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The short answer
As at October 2026, GOV.UK says a couple applying for a UK partner visa usually needs a combined income of at least £29,000 a year. Savings can fill a shortfall: Appendix FM requires £16,000 plus 2.5 times the gap, so savings alone must reach £88,500, and those savings must have been held for 6 months before the application.
If your husband, wife or partner lives in the UK and you are applying from Nigeria, the financial requirement is usually the hardest part of the application. This guide sets out the threshold, how savings can replace income, and the evidence periods, using GOV.UK and the Immigration Rules (Appendix FM and Appendix FM-SE) as at October 2026.
The minimum income threshold
GOV.UK's proof-of-income page says you and your partner usually need a combined income of at least £29,000 a year. This is the 'minimum income requirement'. Two exceptions apply:
- If you first applied as a partner before 11 April 2024 and are extending with the same partner, the old figure of £18,600 applies, plus £3,800 for the first child and £2,400 for each further child (capped at £29,000).
- If your UK partner receives one of the listed disability or carer's benefits, there is no fixed threshold; you instead show you can be supported and housed without additional public funds.
For a new application from Nigeria, plan on £29,000. Under Appendix FM (E-ECP.3.2), income can come from the UK partner's employment or self-employment (including overseas work if the partner is returning to the UK with you), pensions, certain other specified income, and savings. Paragraph (a) refers to the partner's employment income; your own salary in Nigeria is not listed there, so do not build a plan around it without checking E-ECP.3.2 and Appendix FM-SE for your circumstances.
The savings formula
Appendix FM paragraph E-ECP.3.1 lets savings make up a shortfall. You need:
- Base amount
- £16,000 (this part never counts toward the shortfall)
- Plus
- 2.5 × (£29,000 − your qualifying income)
| Qualifying income | Shortfall | Savings needed |
|---|---|---|
| £29,000 or more | £0 | None |
| £24,000 | £5,000 | £16,000 + £12,500 = £28,500 |
| £20,000 | £9,000 | £16,000 + £22,500 = £38,500 |
| £0 (savings only) | £29,000 | £16,000 + £72,500 = £88,500 |
Example: Tolu's husband in Birmingham earns £24,000 a year. They are £5,000 short. They need £16,000 + (2.5 × £5,000) = £28,500 in cash savings, held for the full six months.
What counts as savings, and for how long
Appendix FM-SE sets the evidence rules:
- Savings must be held in cash, in the name of you, your partner, or both jointly.
- Bank statements must show at least the amount relied on held throughout the 6 months before the application (paragraph 11).
- Any current, deposit or investment account qualifies if it is with a regulated institution and allows the money to be accessed immediately, with or without a penalty for withdrawing without notice (paragraph 11A).
- Money moved into cash from shares, bonds or investments in the six months can count, subject to conditions in paragraph 11A(c).
- Foreign-currency savings are converted using the Appendix Finance rate (OANDA, date of application).
That last point matters for naira savings: the sterling value is taken on the application date, so a fall in the naira can push you below the line. Our guide on how the Home Office converts naira explains the rate.
The evidence period for income
For a partner in salaried UK employment, FM-SE paragraph 2 requires payslips covering 6 months before the application if they have been with their current employer for at least 6 months, plus a letter from the employer confirming the salary and length of employment, and matching bank statements. If they have been in the job for less than 6 months, the payslips must cover any period of salaried employment in the 12 months before the application (paragraph 2(a)(ii)), and the income is calculated differently under paragraph 13(b). Self-employed income is assessed on financial years, which needs its own careful reading of the rules.
What to check first
- Add up the UK partner's qualifying gross income. Is it £29,000 or more?
- If not, calculate £16,000 + 2.5 × the shortfall.
- Make sure any savings have sat in cash, in your names, for 6 full months before you apply.
- Gather 6 months of payslips, the employer letter and matching bank statements.
- Check the exceptions if your partner receives a listed benefit or you are extending a pre-April 2024 visa.
Where Pryme fits
If part of your savings sits in Nigeria, a Pryme account can hold it in GBP so the sterling value does not move with the naira over the six months, and you can create a verifiable statement through VerifyDoc.ai. For couples weighing currencies, see dollars or naira from family abroad.
Questions people ask
What is the UK spouse visa income requirement in 2026?
As at October 2026, GOV.UK says a combined income of at least £29,000 a year for most new partner applications.
How much savings do I need for a UK spouse visa without income?
Under Appendix FM, £16,000 plus 2.5 × £29,000, which is £88,500, held in cash for 6 months before applying.
Can my Nigerian salary count for the UK spouse visa?
For entry clearance, Appendix FM counts mainly the UK partner's employment income, pensions and specified other income and savings. Check paragraph E-ECP.3.2 for your case.
Is it still £18,600 for spouse visa extensions?
Only if you first applied as a partner before 11 April 2024 and are extending with the same partner.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Family visas – proof of income for a partner (updated Sep 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Immigration Rules Appendix FM (updated Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Immigration Rules Appendix FM-SE (updated Oct 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.