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The short answer
Cash savings can be used instead of, or alongside, income for a UK partner visa, and savings in a Nigerian bank can count. Only the amount above £16,000 counts; at entry clearance it is divided by 2.5, so savings alone must be at least £88,500 to meet the £29,000 requirement. The money must have been held for at least six months, in your name, your partner's or jointly, and under your control, at a regulated institution not excluded by the Home Office.
The requirement savings have to meet
GOV.UK says you and your partner usually need to show a combined income of at least £29,000 a year, with exceptions such as certain disability or carer's benefits and partners who first applied before 11 April 2024. GOV.UK's evidence page lists "cash savings above £16,000" among the sources that can count. The Home Office caseworker guidance (version 13.0, published 11 November 2025) sets out how.
How savings are counted
- The first £16,000 is ignored.
- At entry clearance and when extending, the amount above £16,000 is divided by 2.5. At indefinite leave to remain, the whole amount above £16,000 counts.
- The savings must have been held for at least six months and be under your control.
- They must be in the name of the applicant, the partner, or both jointly.
- A gift from a third party can be the source, if it has been held for at least six months before the application and is under your control.
- Savings can be combined with other income sources, under further guidance.
Worked example: savings alone
Example only. To meet £29,000 with savings alone at entry clearance: £29,000 × 2.5 = £72,500, plus the £16,000 that is ignored, gives £88,500. A couple with £60,000 saved counts (£60,000 − £16,000) ÷ 2.5 = £17,600 towards the requirement and would need other qualifying income to cover the rest.
Using savings held in Nigeria
The guidance requires accounts to be held with a regulated institution that is not on the excluded-institutions list in Appendix Finance, and refers to the appropriate regulatory body in the country where an overseas account is held. In Nigeria that means a CBN-licensed bank. Check the current Appendix Finance list before relying on any particular institution.
Evidence the statements must meet
- Statements on the bank's official stationery, or electronic statements with a letter from the bank confirming them or the bank's stamp on every page.
- Covering the full six-month period, in the right name or names.
- A full, verifiable translation of anything not in English or Welsh; Nigerian bank statements are usually in English.
Ask your Nigerian bank early. Stamped statements covering six months can take time, and an e-statement downloaded from an app will not meet the rule on its own.
The exchange-rate problem
The guidance converts foreign-currency savings at the OANDA closing spot rate on the date of application. For naira savings that is a real risk. Example only: ₦160 million is about £89,800 at roughly ₦1,782 to the pound (late October 2026 indicative rate). If the naira weakens by 5% before you apply, the same balance is worth about £85,300, below £88,500. Hold a margin above the minimum, or consider moving the savings into pounds early enough that the six-month clock is met in sterling.
Moving money between accounts can restart or complicate the six-month history, so plan the timing with the guidance in front of you. Our guides to converting naira savings to pounds and records for moving your own money help with the paper trail.
Where Nigerian savings evidence goes wrong
- The six months are counted back from the application date, so a large deposit five months ago does not yet count in full.
- The account is in a parent's name, or held jointly with a sibling. The guidance requires the applicant, the partner or both jointly; a gift moved into your own name can work, but its six months start when it is under your control.
- A fixed deposit that cannot be accessed. The guidance requires the money to be under your control; ask the bank to confirm in writing that you can withdraw it.
- Statements printed from the app, without the bank's stamp or covering letter.
- A large unexplained credit in the period. Caseworkers can ask where it came from, so keep a gift letter or sale document ready.
A careful applicant can fix most of these with time, which is why starting six months or more ahead matters.
What to check first
- Confirm which category you are applying under and the exact requirement in the current guidance.
- Check the savings have been in the right names, at a regulated and non-excluded institution, for six full months on the application date.
- Order stamped statements for the whole period.
- Recalculate at today's rate and keep a buffer for exchange-rate moves.
- Take advice from a regulated immigration adviser if your case is complex. This guide is information, not immigration advice.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme does not give immigration advice. If you hold savings in both currencies, a Pryme account shows NGN and GBP balances separately, and you can request a verifiable statement through Pryme's partner VerifyDoc.ai. Whether any statement meets the Home Office rules is for the caseworker to decide, so check the guidance on format first.
Questions people ask
Can I use savings in a Nigerian bank for a UK spouse visa?
Savings held overseas can count if the institution is regulated and not on the Home Office excluded list, the money has been held for six months in the right names, and the statements meet the evidence rules.
How much savings do I need for a UK partner visa without income?
At entry clearance, £88,500: the £29,000 requirement multiplied by 2.5, plus the first £16,000, which is ignored.
What exchange rate is used for naira savings?
The Home Office guidance uses the OANDA closing spot rate on the date of application.
Can a gift from my parents count as savings?
Yes, if it has been held for at least six months before the application, in your or your partner's name, and is under your control.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Partner visa, proof of income (public update 31 Oct 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Family visa, information and evidence you need to provide · accessed Oct 2026
- Home Office: Family Migration, Appendix FM and Appendix HM Armed Forces, minimum income requirement, version 13.0 (11 Nov 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- Bank of England: Daily spot exchange rates against sterling · accessed Oct 2026
- Techeconomy: Dollar to naira exchange rate today, 21 October 2026 · 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.