How Swiss Residents Can Combine Sources of Income to Meet the UK Partner & Family Visa Financial Requirement

If you are a resident of Switzerland seeking to join your spouse or partner in the UK, you must meet the financial requirement under Appendix FM of the UK Immigration Rules. This means demonstrating an annual income of at least £29,000. There is no longer a separate child element to this requirement.

This article explains how different sources of income can be combined to meet the UK spouse or partner visa financial requirement, providing key insights for Swiss applicants.

Meeting the UK Partner & Family Visa Financial Requirement

Definitions

• Salaried employment: Fixed annual income with a contractual minimum number of working hours.

• Non-salaried employment: Paid at an hourly rate with no guaranteed minimum hours (e.g., zero-hours contracts).

Categories of Income

Category A: Employment for More than 6 Months

Your UK-based sponsor (or you, if already in the UK with permission to work) has been in employment for at least six months, earning the required income.

Category B: Employment for Less than 6 Months

Your sponsor and/or you have worked for less than six months or have not met the required income level in that period.

Category C: Non-Employment Income

Eligible income sources include:

• Rental income from property;

• Dividends and investment returns;

• Interest from savings.

Income from these sources within the 12 months before application can count toward the requirement.

Category D: Cash Savings

Swiss residents can use cash savings over £16,000 to meet the visa financial requirement.

Category E: Pension

Pension income from the UK, Switzerland, or other countries (state, occupational, or private) can contribute to meeting the financial requirement.

Category F: Self-Employment and Directorships (Most Recent Financial Year)

If your UK-based partner (or you, if eligible to work) is self-employed or a director of a UK limited company, their last full financial year's income can be used.

Category G: Self-Employment and Directorships (Two-Year Average)

This category allows an average of the last two full financial years' income to be considered.

Combining Different Income Sources to Meet the UK Partner & Family Visa Requirement

If your Category A employment income falls short of the £29,000 threshold, you can combine it with:

• Category C (rental income, dividends, investment returns);

• Category D (cash savings);

• Category E (pension income).

  
  

Category A income can also be combined with Categories F and G, but only for the relevant financial year(s).

Category B income can be combined in the same way, except in cases where combining with cash savings (Category D) is not permitted.

Which Income Sources Cannot Be Combined?

• Category A and Category B income cannot be combined.

• Category B income cannot always be combined with cash savings, especially when assessing past 12-month earnings.

• Cash savings cannot be combined with self-employment income (Categories F or G).

Expert UK Immigration Advice for Swiss Residents

For tailored guidance on your UK spouse or partner visa application, contact our specialist UK immigration lawyers in Switzerland on +41 21 588 07 70 or complete our online enquiry form.