UK Government Freezes Minimum Income Requirement for Family Visas.
Under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the UK government has decided to halt plans to increase the minimum income requirement for sponsoring a family member on a family visa. This decision will benefit foreigners who wish to bring their families to the UK.
The Home Secretary has announced a freeze on the current £29,000 income threshold for family visas. This freeze will remain in place until the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) completes its review of the financial requirements.
In a written statement to Parliament, Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for the Home Department, explained, “The Family Immigration Rules, including the Minimum Income Requirement, must balance respect for family life with the economic well-being of the UK. To ensure we have a solid evidence base for any changes, I am commissioning the Migration Advisory Committee to review the financial requirements in the Family Immigration Rules. The Minimum Income Requirement is currently set at £29,000 and will not change until the MAC review is complete.”
Originally, the plan was to incrementally raise the income threshold in three stages, aligning it with the minimum salary threshold for skilled workers, which is currently £38,700. The first increase took effect on April 11, 2024, raising the threshold from £18,600 to £29,000, representing the 25th percentile of the skilled worker salary threshold. The second planned increase would have raised the threshold to £34,500, or the 40th percentile.
As of April 11, 2024, new applicants must meet the £29,000 threshold, with no separate child component for families. The income requirement remains fixed regardless of the number of children.
The Home Secretary also confirmed that the government will continue implementing measures to address misuse of student and graduate visa routes. Earlier this year, the government introduced several changes:
Most overseas students are now restricted from bringing family members to the UK.
Care workers and senior care workers face restrictions on bringing dependents and must register with the Care Quality Commission.
The salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas has increased by 48%, from £26,200 to £38,700.
The 20% going rate discount has been abolished, meaning employers cannot pay migrants less than UK workers in shortage occupations.
To live with a family member in the UK for more than six months, you must have a family visa. If your family member is in the UK temporarily on a work or student visa, you can apply to stay with them as a dependent instead.