Fiance(e) or proposed civil partner of a British citizen or settled person
Evidence of maintenance (funds)
This page describes the documents that you must provide to meet the maintenance requirement if you are applying as the fiance(e) or prospective civil partner of a British citizen or someone settled in the UK.
For more information about this requirement, see the Maintenance requirement page.
The Immigration Rules require that an applicant and their sponsor must provide evidence that they are able to maintain themselves and any dependants without recourse to public funds.
To meet the maintenance requirement evidence must be provided that demonstrates:
- sufficient independent means;
- employment for one or both of the parties; and
- sufficient prospects of employment for one or both parties.
The following types of documents are acceptable as evidence:
- personal bank or building society statements; and/or
- building society pass books; and/or
- letters from banks or building societies confirming funds; and/or
- letters from financial institutions regulated by the Financial Services Authority (or the home regulator, if the account is overseas) confirming funds; and/or
- letters from third parties confirming financial support and evidence of funds.
The joint income of a couple will be taken into account when assessing the adequacy of the funds available.
Personal bank or building society statements
Every personal bank or building society statement should clearly show:
- your name or your sponsor's name
- the account number
- the date of the statement
- the financial institution's name and logo
- transactions covering the recent period
- that there are enough funds present in the account to support a dependent partner and any dependent children
If you want to send electronic bank statements from an online account, these must contain all of the details listed above. You will also need to send a supporting letter from your bank, on headed paper, confirming that the statements are genuine. Alternatively, electronic bank statements with the official stamp of the bank that issued the statements will be accepted. The stamp must appear on every page of the statement.
We will not accept statements that simply show the balance in the account on a particular day, as these documents do not show that there are consistent funds to meet the maintenance requirement.
Building society pass-book
The building society pass-book should clearly show:
- your name or your sponsor's name
- the account number
- the financial institution's name and logo
- transactions covering the recent period
- that there are enough funds present in the account to support a dependent partner and any dependent children
Letter confirming funds
Each letter must be from a bank, a building society or a financial institution that is regulated by the Financial Services Authority (or the home regulator, if the account is overseas).
The home regulator is the official regulatory body for the country where the institution operates and the funds are located.
The letter should state:
- your name or your sponsor's name
- the account number
- the date of the letter
- the financial institution's name and logo
- the funds held in your account
- that there are enough funds present in the account to support a dependent partner and any dependent children
We will not accept letters that simply show the balance in the account on a particular day, as these documents do not show that there are consistent funds to meet the maintenance requirement.