UK Government Freezes Minimum Income Threshold for Family Visas Amid Review
The UK government has announced a freeze on the minimum income threshold required to sponsor a family member on a family visa.
The UK government has announced a freeze on the minimum income threshold required to sponsor a family member on a family visa. This decision, implemented under Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration, aims to assist foreigners who wish to bring their families to the UK.Home Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed that the current minimum income requirement of £29,000 for family visas will remain unchanged while the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) conducts a comprehensive review of the financial criteria outlined in the Family Immigration Rules.In a statement to Parliament, Cooper remarked: “The Family Immigration Rules, including the Minimum Income Requirement, must balance respect for family life with ensuring the UK's economic wellbeing. To ensure that any adjustments are evidence-based, I have commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee to review these financial requirements. The current threshold of £29,000 will be maintained until this review is complete.”Originally, the plan was to incrementally raise the minimum income requirement to align with the general salary threshold for skilled workers, which was £38,700 at the time of the announcement. The first increase, effective April 11, 2024, raised the threshold to £29,000, marking the 25th percentile of the minimum general salary threshold. The second planned increase would have raised the threshold to £34,500, representing the 40th percentile.This freeze on further increases follows the earlier rise from £18,600 to £29,000. Additionally, applications made after April 11 no longer include a separate child component, meaning the Minimum Income Requirement is fixed irrespective of the number of children in the family.The UK government is continuing with measures announced earlier this year aimed at addressing misuse of student and Graduate visa routes. These include:
Restricting most overseas students from bringing family members to the UK.
Limiting the ability of care workers and senior care workers to bring dependents, and requiring care providers sponsoring migrants to be registered with the Care Quality Commission.
Raising the general salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas by 48% from £26,200 to £38,700.
Abolishing the 20% going rate discount, ensuring employers cannot pay migrants less than UK workers in shortage occupations.
For individuals looking to stay with a family member in the UK for more than six months, a family visa is required. This visa cannot be applied for if the family member is temporarily in the UK on a work or student visa; in such cases, applicants may apply as dependents instead.
