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24 May 2026
UK dependant visa rules 2026 — African family travelling together

UK Dependant Visa Rules 2026: Family Routes Still Open to African Applicants

Categories Immigration, Uk, Visa Updates

The UK dependant visa rules 2026 are the patchwork that most African applicants only discover after they have already paid their main visa fee. The big closures of 2024 — no Student dependants for taught-Masters routes — are now permanent. But Skilled Worker, Global Talent, Health and Care, and Innovator Founder routes still allow spouse and minor-child dependants, subject to financial thresholds that quietly rose in 2026. This guide is the family-route map for African applicants in 2026 — what is open, what is closed, and what to file alongside your main visa.

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Routes that still allow dependants

Five main visa categories remain open to dependants in 2026. Skilled Worker (including Health and Care Worker sub-category) allows spouse plus children under 18. Global Talent allows the same. Innovator Founder allows the same. Student visa allows dependants only for research-led postgraduate courses lasting nine months or longer (PhD and a narrow band of MRes programmes). Graduate Route allows dependants only if they were already in the UK as your dependants during your Student visa.

Adaeze, a Nigerian doctor moving to Manchester on the Health and Care Worker visa, was able to bring her husband (as PBS Dependant Partner) and two children under 18 by filing their applications in parallel with her own. Total dependant fees ran £4,160; the Immigration Health Surcharge added £4,656 for the family. She filed everything online via the same VFS appointment.

Routes that closed dependants in 2024-2026

The most painful closure for African applicants: Student visa dependants for taught Masters programmes. Effective January 2024, only research postgraduates (PhD, MRes 9+ months) can bring family. A Kenyan Masters student on a one-year MSc at Edinburgh cannot bring a spouse. That closure is now permanent, and the 2026 immigration white paper hinted at further restrictions on what counts as “research-led.” Care Worker dependants also closed in 2024 — a Senior Care Worker arriving in 2026 cannot bring family, even though Health and Care Workers can.

Mid-read prompt — we maintain a shortlist of routes where African families still get approved at high rates. Want it sent? → https://linktr.ee/travelexpore

The financial threshold for each route

Skilled Worker dependant rule: main applicant must show £285 in savings for spouse, £315 for first child, £200 for each additional child — held for 28 consecutive days. Global Talent: same. Innovator Founder: same. PhD Student dependants: the main applicant must show 9 months of maintenance (£845/month outside London, £1,334/month inside London) per dependant. For Family / Spouse visa (the separate route where the sponsor is settled or British), the minimum income requirement rose to £29,000 in April 2024 and stays there in 2026 — a single threshold regardless of how many children.

Documents African families forget to file

The top five missed documents in 2026 African dependant applications: marriage certificate apostille (you need the Hague Convention apostille from your foreign affairs ministry, not just a registrar’s stamp); birth certificates for every child with both parents named; TB test certificates for adults and children over 11 from an IOM-approved clinic; consent letter from the absent parent if one of the parents is not travelling; updated bank statements showing the maintenance funds held in the main applicant’s name for 28 days. Outbound: Home Office family life guidance.

Worth remembering

  • Skilled Worker, Global Talent, Innovator Founder, PhD Student and Health and Care still allow dependants.
  • Taught Masters Student dependants and Care Worker dependants are closed.
  • Financial proof for Skilled Worker dependants is modest (£285 + £315 + £200 per extra child).
  • Spouse visa income requirement is £29,000 since April 2024.
  • Apostilled marriage certificate is the single most-missed document.

Co-pilot your application with us

Hundreds of African families have moved through us in the last 18 months. We’d love to add yours to the list. Tap below, send us a few details, we’ll come back with a roadmap. → https://linktr.ee/travelexpore

FAQ

Q: Can I add a dependant after I am already in the UK?
Yes. Spouse and children can apply from outside the UK to “join” you at any time during your visa validity.

Q: Does my spouse get work rights?
Skilled Worker, Global Talent and Innovator Founder spouses get unrestricted work rights. Student dependants on PhD routes also get work rights.

Q: Children over 18 — can they still come?
Generally no. Children under 18 at the time of application can join; once they turn 18 in the UK they continue.

Q: Does the £29,000 spouse income rule apply to me on Skilled Worker?
No. The £29,000 rule applies only to the separate Family / Spouse visa where the sponsor is British or settled.

