UK Exempts 2 Categories of Foreigners from £29,000 Family Visa Income Requirement

• The United Kingdom (UK) government has published the financial rules for family visa applicants coming as a partner or spouse
• Two categories of foreign applicants do not need to meet the standard £29,000 (about ₦59.9m) combined income threshold
• Applicants who first applied before April 11, 2024 and are extending their visa face a lower income requirement of £18,600 a year

The UK government has confirmed that two groups of foreign nationals applying for a family visa as a partner or spouse are exempt from the standard minimum income requirement of £29,000 (about ₦59.9 million) per year.

Under the current rules, most applicants and their UK-based partners must show a combined annual income of at least £29,000 to qualify for a family visa.

However, the government's official guidance makes clear that this threshold does not apply to everyone.

1. Partners of disability or carer's benefit recipients

Applicants whose UK partners receive certain disability or carer's benefits are not required to meet the £29,000 income threshold.

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The qualifying benefits include Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Carer's Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance, Armed Forces Independence Payment, Adult Disability Payment, Child Disability Payment, and several others.

Instead of proving a set income figure, these applicants must show they have enough money to house and support their household without drawing on additional public funds. A caseworker will assess both income and housing costs when reviewing such applications.

2. Applicants extending a pre-April 2024 visa

The second exempt category covers foreign nationals who first applied as a partner before April 11, 2024, and are now seeking to extend that same visa.

This group, including those who originally applied as a fiancé, fiancée, or proposed civil partner, only needs to prove a combined household income of £18,600 (about ₦35.1 million) per year, rather than the standard £29,000.

Those in this category who have children may need to demonstrate additional funds. The requirement is an extra £3,800 (about ₦7.2 million) per year for the first child and £2,400 (about ₦4.5 million) for each child after that. However, if the total calculated amount exceeds £29,000, applicants only need to prove earnings of £29,000.

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Children who are British or Irish citizens, hold pre-settled status, or are permanently settled in the UK are excluded from the additional income calculation.

The government also noted that applicants may use savings in place of income to satisfy the financial requirements, depending on how their income was earned.

In a related story, Legit.ng reported that the UK had published six visa options for migrants after a divorce or a separation.

Getting faster UK visa and citizenship decisions

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the UK had explained how to get faster visa and citizenship decisions.

According to official UK government guidance published in 2026, applicants who qualify can choose between a priority service and a super priority service when submitting their applications, with each tier offering a different turnaround time.

The priority service costs £500 (roughly ₦988,000) on top of the standard application fee. Under this tier, most visa and settlement decisions are issued within five working days.

Source: Legit.ng