Company Director: How to Satisfy the Partner Visa Financial Requirement

To satisfy the Partner Visa Financial Requirement as a company director, you need to demonstrate that you (as the sponsor or applicant) have a sufficient and stable income to support your partner without needing public funds. In the UK, this is primarily relevant to the UK Spouse or Partner Visa (Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules).

Here’s how company directors can meet the £18,600 minimum income threshold (higher if dependent children are also applying):

1. Use of Income Type: Category F or Category G

As a company director, your income is classed as self-employment under the UK immigration rules. Depending on how long you’ve been receiving income from the company, you must apply under either:

• Category F: For those who have received income from self-employment for the last full financial year.
• Category G: If you’ve been self-employed for more than one year, you can choose to average income from the last two full financial years.

2. The Company Must Be a Specified Limited Company

To qualify under the rules, your company must be a “specified limited company”, which is:

• A UK-based, private limited company (Ltd)
• You are either a director or employee (or both)
• You hold shares in the company
• The company is controlled by you or your family

If this applies, your income will be assessed under the rules for a “specified limited company”, not generic self-employment.

3. Required Financial Documents

You must provide comprehensive documentation for the relevant financial year(s):

Company Documents

• Company Tax Return (CT600)
• Finalised company accounts (audited or unaudited)
• Corporation Tax payment receipt from HMRC
• Evidence of registration with Companies House
• Current appointment report (showing director status and shareholding)

Income Evidence

• Personal bank statements showing receipt of income (salary and dividends)
• Personal tax return (SA302) and HMRC tax year overview
• Payslips (if you’re paid a salary)
• Dividend vouchers (if you’re paid via dividends)

Business Bank Statements

• Full business bank statements covering the same period as the financial year

4. What Counts Towards the £18,600 Threshold?

From your specified limited company, the following can be combined:

• Salary received through PAYE
• Dividends received as a shareholder

These will form your gross annual income for visa purposes.

5. Timing and Consistency

• You must use the same 12-month period for all financial documents.
• All income must be declared and taxed appropriately.
• You cannot mix and match income from different categories (e.g. salaried employment and self-employment) unless specifically allowed under the rules.

6. Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Missing or inconsistent financial documents
• Undeclared dividends
• Using a company that is not considered “specified”
• Trying to rely on retained profits in the business (these don’t count unless paid out as dividends)