A report from the UK government’s independent Immigration Advisory Committee (IAC) has indicated that reducing the income requirement for UK citizens and settled residents applying for partner visas could lead to an increase in net migration.
Currently, since April 2024, applicants must earn at least £29,000 annually to sponsor a spouse or partner. The committee proposes that ministers consider setting a lower minimum income threshold between £23,000 and £25,000.
The report advises against the Conservative government’s plan to raise the family visa income threshold to £38,700, warning it could conflict with human rights legislation.
Among the options presented, the committee suggests a threshold between £24,000 and £28,000 could prioritize economic welfare — such as reducing the taxpayer burden — over family life considerations. A level of £23,000 to £25,000, it states, would ensure families can support themselves without necessarily requiring incomes above the minimum wage.
The committee estimates that lowering the threshold to £24,000 may increase net migration by approximately 1-3% in the future.
The Conservative government, led by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has sought to align family visa income requirements with those set for skilled workers. However, the committee’s report challenges this approach, emphasizing that family migration serves different objectives than work migration.
“We do not recommend using the skilled worker salary threshold as a basis for family visa income requirements,” the report states, noting that such a method risks breaching international legal obligations, including Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects private and family life.
Compared with other high-income countries reviewed by the committee, the UK’s current £29,000 threshold is relatively high.
Professor Brian Bell, chair of the committee, remarked: “While political considerations will ultimately determine the threshold, we have provided evidence on the financial impact on families and economic welfare, highlighting critical factors for government decision-making.”
The committee further recommends maintaining existing thresholds for families with children, given the particularly significant impact higher costs have on children’s family life.
It also suggests that income requirements remain consistent across all regions of the UK.
The review was hampered by a lack of sufficient data, prompting the committee to urge the Home Office to improve data collection on visa applicants to better link characteristics with outcomes for future policymaking.
Reactions from campaigners were mixed. While some welcomed the recommendations, many expressed disappointment that the report did not advocate for abolishing the minimum income requirement (MIR), which they say separates families across countries.
Caroline Coombs, co-founder of the UK Family Reunion Network, argued against any income threshold. “Even the lowest wage threshold will divide many families who simply want to live together in the UK,” she said.
She added, “The MAC acknowledges that decisions on the MIR are political, which is shocking. We urge the Home Secretary to show political courage and reform a system that has harmed UK residents, settled individuals, and their children for over a decade.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The Home Secretary commissioned the independent Immigration Advisory Committee’s review. We are considering its findings and will respond in due course. More broadly, the government has committed to legislation clarifying the application of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights for applicants, caseworkers, and courts.”
Related Topics
