The UK’s Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has published its recommendations on the Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) applicable to the visa applications of family members of British nationals or settled persons. The review was commissioned by the government in light of ongoing concerns about the balance between family life and the economic implications of family migration.
The MAC found that the current threshold of £29,000 is too high and it should be reduced to £23,000-25,000. It also recommends:
Adult partners and minor children of British Citizens or those with Indefinite Leave to Remain are able to apply for an immigration status in the UK to join or remain with their family member.
The rules relating to these visas, contained within Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules, are complex—particularly around the Minimum Income Requirement (MIR).
The previous Conservative government increased the MIR from from the longstanding £18,600 to £29,000 in 2024 and declared an intention to increase the level ultimately to £38,700. However, upon entering office in July 2024, the new Labour government suspended the planned increase and ordered a review from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), an advisory body made up of academics and economists.
The MAC has reported that the current MIR (£29,000) is unusually high relative to international standards and may not effectively align with either wider economic policy or humanitarian aims. A more balanced threshold would be in the range of £23,000–£25,000, which is in line with the median household income across the UK excluding London.
At the moment, only income from current employment or self-employment or past earnings from verifiable sources can be considered towards the MIR. The MAC has reviewed these requirements and concluded that they are overly complex and administratively burdensome. They have recommended simplifying the documentation required and expanding sources of income to include verifiable job offers in the UK. This would be an interesting development as it would mean that, for the first time, anticipated income could count towards the MIR.
Another change would be to the Adequate Maintenance test. The Adequate Maintenance test is designed to provide a fairer assessment for sponsors in more vulnerable circumstances, such as those with disabilities, by requiring them to demonstrate that they can maintain themselves and their family adequately in the UK without needing to meet the MIR threshold. The MAC considers the current test to be overly complex and unfair—it recommends reviewing or abolishing it entirely.
A loosening of the Family Route rules will be a welcome relief to those families who are separated and unable to meet the current income threshold.
The MAC can only make recommendations to the government and it will be for the Home Office to respond and consider any changes to the Immigration Rules.
We will continue to monitor legislative updates from the UK government and see whether the recommendations are adopted.
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Lyudmyla Davies
Partner (Solicitor)
Ian Robinson
Partner
Andrea Als
Director (Solicitor)
Tom Marsom
Director (Solicitor)
Lucy Vaux
Senior Manager (Solicitor)
Awale Olad
Senior Manager
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