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The short answer
Yes. Partner permission under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules is granted with a no-recourse-to-public-funds condition but no prohibition on employment, which applies only to fiancé(e) and proposed civil partner permission; GOV.UK says that after marriage or civil partnership you have the right to work. So you can freelance for Nigerian clients, but self-employment income is assessed differently if you rely on it for the financial requirement when you extend.
This page is about the family visa for the partner or spouse of a British citizen or settled person. If you are in the UK as the dependant partner of a Skilled Worker or Student, different rules apply; see freelancing on a dependant visa.
What the rules say
Appendix FM sets the conditions of partner permission. Paragraphs D-ECP.1.1 (entry clearance) and D-LTRP.1.1 (leave to remain) make the grant "subject to a condition of no recourse to public funds". The only employment prohibition in those paragraphs is for fiancé(e)s and proposed civil partners, whose six-month permission is "subject to a prohibition on employment". GOV.UK's partner page says fiancé(e)s cannot work during the engagement and that, once married and approved, "you'll have the right to work or study".
| Permission | Work | Public funds |
|---|---|---|
| Fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner (6 months) | Prohibited | No recourse |
| Partner or spouse, entry clearance (up to 33 months) | No prohibition | No recourse |
| Partner or spouse, leave to remain (up to 30 months) | No prohibition | No recourse |
| ILR after 5 years | No restriction | If eligible |
GOV.UK gives the first grant as up to 2 years and 9 months and each extension as up to 2 years and 6 months, and says the earliest you can apply for ILR is after 5 continuous years in the UK on a family visa as a partner.
The catch: the financial requirement
The freedom to work is not the only question. When you extend, and when you apply for ILR, you or your partner must meet the financial requirement again. Self-employment income can count, but it is evidenced differently from a salary and usually relies on tax returns and accounts for a full financial year. GOV.UK has a separate page on financial requirements for partners; read it before either of you leaves a salaried job to freelance, so the household still meets the requirement at the next application.
Worked example
Example only. Bolu is on a spouse visa granted for 2 years and 9 months. Her husband's salary meets the financial requirement. Eight months in, she starts freelancing for Nigerian media clients, earning about £1,500 a month. Her own work is allowed and does not affect the extension, because the household relies on his salary. If he left his job and they planned to rely on her freelance income at extension, they would need her accounts and Self Assessment return to cover the period the rules require, so they should check the financial requirement page well in advance.
Setting up the freelance work
- Register as a sole trader with HMRC; GOV.UK says you must register for Self Assessment once self-employment income passes £1,000 in a tax year.
- Keep business money in an account in your own name, separate from household spending.
- Keep invoices, contracts and bank records that show the income clearly; they may later be evidence for the financial requirement.
- Plan for Nigerian withholding tax on fees paid by Nigerian companies, and keep the receipts.
- File on time: late returns weaken any reliance on self-employment income.
Public funds and travel
The no-recourse condition means you cannot claim most benefits until ILR, even if freelance income falls. Time spent in Nigeria with clients counts against the continuous residence needed for ILR, so check how much absence the settlement rules allow before planning long stays.
Tax basics for your first year
Freelance income from Nigerian clients is UK income for a UK resident. You report it on your Self Assessment return, along with any UK work, and claim relief for Nigerian tax the treaty allowed Nigeria to charge. Keep the withholding tax receipt for every payment from a Nigerian company, the invoice it relates to, and the bank record of the net amount.
- Register for Self Assessment once self-employment income passes £1,000 in a tax year.
- Set aside part of every payment for tax; there is no employer deducting it for you.
- Keep expenses receipts, including for any work trip to Nigeria, separate from family travel.
- Send clients your UTR so their WHT receipts name you correctly (the TIN question).
If your partner wants to freelance too
The settled or British partner can freelance without any immigration limit. The risk is the same as above: if the household relies on that partner's income to meet the financial requirement, switching from a salary to self-employment changes the evidence you need at the next application. Plan the timing together and keep the accounts tidy from the first month.
Where Pryme fits
Clear records are the point of a separate business account. A Pryme Business Account holds naira from Nigerian clients and sterling from UK ones with local details for each, and verifiable statements, through our partnership with VerifyDoc.ai, can be checked as genuine and unaltered by whoever you show them to. Invoicing keeps every fee on record. See also proving freelance income.
Questions people ask
Can I be self-employed on a spouse visa?
Yes. Appendix FM partner permission carries no prohibition on employment; only fiancé(e) permission does.
Can I work on a fiancé visa?
No. Appendix FM makes fiancé(e) permission subject to a prohibition on employment.
Does freelance income count for the spouse visa financial requirement?
It can, but it is evidenced differently from salary. Check GOV.UK's financial requirements page before relying on it.
When can I apply for ILR on a partner visa?
After 5 continuous years in the UK on a family visa as a partner, per GOV.UK.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Immigration Rules Appendix FM (family members) · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Family visas, apply as a partner or spouse · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Set up as a sole trader (updated 5 Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Register for Self Assessment · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.