The minimum income threshold for Spouse visas under Appendix FM has been increased from £18,600 to £29,000 from 11 April 2024.
It has been announced that the minimum income threshold is set to rise to £34,500 in late 2024, and further increase to £38,700 in early 2025.
Please note that there is a circumstance where the family does not need to meet the £29,000 threshold. We will give more details at the end of this article.
We strongly advise individuals who are planning to make their first-time application under the Appendix FM to act now to avoid additional hikes in the financial requirements.
First-time applications on a partner route on or after 11 April 2024
For those applicants who are making their first application under the Appendix FM, as a partner, Fiancé(e), or civil partner, the salary threshold they need to meet is £29,000.
The positive aspect of the new rules is that there will be no increase in the threshold if additional sponsored dependant children are applying. This is particularly relieving for families with a larger number of dependents.
Transitional Arrangements
For those applicants, who have made their first-time application before 11 April, they fall under the transitional arrangements.
Under the transitional arrangements for Appendix FM, the basic income threshold of £18,600 still applies when the above-mentioned applicants applying for extensions, indefinite leave to remain, or the first spouse visa if they have applied as a Fiancé(e) before the rule changes.
It is important to note that there is a change for those applications under the transitional arrangements, where additional dependant children are applying. Instead of requiring extra income/savings for each child, the income requirement is capped at £29,000. This means that if the total amount required based on the number of children exceeds £29,000, then only £29,000 of earnings will need to be proven.
First-time applications on a partner route on or after 11 April 2024
For those applicants who are making their first application under the Appendix FM, as a partner, Fiancé(e), or civil partner, the salary threshold they need to meet is £29,000.
The positive aspect of the new rules is that there will be no increase in the threshold if additional sponsored dependant children are applying. This is particularly relieving for families with a larger number of dependents.
Transitional Arrangements
For those applicants, who have made their first-time application before 11 April, they fall under the transitional arrangements.
Under the transitional arrangements for Appendix FM, the basic income threshold of £18,600 still applies when the above-mentioned applicants applying for extensions, indefinite leave to remain, or the first spouse visa if they have applied as a Fiancé(e) before the rule changes.
It is important to note that there is a change for those applications under the transitional arrangements, where additional dependant children are applying. Instead of requiring extra income/savings for each child, the income requirement is capped at £29,000. This means that if the total amount required based on the number of children exceeds £29,000, then only £29,000 of earnings will need to be proven.
You do not need to meet a minimum income requirement if your partner gets one of the following benefits
- Disability Living Allowance;
- Severe Disablement Allowance;
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit;
- Attendance Allowance;
- Carer’s Allowance;
- Personal Independence Payment;
- 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;
- Child Disability Payment; or
- Adult Disability Payment.
You need to show you and your family have enough money to house and support yourselves without relying on additional public funds.
If you have any questions on this article or would like to instruct us for your spouse visa application, please don’t hesitate to speak to one of our immigration advisers for further assistance.
