In a move aimed at curbing legal migration to the UK, the government has implemented a substantial hike in the minimum income requirement for British citizens and residents who wish to sponsor their relatives on a Family Visa. Effective as of this Thursday, the new salary threshold has surged by over 55%, rising from £18,600 to a staggering £29,000 annually.
This increase is part of the government’s previously announced plan to gradually align the Family Visa income levels with the salary requirement for the Skilled Worker visa, which is set to reach £38,700 by early 2025. The UK Home Office has framed this adjustment as the final step in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary James Cleverly’s strategy to rein in legal migration and ensure that newcomers do not become a financial burden on British taxpayers.
Cleverly did not mince words, emphasizing the necessity for decisive action to address the challenges posed by mass migration. “There is no simple solution or easy decision which cuts numbers to levels acceptable to the British people,” he declared, underscoring the government’s commitment to swiftly implement measures aimed at reducing migration levels, protecting British workers and wages, and establishing an immigration system that inspires public confidence.
Sunak, for his part, defended the staged approach to increasing the salary threshold, asserting that it aligns with the government’s commitment to support families while ensuring they can financially sustain their dependents. The Home Office further clarified that the purpose of the income requirement is to promote self-sufficiency among families and prevent reliance on public funds, thereby positively impacting the economy.
Under the new regulations, the sponsoring family member, or the applicant if they are already in the UK with permission to work, must earn a minimum income of £29,000 within the country. This requirement can be met through various means, including savings.
The Home Office emphasized that the government’s “ambition for a high-skill, a high-wage economy cannot rely on mass migration.” The measures introduced, they stated, will protect British workers, encourage businesses to invest in and recruit workers domestically, while prioritizing only the very best talent from abroad.
These steps, according to the Home Office, aim to address the strain on public services, housing, and the job market caused by high migration levels. The recent adjustment to the Family Visa income requirement is expected to have a significant impact, affecting approximately 300,000 individuals who arrived in the UK last year.
Since the beginning of 2024, the UK government has implemented several visa regulation tightenings as part of its comprehensive approach to managing migration effectively. For British citizens and residents looking to sponsor their relatives, the financial bar has now been raised substantially higher, making the process more challenging than ever before.
