Based on your income category, collect specific documents according to Home Office requirements.
For Salaried Employment (Category A or B)
Category A (6 months with same employer):
- Last 6 months of payslips (originals or certified copies)
- Corresponding 6 months of bank statements showing salary deposits
- Letter from employer on company letterhead stating: job title, salary, employment dates, employment type
- P60 from most recent tax year (if available)
Category B (12 months with multiple employers or variable income):
- Last 12 months of payslips from all employers
- Corresponding 12 months of bank statements
- Letters from all employers
- P60s if available
For Self-Employment (Category F or G)
Required:
- Last full tax year’s Self Assessment (SA302)
- Tax year overview from HMRC
- Evidence of registration with HMRC or Companies House
- Business accounts or accountant’s letter
- 12 months of business bank statements
For Cash Savings (Category D)
Required:
- 6 consecutive months of bank statements
- Bank letters confirming balances
- Evidence that balance never dropped below £88,500 (or higher threshold with children)
- Proof of source for large deposits
- Both partners’ names if using joint accounts
What to do:
- Request documents from employer(s) at least 6-8 weeks before applying
- Ensure employer letters are on official letterhead with company details
- Download or request bank statements covering the exact required period
- Verify all amounts and dates match across different documents
- Make photocopies of original documents