Use this spouse visa financial documents checklist to organise your evidence before applying. The documents depend on the financial category you use; six months of payslips is not a universal requirement for every application.
Start with our spouse visa income and savings guide to identify whether the standard £29,000 threshold, transitional rules or adequate maintenance applies. This checklist focuses on financial evidence, not the complete relationship, identity and accommodation application pack.
1. Record the calculation and application date
- Identify whether you are applying from abroad, switching, extending or seeking settlement.
- Record the applicable threshold and why it applies to you.
- List each income source, its owner and the relevant evidence period.
- Check that your chosen categories can be combined.
- Set a proposed application date and check the evidence against that date.
For a standard initial or extension application, £25,000 of qualifying income leaves a £4,000 shortfall. Where combining that income with savings is permitted, the savings requirement is £16,000 + (£4,000 × 2.5) = £26,000. Different rules apply at settlement. Source: Home Office financial requirement guidance.
2. Prepare employment evidence
| Document | What to check |
|---|---|
| Payslips | Cover the full required period: normally six months for Category A, or the relevant 12 months for Category B |
| Personal bank statements | Show the corresponding salary payments throughout that period |
| Employer letter | Confirms employment, gross annual salary, employment duration, period at that salary and employment type |
| Contract and P60, where relevant | Support the employment history; do not treat them as substitutes for required evidence |
Reconcile each payslip with the bank credit. Explain legitimate differences, such as separately paid expenses, rather than leaving the reviewer to infer them. Check the additional authenticity requirements for electronic payslips and statements.
Category B normally involves both current employment income and actual qualifying earnings during the preceding 12 months. A new job paying £29,000 does not automatically satisfy both tests. Source: Appendix FM-SE employment evidence and calculations.
3. Prepare cash savings evidence
- Statements covering the required six-month period and showing the required balance throughout.
- Evidence that the account belongs to the applicant, their partner or both.
- A declaration explaining the source of the funds, with supporting records where needed.
- Confirmation that the funds are accessible and meet the account requirements.
- For a qualifying property sale or investment conversion, evidence of previous ownership, the transaction and net proceeds.
A gift explanation alone does not waive the holding period. Overseas accounts may qualify; using a UK bank is not a general requirement. Check the institution, currency conversion and document conditions. Source: Appendix FM-SE, cash savings provisions.
4. Collect evidence for other income categories
Self-employment or a specified limited company: prepare the relevant tax returns, tax calculations, accounts, bank statements and evidence of ongoing activity. The precise list differs for sole traders, partnerships and specified companies. Ask your accountant for the documents covering the required full financial year or years; an SA302 alone is not a complete pack.
Pension income: obtain official confirmation of the pension and bank evidence of receipt.
Rental or other non-employment income: establish ownership or entitlement, the amount received and the supporting agreement or tax records where required.
Adequate maintenance: obtain the specified benefit award evidence and records needed to assess income, housing costs and the household’s circumstances. Source: Home Office financial requirement guidance.
5. Check dates and document quality
Where the rules require evidence covering a period up to the application date, the most recent part must generally be dated no earlier than 28 days before applying. Check the specific requirement for each source rather than assuming all documents follow the same timetable.
Ensure scans are complete and legible, names and account details are consistent, and documents not in English or Welsh have the required translations. Use clear filenames and a short contents list, and follow the upload service’s file-size and category instructions. Source: Appendix FM-SE.
6. Run a final reconciliation
Before submitting, confirm that every amount used in the calculation has supporting evidence, every required month is present, and every permitted combination has been checked. Keep copies of the final application and uploaded documents.
If you still fall short, seek advice before relying on exceptional circumstances. A statement about family hardship does not itself replace the financial requirement.
Need a document review?
Our family visa service can help identify the correct evidence category and gaps in your pack. Request an initial call for advice on employment income, self-employment, savings or transitional eligibility.