The current UK spouse visa minimum income requirement is £29,000, and any shortfall can be legally offset with cash savings above a £16,000 buffer. Enter your income and savings below to see instantly where you stand under Appendix FM.
Required savings to meet the requirement
If your income is at or above £29,000, no savings offset is needed — the income route on its own satisfies Appendix FM. Below that, the shortfall is multiplied by 2.5 and a fixed £16,000 buffer is added, giving the amount of savings (held continuously for at least 6 months) needed to close the gap:
(£29,000 − income) × 2.5 + £16,000 = required savings
| Annual income | Shortfall vs £29,000 | Savings required |
|---|---|---|
| £25,000 | £4,000 | £26,000 |
| £20,000 | £9,000 | £38,500 |
| £15,000 | £14,000 | £51,000 |
| £0 (no qualifying income) | £29,000 | £88,500 |
£29,000 gross annual income, for applications made on or after 11 April 2024. This remains current through 2026 — proposed further rises to £34,500 and £38,700 have been paused.
Any shortfall against £29,000 is multiplied by 2.5, then a £16,000 buffer is added, under Appendix FM-SE.
The full formula applies to the whole threshold: (£29,000 × 2.5) + £16,000 = £88,500, held continuously for 6 months.
Want the full breakdown of how the income, savings, and combined routes work? Read our spouse visa financial requirement guide, check your ILR absence limit, take the free Quick Check, or get in touch directly.