One of the most common questions we receive is:

“Can I use money from selling my home to meet the financial requirement for a UK spouse or partner visa?”

The answer is yes — but there are very specific rules.

This guide explains, in plain English, how to use net proceeds from the sale of a property to meet the cash savings requirement for a UK family settlement visa (commonly known as a spouse visa).

 

How Much Savings Do You Need?

To meet the UK’s financial requirement using cash savings only, you need at least:

£88,500 in cash savings

This figure is based on the current Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) of £29,000 per year, which must be met over 2.5 years (the standard initial visa period).

However, under the Immigration Rules, only savings above £16,000 are counted toward meeting the requirement. This means you must have £29,000 × 2.5 years = £72,500 in countable savings, plus an additional £16,000 that is not counted in the calculation.

 

Why is the first £16,000 not counted?
Because £16,000 is the level of savings at which a person generally becomes ineligible for income-related benefits in the UK. The Home Office applies this threshold to ensure that only savings considered “excess” — beyond basic financial security — are used to meet the visa requirement.

In total, to meet the financial requirement using savings alone, you must show you have:

• £72,500 (counted towards the visa requirement)
• £16,000 (not counted)
• = £88,500 in total cash savings

These savings must be in your bank account at the date of application.

 

Can I Use Money from Selling a Property?

Yes — you can use the net proceeds from the sale of a property to meet the cash savings requirement. This is permitted under the Immigration Rules, but certain conditions must be met.

To rely on property sale proceeds:

• The property or (relevant share of the property) must have been owned (solely or jointly) by you, your partner, or both.

• If the ownership of the property was shared with a third party, only the proceeds of the sale of the share of the property owned by the applicant, their partner or both jointly may be counted

• The sale must be fully completed before the application is submitted.
• The net funds (after paying off any mortgages, legal fees, or estate agent/realtor costs) must be in your or your partner’s bank account at the time of application.
• The property must have been owned at the start of the 6-month period prior to the date of application.

Do I Need to Hold the Money for 6 Months?

No — not if the money came from selling a property.

In general, cash savings must be held in your account for at least 6 months before applying. However, where the savings come from the sale of a property, this holding period does not apply. You can use the funds as soon as the sale is completed and the money is in your account.

The key requirement is that the property must have been owned by you, your partner, or both at the beginning of the 6-month period before the date of application.

 

Important Notes

• You cannot rely on projected proceeds — the sale must be completed before you apply.
• The savings must be in your account at the time of application.
• If you’re combining savings with income, the total required savings may be lower.
• These rules apply whether the property was owned by the applicant, the sponsor, or jointly.

Need Help?

Navigating the UK family visa requirements can be complex — especially when it comes to financial evidence. If you’re planning to use the sale of a property to meet the cash savings threshold, it’s essential to ensure your application is properly prepared and clearly documented.

 

Contact us if you’d like expert advice or support with your family settlement visa. Our team has extensive experience in complex financial applications, and we’re here to help you get it right the first time.