Checklist

Family Migration Financial Evidence Checklist

UK Family Visa Financial Evidence List

The required financial evidence for UK Family Visas must be in the name of the applicant's partner, the applicant or both, as appropriate and original documents (not copies) unless otherwise specified.

For employment-related earnings, bank statements covering the period(s) of employment relied upon must be provided.

For non-employment income, only those bank statements which show the income being relied upon must be provided.

This checklist can be printed, or logged in users may tick the boxes to save their own list, just by ticking the boxes. 

See also our UK Family Migration Calculator tool.

Salaried employment evidence:

(if this has been issued) and wage slips for the 6-month period prior to the application, or as appropriate, for the 12-month period prior to the application.

confirming the employment and annual salary, length of employment (and the period over which they have been or were paid the level of salary relied upon in the application), and the type of employment (permanent, fixed-term contract or agency).

Job offer evidence (applicant's partner returning to work in UK):

confirming the job offer and salary or enclosing a signed contract of employment, to commence within 3 months of the applicant’s partner’s return to the UK.

Evidence for statutory/contractual maternity/paternity/adoption pay (in the UK):

 for the 6-month (Category A) or 12-month (Category B) period prior to commencement of the maternity/paternity/adoption leave.

 confirming the length of the person’s employment, gross annual salary (and the period over which it has been paid at this level), entitlement to maternity/paternity/adoption leave, and date of commencement and end-date of the maternity/paternity/adoption leave.

Evidence for statutory/contractual sick pay (in the UK):

 for the 6-month (Category A) or 12-month (Category B) period prior to commencement of the sick leave.

 confirming the length of the person’s employment, gross annual salary (and the period over which it has been paid at this level), that the person is in receipt of statutory/contractual sick pay, and the date of commencement of the sick leave.

Evidence for Self-employment – partnership, sole trader, franchise:

 amount payable for the last financial year; the amount of tax paid for the last financial year; and the amount of any unpaid tax for the last financial year.

to HMRC and Statement of Account (SA300 or SA302). If necessary, the same for the previous financial year if the latest return does not show the necessary level of income, but the average of the last 2 financial years does.

with HMRC as self-employed. Proof of registration must be original or certified copy of documentation issued by HMRC only.

for the same 12-month period as the tax return(s).

 for the same 12-month period as the tax return(s). These statements must show that the income from self-employment has been paid into the person’s account.

 for self-employed persons, evidence of payment of Class 2 National Insurance contributions. For Directors, Current Appointment Reports from Companies House.

Plus one of the following documents:

 with the name of the accountant clearly shown. The accountant must be a member of an accredited accounting body (CIMA, CIPFA, ACCA, ACA, etc).

 confirming VAT registration number if turnover in excess of £73,000.

where this is a requirement.

 This is a mandatory document for any organisation that is a franchise.

Evidence For Self-Employment limited company based in UK:

 with the name of the accountant clearly shown. The accountant must be a member of an accredited accounting body (CIMA, CIPFA, ACCA, ACA, etc).

 covering the same 12-month period as the tax return(s).

 covering the same 12-month period as the tax return(s). These statements must show that the income from self-employment has been paid into the person’s account.

 for self-employed persons, evidence of payment of Class 2 National Insurance contributions. For Directors, Current Appointment Reports from Companies House.

Plus one of the following:

if turnover in excess of £73,000.

with HMRC as an employer for the purposes of PAYE and National Insurance. Proof of PAYE Reference Number and Accounts Office Reference Number. Evidence of registration must be original or certified copy of documentation issued by HMRC only.

This is a mandatory document for a company registered on the London Stock Exchange or an FSA-approved international stock exchange.

Evidence For Non-Employment Income:

Property Rental:

e.g. title deeds of the property (if held), mortgage statement.

Evidence For Income From Investments, Dividends, Stocks, Shares, Bonds or Trust Funds

(for a financial institution regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the UK).

Profits from the sale of investments can contribute to cash savings and will not be treated as income from investments.

Evidence for Savings Interest

showing the amount of the savings held by the applicant’s partner and/or the applicant and that the interest has been paid into an account in the name of the applicant’s partner, the applicant or both jointly in the 12-month period prior to the application.

Evidence for Maintenance Payments

Maintenance payments (from a former partner to maintain their and the applicant’s child or children)

Evidence for State or Private Pension

from HMRC (in respect of the Basic State Pension and the Additional or Second State Pension), an overseas pension authority, and/or a pension company confirming pension entitlement and amount.

showing payment of the pension into an account in the name of the applicant’s partner, the applicant or both jointly.

Evidence for UK Maternity Allowance, Bereavement Allowance, Bereavement Payment and Widowed Parent’s Allowance.

confirming the applicant’s partner (or, where they have paid sufficient National Insurance contributions, the applicant) is or was in receipt of the benefit.

to show the income relied upon was paid into an account in the name of the applicant’s partner, the applicant or both jointly in the 12-month period prior to the application.

Evidence for Cash Savings

to show the cash savings have been held in an account in the name of the applicant’s partner, the applicant or both jointly for at least the 6-month period prior to the application.

Evidence for Exemption from Financial Requirements

Where the applicant’s partner is in receipt of Carer’s Allowance or any of the following disability-related benefits in the UK, the applicant is exempt from thefinancial requirement of that application stage:

  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Severe Disablement Allowance
  • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
  • Attendance Allowance

Applicant must provide:

from HMRC confirming the applicant’s partner’s entitlement and the amount received.

showing payment of the benefit or allowance into an account in the name of the applicant’s partner.


The checklist has been created using the information from UKBA Staff Guidance and is not legal advice.

If you have questions on the general visa/immigration rules, please post them in the discussion forum.

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