Appendix FM has different categories under which an applicant of spouse visa can meet financial requirements of the UK immigration rules. These include:
| Type | Permitted Sources | Combination |
| Category A | Income from salaried employment of the partner/spouse (and/or the applicant if they are in the UK with permission to work). | Income from Category A can be combined with Category D |
| Category B
|
Income from non-salaried employment of the partner/spouse (and/or the applicant if they are in the UK with permission to work). | Income from Category B can be combined with Category D and Category E |
| Category C
|
Non-salaried income, e.g. income from property rental or dividends from shares. | Income from Category C can be combined with Category A, B, and E |
| Category D
|
Cash savings of the applicant’s partner and/or the applicant, above £16,000, held by the partner and/or the applicant for at least 6 months and under their control. | Cash savings can be combined with Category A, B, C and E |
| Category E
|
State (UK or foreign), occupational or private pension of the applicant’s partner and/or the applicant. | Can be combined with Category A, B, C and D |
| Category F & Category G
|
Income from self-employment, and income as a director or employee of a specified limited company in the UK, of the partner (and/or the applicant if they are in the UK with permission to work) | Income from Category F or G can be combined with Category A, B & E |
It is possible to count combine income in this category when the sponsor or the applicant are in the UK with permission to work has been working for six months or more for the same employer.
If the sponsor is returning to the UK with applicant, they need to have been working for the overseas employer for six months or more and also, they need to have a job offer from a UK employer starting within 3 months with annual income of £18,600 or above.
Combination of Salaried and Non-Salaried income
Category E Pensions can be combined with income from:
- Category A: salaried and non-salaried employment;
- part (1) of Category B: salaried and non-salaried employment;
- Category C: non-employment income; and
- Category D: cash savings;
in order to meet the financial requirement.
When making an application under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules the gross annual income from any State, occupational or private pension which is being received by the applicant or their partner/spouse, can be counted towards the financial requirement.
The applicant or spouse must be receiving their pension income for at least 28 days or more prior to the application being made.
Combination of Category A and Category E Example:
- Applicant has a gross annual income of £12,000.00 from salaried employment and has been employed with the same employer earning the same salary for a period of over 6 months prior to the date of application.
The applicant’s gross income falls under Category A, however is not alone sufficient to meet the financial requirement of £18,600.00 (financial requirement for main applicant with no dependants).
- The applicant’s partner/spouse is retired and has been retired for over 12 months prior to the date of application. The applicant’s partner/spouse received a gross annual income of £17,000.00 from a combination of State and private pensions.
The applicant’s partner/spouse’s gross income falls under Category E, however is not alone sufficient to meet the financial requirement of £18,600.00 (financial requirements for main applicant with no dependants).
The applicant and their partner/spouse’s gross income from Category A and Category E can be combined to meet the financial requirement of £18,600.00.
Category A: gross income from salaried employment: £12,000.00
Plus
Category E: gross income from state/private pensions: £17,000.00
Total
Category A + Category E gross income = £29,000.00 combined gross annual income.
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