UK Spouse Visa: 3-Month Payslip Rule

The financial requirement is one of the most scrutinised aspects of a UK Spouse Visa application. To qualify, applicants must prove that their British or settled partner earns enough to meet the Home Office’s minimum income threshold, currently £29,000 per year for applications made on or after 11 April 2025.

For many couples, this requirement is met through the sponsor’s employment income. Payslips and bank statements form the core evidence of this, but the question of how many months of payslips are required is not always straightforward.

What this article is about:
This guide explains when an applicant can rely on three months of payslips to meet the financial requirement under the UK Spouse Visa. It breaks down the relevant income categories in Appendix FM-SE, clarifies the evidence rules for each, and highlights when three months’ payslips are legally sufficient under Category B.

The goal is to help applicants prepare compliant, verifiable evidence that satisfies Home Office requirements and avoids technical refusals due to missing or outdated documentation.

Section A: Financial Requirement Overview

The financial requirement ensures that a sponsoring partner can support their spouse without recourse to public funds. The Home Office applies strict evidential rules, and each piece of evidence must comply with Appendix FM and Appendix FM-SE of the Immigration Rules.

1. What is the Spouse Visa financial requirement?

The minimum income threshold for spouse and partner visas under Appendix FM is £29,000 gross per year (effective 11 April 2025). The sponsor must demonstrate this income level from one or more permitted sources.

If the income requirement cannot be met through employment alone, other sources such as pension income, non-employment income, or savings may be used, provided they meet the format and duration criteria under Appendix FM-SE.

The Home Office evaluates both the level and continuity of income. The relevant category under Appendix FM-SE determines how many months of payslips and bank statements must be provided.

2. Home Office evidential categories

The six income categories are:

• Category A: Same employment for six months or longer.
• Category B: New employment under six months or variable income.
• Category C: Non-employment income (e.g. rent, dividends).
• Category D: Cash savings.
• Category E: Pension income.
• Category F/G: Self-employment or company director income.

The three-month payslip rule applies only under Category B, where the sponsor has not yet reached six months of continuous employment.

Section Summary: The financial requirement under Appendix FM is fixed at £29,000 and must be evidenced through the correct income category. Whether three or six months of payslips are required depends entirely on which category applies.

Section B: When 3 Months’ Payslips Are Acceptable

Under Category B, a sponsor employed for less than six months may provide three months’ payslips — but they must satisfy both tests in Appendix FM-SE paragraph 2(a)–(b).

1. Category B explained (less than six months with current employer)

Two tests must be passed:

• Gross Annual Salary Test: The sponsor’s current gross annual salary at the date of application must meet or exceed £29,000.
• 12-Month Income Test: The total income actually received by the sponsor in the 12 months prior to the application must also meet or exceed £29,000, including income from previous employment.

Example: If the sponsor began a new job three months ago at £31,000 per year and earned £29,500 in the previous 12 months from all employment, they satisfy both tests and can rely on three months’ payslips.

Failing either test will result in refusal.

2. Required evidence under Category B

Applicants must provide:

• Three months’ payslips from the current employer;
• Three months’ corresponding bank statements showing salary deposits;
• A signed employment letter confirming job title, start date, contract type, and gross annual salary, and verifying that the payslips are genuine; and
• Additional evidence covering previous employment to demonstrate 12-month total income.

Each document must cover the same consecutive period and comply with the 28-day rule. Missing or outdated documents will invalidate the financial evidence.

3. Common compliance issues

Common errors include:

• Payslips and bank statements that do not match exactly.
• Employer letters missing salary or contract details.
• Incorrect calculation of the 12-month income period.
• Unverified electronic payslips.

Section Summary: Three months’ payslips are acceptable only under Category B where both income tests are met. The evidence must be internally consistent, dated within 28 days of submission, and formatted exactly as prescribed in Appendix FM-SE.

Section C: Other Evidence Scenarios

While three months’ payslips can meet the financial requirement in specific Category B circumstances, most applicants fall under other income categories where different evidence rules apply. Understanding these scenarios ensures that applicants provide complete and compliant documentation from the outset.

1. Category A (six months or more with the same employer)

Sponsors employed with the same employer for six months or longer must provide six months’ payslips and corresponding bank statements. Three months is insufficient under Appendix FM-SE paragraph 1(a).

The key requirement under Category A is that the sponsor’s gross annual salary at the time of application meets or exceeds £29,000. Past earnings are not considered as long as the ongoing employment is stable and continuous.

2. Combining income sources

Income may be combined where Appendix FM-SE expressly allows it. Employment income may be combined with:

• Category C (non-employment income); or
• Category D (cash savings).

Savings are calculated using the Home Office formula:

(Shortfall × 2.5) + £16,000 = Minimum savings required.

For example, if the sponsor’s income is £27,000, falling £2,000 short of the £29,000 threshold, they would need at least £21,000 in savings to meet the requirement.

3. Using savings instead of payslips

Applicants can rely solely on cash savings under Category D if they cannot meet the income threshold through employment. To replace income completely, they must hold at least £88,500 in savings, calculated as £16,000 plus 2.5 times the £29,000 shortfall.

The savings must be:

• Held by the sponsor, applicant, or jointly in their names;
• Under their control and from a lawful source;
• Held for a continuous period of six months; and
• In a regulated financial institution.

Section Summary: Applicants using Category A must provide six months of evidence, while those relying on savings alone must meet the £88,500 savings rule. Combining income and savings is permitted only where expressly allowed by Appendix FM-SE.

