The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has recently completed a review of financial requirements for family visas in the UK, including recommended changes to the Minimum Income Requirement (MIR).
Currently, those coming to the UK on a family visa must have a combined income of at least £29,000 a year.
The MIR was previously £18,600, and was increased by the previous Conservative government in a move to reduce net migration levels.
Under the previous Conservative government, the current threshold was planned to further increase to first £34,500 then £38,700, however, this was paused following Labour ordering a review of these requirements.
The MAC review was planned to set out a minimum income requirement for the family route that balances economic wellbeing and family life, allowing British workers to bring their family members to the UK more easily.
The report goes into great detail on the final recommendations for the Minimum Income Requirement, including impacts on economic wellbeing and family life, practicalities of this decision and any relevant exceptions.
The MAC review has now shared that an appropriate minimum income requirement (MIR) would be between £23,000 and £25,000 a year.
According to the MAC, “a threshold at this level would allow most British workers in full-time minimum-wage jobs to qualify.”
The government has yet to respond to the MAC’s review, so next steps are currently unknown. The changes proposed are recommendations only and so they may be disregarded entirely, or utilised in part.
If you’d like further guidance on how these changes may affect you and your family, speak to our team for guidance today.
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