Foreign Payslip Translation for UK Visa: Income Proof Guide
How to translate overseas payslips the right way for UK Skilled Worker, Spouse, and Family visa income rules. It covers payslip formats country by country, currency conversion, and UKVI's £29,000 minimum income threshold.
Payslips are one of the documents we translate most often for UK visa applications. You may be proving your sponsor's income for a Spouse visa. You may be proving your own salary for a Skilled Worker visa, or your finances for a Standard Visitor visa. In every case, UKVI wants a certified English translation of any payslip that is not in English. This guide covers what UKVI expects, how currency is handled, and the mistakes that lead to refusals.
The £29,000 Spouse Visa Financial Requirement
Since April 2024, the minimum income for the UK Spouse visa has been £29,000 a year. More rises are planned. Sponsors who earn abroad must prove that income with payslips. You need the past 6 months (Category A) or the past 12 months (Category B). If the payslips are not in English, every single one must have a certified translation. A summary is not enough.
What UKVI Expects on a Certified Payslip Translation
Every Translated Payslip Must Include
- Employer name and address (keep the original language and add the English)
- Employee full name and ID (must match the passport)
- Pay period dates (from — to)
- Gross salary before deductions
- Each deduction listed on its own (tax, social security, pension, health insurance)
- Net salary paid
- Bonuses, overtime, and allowances listed separately
- The original currency kept as it is, stated clearly and never converted
Currency Conversion: Do Translators Convert to GBP?
This point confuses a lot of people. A certified translator does NOT convert currencies. The translation must keep the original currency and the exact figures shown on the payslip. The translator's job is to translate the words, not to work out the money.
UKVI caseworkers do the currency conversion themselves. They use the OANDA rate for the pay date. Even so, you should:
- Add a cover letter that shows the GBP value of each monthly payslip. Work it out with the official OANDA exchange rate for the last day of each pay period.
- Attach OANDA printouts that show the exchange rate you used.
- Check that the total over 6 or 12 months beats the UKVI threshold. That is £29,000 for a Spouse visa, and it varies by job for Skilled Worker.
Important: Use the lowest closing rate for each month, or an average where that fits better. UKVI caseworkers will redo your sums. Figures that do not match raise doubts.
Country-Specific Payslip Formats and Conventions
Payslips look very different from country to country. A UK-based certified translator who works with overseas income documents will handle those differences properly:
| Country | Typical Name | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Lohnabrechnung / Gehaltsabrechnung | Brutto (gross), Netto (net), Lohnsteuer |
| France | Bulletin de paie / Fiche de paie | Net imposable, cotisations salariales |
| Spain | Nómina | Salario base, complementos, IRPF |
| Italy | Busta paga / Cedolino | Retribuzione lorda, netto in busta |
| Poland | Pasek wynagrodzenia | Brutto, ZUS, PIT, netto |
| India | Salary Slip | Usually in English, but in-house terms may need translation |
| Philippines | Payslip / Sahod | Usually English; SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG deductions |
| Brazil | Holerite / Demonstrativo de Pagamento | Salário base, IRRF, INSS, FGTS |
| Egypt / GCC | كشف راتب (Kashf Ratib) | Various Arabic deduction labels |
| Nigeria | Pay Slip | Usually English; PAYE, pension deductions |
How Many Payslips Do You Need to Translate?
Spouse Visa — Category A
Sponsor has been in the same job 6+ months:
- 6 most recent monthly payslips
- 6 months of bank statements
- Employer letter
Spouse Visa — Category B
Sponsor has been in the same job less than 6 months:
- 12 most recent monthly payslips
- 12 months bank statements
- Employer letter + tax documents
That can mean 6–12 separate payslip pages per sponsor. Every page needs a certified translation. Most translation providers offer a lower price for a full set.
Bulk Payslip Translation Pricing
Monthly payslips from one employer look almost the same. Only the dates and amounts change. So many translation services offer a bundle price instead of charging full rate per page. Typical discounts look like this:
- Single payslip: £17.99–£23.99
- 6 payslip bundle: £60–£90 total (15–30% discount per page)
- 12 payslip bundle: £110–£160 total (30–40% discount per page)
Always ask for bundle pricing when you send 3 or more payslips of the same format.
Common Mistakes That Cause Refusals
Payslip Translation Red Flags
- Translating only the summary lines and leaving out each deduction. UKVI wants the full breakdown.
- Converting the currency to GBP inside the translation. Keep the original figures.
- Names that do not match between the payslip and the bank statement that receives the salary.
- Missing months in the run of payslips. Gaps hint at uneven income, and UKVI will ask about them.
- Wrong currency sums in your cover letter. Check them against OANDA before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
My payslip is digital/PDF. Can it still be translated?
Yes. Digital payslips from an employer's HR system are widely accepted. A certified translator can translate the PDF and keep the layout and all the figures.
My payslip is mostly in English but has a few foreign language labels. Do I need full translation?
In strict terms, yes: anything not in English must be translated. But if the payslip is mostly English with a few foreign labels, a “certified partial translation” is usually accepted. It carries translator's notes on the foreign terms.
Should I translate payslips showing bonuses and overtime?
Yes. Bonuses and other income that is not guaranteed can count towards the Spouse visa sums, but UKVI treats them under different rules. The translation must show bonus and overtime pay apart from base salary, so the caseworker applies the right rule.
Can I just translate my tax return (P60 equivalent) instead of 12 monthly payslips?
Your tax return is part of the package, but it does not replace monthly payslips. UKVI wants both. The payslips show the pattern of income month by month. The tax return shows the yearly total. See our foreign tax return guide.
How quickly can I get 12 payslips translated?
A 12-payslip bundle takes 3–5 business days on standard delivery. Rush delivery takes 1–2 business days and costs more.
Related Services
Translate Your Payslips
Bulk payslip translation with package prices for 6- and 12-month Spouse visa income evidence. Certified in UKVI-compliant format.
Get Instant Quote