Q: What if my dependant is denied while I am approved?
Dependants can apply later. You don’t lose your main visa if a dependant is refused.

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  • UK dependant visa rules just got narrower. Here’s what African families can still bring.
  • The taught-Masters dependant ban is permanent. PhD families still get in.
  • Skilled Worker dependants: £285 saved, 28 days. The full checklist.

11 May 2026
UK Spouse Visa 2026 couple walking through airport with luggage

UK Spouse Visa 2026: Bringing Your Partner Under the New Income Rules

Categories Immigration, Uk, Visa Consultancy, Visa Updates, Work Permits

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Bringing a partner to Britain in 2026 is harder than it was in 2023, but it is far from impossible. The UK Spouse Visa 2026 still hangs on the minimum income requirement (MIR), the English language test, and a complete Appendix FM-SE evidence bundle. The Home Office held the MIR at £29,000 in its April 2026 review — the second increase from the 2024 reset — but did not push it to the £38,700 figure originally proposed. For African couples the path therefore narrows but remains open.

UK Spouse Visa 2026 in one snapshot

You qualify if you are married to, in a civil partnership with, or in a durable unmarried relationship of at least two years with a British citizen, ILR holder, settled person, or refugee. Initial leave is granted for 30 months and is followed by a 30-month extension. After 5 years of continuous residence on the spouse route, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. From there, citizenship is one further year on ILR. Per Home Office statistics, around 38,000 spouse visas were issued globally in 2025; African nationals received around 11% of grants. The gov.uk partner visa page is the canonical source.

Proving the £29,000 financial requirement

The MIR can be met in five ways: (a) the sponsor’s salaried employment income (Cat A or Cat B), (b) self-employment income with last full financial year accounts (Cat F or G), (c) non-employment income such as rental or pension (Cat C/E), (d) cash savings above £88,500 held for 6+ months (Cat D), or (e) a combination of the above (with strict combination rules). For most African couples, the British sponsor uses Cat A — salaried income of at least £29,000 in the last 6 months held with the same employer.

A Nigerian-British couple where the British partner earns £32,500 gross in stable employment clears the threshold comfortably. The same couple where the British partner is freelance must pivot to Cat G and supply HMRC SA302s, full statements and tax returns covering the most recent complete financial year.

Building the Appendix FM-SE bundle

Appendix FM-SE specifies exactly which documents prove which income source. For Cat A salary: 6 months of payslips, 6 months of bank statements showing the salary credits, a letter from the employer confirming role, start date, gross annual salary, and a P60 if available. Substitutions are not allowed — a screenshot of online banking will not pass; you need official printed statements or PDFs downloaded from the bank’s portal. Travel Explore’s UK visa services page lists the exact substitution rules.

For the relationship itself, gather: marriage or civil partnership certificate, evidence of cohabitation (joint tenancy, utility bills, council tax statements in both names), photos across multiple events and locations, travel itineraries, and statements of communication. A Ghanaian-British couple who married six months ago should expect more communication-and-visits evidence and less cohabitation evidence, and frame the relationship genuineness narrative accordingly.

Need a second pair of eyes on your application? Travel Explore can review it — https://linktr.ee/travelexpore

English language and accommodation evidence

The applicant must prove English at A1 (CEFR) for the initial application, B1 for ILR. Approved tests: IELTS Life Skills A1 or B1, Trinity College London, LanguageCert, Pearson PTE Home. Test centres in Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, and Johannesburg run weekly. Accommodation evidence is a tenancy agreement or property deeds in the UK sponsor’s name plus a property inspection report showing the home is large enough and free of overcrowding under the Housing Act standards.

  • Valid passport for both partners
  • Marriage or civil partnership certificate
  • Sponsor’s payslips, bank statements, employer letter (Cat A)
  • IELTS Life Skills A1 certificate for applicant
  • UK accommodation evidence: tenancy or deeds + inspection report
  • TB test from IOM-approved clinic

Frequently asked questions about UK Spouse Visa 2026

Has the UK Spouse Visa 2026 income threshold gone up to £38,700?

No. The Home Office paused the planned increase. The threshold remains £29,000 in 2026 with no per-child uplift required.

Can we combine my income and my partner’s?

