In April 2024, the UK government significantly increased the minimum income requirement (MIR) for family visa sponsors. The new benchmark jumped from £18,600 to £29,000 for couples applying from 11 April 2024 onwards (gov.uk). This abrupt change is part of a broader strategy to align the financial criteria for family visas with those of skilled-worker visas, although the increase to £29,000 initially caught many applicants off guard due to its substantial rise.
The original intention was to implement a phased increase: £29,000 starting in April 2024, followed by £34,500 later that year, and eventually reaching £38,700 by early 2025 (davidsonmorris.com). However, following a change in government leadership, the Labour administration decided to halt the planned final rise to £38,700. They have frozen the MIR at £29,000 while commissioning the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the policy, with findings anticipated in June 2025. This pause provides temporary relief for those nearing the new requirement.
This policy change has a significant impact on Indian and Pakistani nationals, who make up two of the largest groups applying for UK family visas. Recently, Pakistan received over 14,000 family visa approvals, while India saw over 5,000 (vira.co.uk, commonslibrary.parliament.uk). Many families within these communities have incomes between £18,600 and £29,000—just below the new threshold. Under the updated regulations, applicants now need to meet this increased requirement, either through additional earnings, liquid assets, or other approved sources. If savings are utilized, individuals must demonstrate having £88,500 saved for at least six months (quastels.com).
Those who submitted applications before the MIR change benefit from transitional provisions. Visas applied for and granted prior to 11 April 2024 will adhere to the old £18,600 standard, and extensions or applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain associated with those visas will continue to follow the previous financial criteria (cpclaw.co.uk). This transition ensures that there is no retroactive enforcement of the elevated threshold on couples who initiated their applications based on the earlier income level.
Looking ahead, the MAC's report—set to be released on 9 June 2025—proposes reducing the threshold to between £23,000 and £25,000. This option aims to create a more balanced approach that recognizes both economic concerns and the fundamental right to family life as outlined in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (theguardian.com). This recommendation addresses increasing criticism that the £38,700 threshold would have been overly stringent and unjustly hindered many families from reuniting in the UK (theguardian.com).
In conclusion, the UK’s MIR rose to £29,000 in April 2024, with further increases now on hold pending an ongoing review. Indian and Pakistani families—particularly those with earnings between £18.6k and £29k—are significantly affected. The MAC’s forthcoming suggestion to lower the threshold offers potential relief. Applicants should consider submitting their applications soon while the threshold is set at £29,000 and stay alert for further updates regarding savings-based qualifications and policy guidelines following the MAC report.
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