UK spouse visa with a self-employed sponsor: a practical guide

The threshold

The sponsor must show gross income of at least £29,000 a year. For self-employment, the figure is the gross taxable profit, not turnover.

Which period is assessed

• Category F: the last full financial year before the application, where the self-employment is ongoing.
• Category G: an average of the last two full financial years.
• A financial year is the UK tax year (6 April to 5 April) unless the business has a different accounting period.

Typical evidence

• HMRC tax calculation (SA302) and tax year overview for the relevant year(s).
• Evidence of registration as self-employed with HMRC.
• Business bank statements covering the same period as the accounts.
• Annual self-assessment tax return and, where required, accounts prepared by a qualified accountant.
• Evidence of ongoing self-employment, such as recent invoices or a current trading licence.

Company directors

Special evidential rules can apply where the applicant or partner is a director or employee of a specified limited company. Whether those rules apply depends on the ownership and control of the company, including the shareholding arrangements involving the applicant, partner and specified relatives. The test is not based simply on the company having 50 or fewer employees. Where the rules apply, income is assessed under Categories F or G, and the specified evidence set out in Appendix FM-SE must be provided in full.

Common problems

• Submitting turnover instead of profit.
• Applying before the tax return for the relevant year has been filed.
• Bank statements that do not match the accounts.
• Combining self-employment with other income in a way the rules do not allow.

Figures checked against GOV.UK and legislation.gov.uk on 3 October 2026. Fees and rules change; always confirm the current position on GOV.UK before applying.