Only after the foreign partner is in the UK with permission to work. For the initial application, only the British sponsor’s income counts, unless the foreign partner already holds work-permitted leave.

Does the relationship need to be officially registered?

Marriage and civil partnership qualify directly. Unmarried partners qualify after two years of cohabitation, evidenced by joint financial and household records.

What is the processing time?

15 working days for priority service (additional £500 fee) or 12 weeks for standard service from most African UKVI centres in 2026.

Can I work in the UK on a Spouse Visa?

Yes. UK Spouse Visa 2026 holders have unrestricted work rights, can be self-employed, and can study without further permission.

The bottom line

  • UK Spouse Visa 2026 income threshold remains £29,000 (held, not increased to £38,700)
  • Appendix FM-SE evidence rules are unforgiving — bank statements must be official
  • English at A1 for entry, B1 for ILR after five years on the route
  • Unmarried partners need two years of registered cohabitation evidence
  • ILR after 5 years and British citizenship after 6 on the UK Spouse Visa 2026 ladder

Apply with confidence

Get expert help with your UK Spouse Visa 2026 application — https://linktr.ee/travelexpore

Related reads on Travel Explore

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  • The Appendix FM-SE evidence pack that 9 in 10 applicants get wrong
  • A1 English plus £29,000 plus a marriage certificate — the UK partner formula

01 May 2026
UK Spouse Visa 2026 minimum income £29,000 — Nigerian family

UK Spouse Visa 2026: The £29,000 Income Rule, the Paused £38,700 Hike and What Nigerian Families Must Know

Categories Immigration, Uk, Visa Consultancy, Visa Updates

The UK spouse visa minimum income 2026 is still £29,000 per year — not the £38,700 figure that has been circulating online. The planned step-up to £34,500 and then £38,700 was paused in 2024 after backlash from immigration groups, lawyers and affected families. For Nigerian and African couples sponsoring a partner to join them in the UK, that pause is the single most important fact of 2026.

What is the current UK spouse visa financial requirement?

You must show a gross annual income of at least £29,000 from one or more permitted sources, or hold equivalent cash savings, or combine the two. The threshold rose from £18,600 in April 2024 and has not been increased since. The Migration Advisory Committee delivered its review of the financial requirement in June 2025, but the Home Office has not yet published a decision — expect clarity later in 2026.

Who is affected?

Anyone applying for entry clearance or leave to remain as a partner of a British citizen, settled person or refugee, including spouses, civil partners, unmarried partners (cohabiting for two years), and fiancé(e)s. Children of the partner are also covered, with higher income requirements per child unless those children are themselves British or settled.

How the £29,000 threshold is met

You can meet the rule through five permitted categories: paid employment of the UK sponsor (Category A or B), self-employment (Category F or G), cash savings of at least £88,500 held for six months (Category D), non-employment income such as rental property (Category C), or pension income (Category E). The most common combination for Nigerian couples is the sponsor’s salaried UK job plus joint savings, but the rules on which categories you can mix are strict — for example, employment income from the applicant cannot count if applying from outside the UK.

Why it matters for Nigerians and Africans

Many Nigerian families assumed the £38,700 threshold had already taken effect — it has not. Couples that were holding off applying because they thought they were priced out should reassess in 2026. The MAC’s recommendations could change the rules later this year, so the safer move is to apply now under the current £29,000 framework if you already qualify, rather than wait and risk a higher bar. Save evidence rigorously: six months of payslips, bank statements showing the salary deposits, employer letters and (if combining savings) statements showing the funds have been held in your name for six months.

Key Takeaways

  • The UK spouse visa minimum income for 2026 is £29,000, not £38,700.
  • Planned increases to £34,500 and £38,700 have been paused while the Home Office reviews MAC recommendations.
  • Cash savings alternative is £88,500 held for at least six months in your or your partner’s name.
  • You can combine income categories but not all combinations are allowed — check Appendix FM-SE rules.
  • Apply under the current rules if you qualify — the threshold could rise later in 2026.

Need Help With a UK Spouse Visa Application?

The financial requirement is where most Nigerian and African applicants stumble. Travel Expore helps families pull together payslips, savings statements and the right combination of categories so the Home Office accepts the income evidence first time. Book a consult via https://linktr.ee/travelexpore.

Share This Story

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