Section D: Practical Tips for Applicants

Even when an applicant meets the income threshold, many spouse visa refusals arise from technical documentation errors. Appendix FM-SE is explicit: if a payslip, bank statement, or employer letter fails to meet the prescribed standard, the Home Office can refuse the application without discretion. This section outlines practical measures to ensure financial evidence is accurate, verifiable, and fully compliant.

1. Formatting and verification

The Home Office requires that payslips and bank statements demonstrate authenticity and consistency. Payslips should include:

• The employer’s name and address;
• The sponsor’s name;
• Gross and net pay for each period;
• The date of payment; and
• Deductions for tax and National Insurance.

Electronic payslips are accepted if issued directly by the employer or a secure online payroll system. Where payslips are printed or downloaded, the sponsor must provide a signed and dated letter from the employer confirming authenticity.

Bank statements must clearly show that salary payments were made by the employer named on the payslips and that the amounts and dates match exactly. Statements printed from online banking portals are acceptable if they are stamped and initialled by the bank.

2. Employer letter requirements

The sponsor’s employment letter is a mandatory supporting document for all employment-based applications. It must be issued on official headed paper, signed by a senior officer or HR representative, and include:

• The sponsor’s start date and current employment status;
• The type of contract (permanent, fixed-term, or temporary);
• The gross annual salary;
• Confirmation that the payslips provided are genuine; and
• A statement that the sponsor remains in current employment.

Where the employer letter omits key information such as salary or contract type, the Home Office is likely to deem the evidence incomplete. Each detail must match the corresponding information on the payslips and bank statements.

3. Timing and validity

Under Appendix FM-SE paragraph 1(b), all documents must be dated no more than 28 days before the online application submission date. If the most recent payslip or bank statement is older than this, the evidence will be considered out of date.

Applicants should plan carefully, ensuring all payslips, statements, and letters are issued within the 28-day period. Coordinating timing across multiple sources—particularly when gathering evidence from previous employers—can prevent technical refusal.

Section Summary: To rely on three months’ payslips successfully, all financial documents must be genuine, up to date, and consistent. Payslips must correspond to bank deposits, the employer letter must confirm all prescribed details, and every document must fall within the 28-day validity period.

FAQs

1. Can I apply for a UK Spouse Visa with only 3 months’ payslips?

Yes, but only if your sponsoring partner falls under Category B of Appendix FM-SE — meaning they have been with their current employer for less than six months. In that case, three months’ payslips may be used provided that the sponsor’s current annual salary and their total income over the previous 12 months both meet or exceed £29,000.

2. What if my partner has been with their employer for more than six months?

If your sponsoring partner has been employed by the same employer for six months or longer, the application must be assessed under Category A. This requires six months of payslips and bank statements. Submitting only three months’ payslips would not meet the Home Office’s evidential requirements.

3. Can I combine three months’ payslips with savings to meet the threshold?

Yes. Applicants may combine employment income with cash savings held for at least six months. The Home Office applies the formula:

(Shortfall × 2.5) + £16,000 = Required savings.

For example, if your annual income is £27,000 (a shortfall of £2,000), you would need at least £21,000 in savings to reach the equivalent of the £29,000 threshold.

4. Are electronic payslips acceptable to the Home Office?

Yes, provided they are clearly issued by the employer. Where payslips are printed from an online portal, the sponsor must include a signed employer letter confirming authenticity. Without this, the Home Office may reject the evidence.

5. What happens if my documents are more than 28 days old?

All financial documents must be dated within 28 days of the online application submission date. Evidence older than this is considered out of date and will not be accepted. It is important to refresh your payslips and bank statements before submission if necessary.

6. How strict is the Home Office about payslip and bank statement matching?

The Home Office is extremely strict. The amounts, payment dates, and employer details must correspond exactly between payslips and bank statements. Even minor discrepancies, such as spelling errors or missing deposits, can result in refusal.

7. Can I rely on my partner’s income if they work abroad?

Income earned overseas can only be considered if the sponsor is returning to the UK to take up or continue employment with a confirmed UK job offer. The new employment must start within three months of arrival, and the contract or offer letter must confirm that the salary meets or exceeds the financial requirement.

Conclusion

The ability to rely on three months’ payslips for a UK Spouse Visa depends entirely on the sponsor’s employment circumstances and the category applied under Appendix FM-SE. For most applicants, the Home Office expects six months of payslips and bank statements under Category A, where the sponsor has been employed by the same employer for at least six months.

However, under Category B, sponsors who have been in their current role for less than six months can rely on three months’ payslips if both of the following conditions are met:

• The sponsor’s current gross annual salary meets or exceeds £29,000; and
• The sponsor’s total income from the past 12 months (including any previous employment) also meets or exceeds the £29,000 threshold.

To succeed under this rule, the applicant must provide complete and consistent evidence, including:

• Three months’ consecutive payslips and matching bank statements;
• A signed employment letter confirming job title, salary, and contract type; and
• Evidence from previous employment where needed to prove total annual income.

Home Office caseworkers apply these evidential standards rigorously. Even minor administrative errors—such as missing payslips, outdated letters, or mismatched payment dates—can lead to refusal. Ensuring every document aligns with Appendix FM-SE formatting and timing rules is therefore crucial.

Where applicants cannot meet the income threshold through employment alone, cash savings can be used to supplement or replace income, provided the funds have been held for six months and meet the prescribed calculation formula.

Ultimately, a successful application depends on understanding which financial category applies and preparing evidence accordingly. Accuracy, consistency, and compliance with Appendix FM-SE are the hallmarks of an approvable spouse visa case.

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