirement by showing ‘Adequate Maintenance’. This is a term used where you or your partner are in receipt of any of the following benefits:

• Carer’s Allowance.
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
• 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.
• Adult Disability Allowance.
• Child Disability Allowance.

If you are in receipt of any of the above and able to show that after the deduction of living expenses, that you have more funds left at the end of each month than what a family of the same size would receive who was in receipt of income support. This is dependent upon the income support rates at the date of application. If this applies, you will be considered to be able to maintain yourself and your partner adequately and will be able to meet the financial requirements.

The following evidence must be provided:

• Official documentation from the Department for Work and Pensions or Veterans Agency or Police Pension Authority or Social Security Scotland confirming the current entitlement and the amount currently received.
• At least one personal bank statement in the 12-month period prior to the date of application, showing payment of the benefit or allowance to which the person is currently entitled into their account.

Please see the following link for more details on the requirements for this visa: https://www.paragonlaw.co.uk/personal-immigration/individuals-and-families/spouse-and-partner-visa