Partner and settlement assessment
For a British citizen returning from South Africa with a spouse or partner, the useful question is which income or savings category you can evidence at the application date. A combined household salary figure is only the beginning.
The usual minimum is £29,000 gross a year for a new partner application. Eligible sources and evidence rules determine what counts. Certain disability or carer’s benefits and qualifying earlier partner applications are treated differently; this is not a universal threshold for every family route. Partner financial requirements.
The standard current partner minimum has no extra amount per child. Older qualifying cases can have different child calculations. Confirm the first application date and whether the same partner route continues before using a historical figure.
Returning-sponsor employment rules can use qualifying overseas earnings with a confirmed UK job starting within three months of the sponsor’s return. The calculation depends on employment history: six months with the current employer and a shorter or variable history are not assessed identically.
The overseas income and UK offer must satisfy the relevant tests. A job offer alone is not enough. Ask for the financial category to be checked before giving notice, then align the evidence period, submission and UK job start date. Appendix FM-SE: specified evidence.
Category A normally checks the sponsor’s current overseas employment over at least six months and the UK job offer as separate requirements. Category B checks the UK offer and qualifying income actually received over the preceding 12 months; a returning sponsor need not still be employed on the application date. The permitted combinations and calculation must satisfy both parts.
For an initial entry-clearance application, the applicant’s overseas employment earnings cannot normally be used as though they were eligible UK employment income. The sponsor’s eligible earnings, qualifying savings and permitted other sources need separate examination. Rules for an applicant already in the UK with permission to work differ.
Start with what the visa rules allow you to rely on. Then check how your household will pay for the application and the move.
The applicable financial category determines what can count and how it must be proved.
See the returning-sponsor employment evidence example for how payslips, bank payments, employer evidence and dates fit together. It illustrates evidence questions, not an eligibility verdict.
Build a household budget around the costs and when you may need to pay them.
Not every source can be combined with every other source. A recent job change, variable pay or business income can change the calculation. Use Home Office financial guidance and Appendix FM-SE: specified evidence to identify the category before requesting a generic six-month document pack.
Employment commonly involves payslips, corresponding bank statements and employer evidence for the relevant period. Self-employment and specified company-director income require a different financial-year and business-document review. Rental income, pensions and other permitted sources have their own evidence requirements.
For a standard £29,000 initial partner application relying entirely on eligible cash savings, the calculation is £16,000 + (2.5 × £29,000) = £88,500. This is an evidence calculation, not a government fee. Savings normally need the required six-month history, permitted ownership, accessibility and a documented source; specified asset-sale situations have different evidence provisions.
Where permitted income and savings are combined, the calculation changes. Property value or borrowed money is not automatically eligible cash savings. Rand balances also need the applicable currency conversion; check the rule and exchange rate relevant to the application rather than using a convenient rate.
Specified disability or carer’s benefits can move the enquiry to adequate maintenance and accommodation. Qualifying transitional cases can use an earlier minimum. Provide the benefit type or first partner-application date so the review starts with the right test.
If the normal requirements cannot be met, exceptional-circumstances provisions need individual examination. Do not assume a future policy proposal changes the rules for an application now.
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These GOV.UK references support the guidance on this page.
Guidance checked on 11 October 2026. Your application still needs to be assessed against the rules relevant to its facts and date.
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