Navigating the UK Family Visa: How Much Do You Really Need to Earn?
The rules for UK family visas have changed dramatically in the past year, leaving many couples and families uncertain about what it now takes to reunite or remain together in Britain. With income thresholds rising steeply and policy debates ongoing, it’s crucial to understand both the current requirements and the potential reforms on the horizon.
1. Quick Snapshot: What’s Required Right Now
As of April 2024, anyone sponsoring a partner (spouse, civil partner, or fiancé(e)) for a UK family visa must show:
A minimum annual income of £29,000, or
At least £88,500 in cash savings, or
A combination of income and savings that meets the threshold.
These rules apply whether you are a British citizen or settled resident bringing your partner to the UK.
2. Where Did the £29,000 Figure Come From?
Before 2024, the threshold stood at £18,600 — a figure in place since 2012. According to parliamentary records, this level was originally set to balance family migration with financial independence.
In late 2023, the Conservative government announced sharp increases as part of broader efforts to reduce migration. The plan was to raise the requirement in stages:
£29,000 from April 2024
£34,500 later in 2025
£38,700 by early 2025
However, after the Labour government took office in mid-2024, the later increases were paused. Instead, ministers asked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to conduct a full review of whether the £29,000 figure was fair and workable.
3. What the Migration Advisory Committee Recommended (June 2025)
On 10 June 2025, the MAC released a comprehensive 96-page report. The committee concluded that the existing rules were too harsh and recommended several key reforms:
Lower the income threshold to a fairer range of £23,000–£25,000.
Decouple family visa rules from skilled worker thresholds, recognising that the two serve different purposes.
Abolish child surcharges by reforming the separate Parent route.
Simplify evidence requirements by allowing multiple income sources, cash savings, and confirmed job offers (including remote work with a UK employer).
Introduce transparency and consistency with annual updates, clearer payslip rules, and a more streamlined application process.
4. Why These Changes Matter
The MAC stressed that current income rules are not just technical hurdles — they affect real families in profound ways:
Family Unity: High thresholds have kept thousands of children separated from a parent, with lasting emotional and psychological harm.
Fairness: A requirement of £23,000–£25,000 better reflects actual full-time earnings in the UK, making the visa accessible to more households.
Proportionality: While lowering the threshold could allow an additional 8,000 visas per year (around a 1–3% rise in net migration), the MAC argued that this is a reasonable trade-off compared with the human cost of separation.
5. What’s Next?
The MAC’s proposals are advisory — the government is not obliged to implement them. However, immigration ministers have indicated they are reviewing the recommendations seriously. A new immigration White Paper is expected before the end of 2025, which may set out the next steps.
Until then, the threshold remains at £29,000, and families planning an application should prepare accordingly.
Summary Table
AspectCurrent (2025-now)MAC Recommendation (June 2025)Minimum Income (MIR)£29,000 or £88,500 savings£23,000–£25,000Additional Children CostSeparate child surchargeAbolish surcharge; reform Parent routeEvidence SourcesRigid payslip rules; £16,000+ savings required for top-upWider income sources, savings, & UK/remote job offersPolicy StatusGovernment-set, subject to changeAdvisory input awaiting decision
Conclusion
The UK’s family visa rules are in a state of transition. While the current £29,000 requirement remains in force, the MAC’s recommendations signal a possible shift toward a more balanced and humane system.
For families, this means two things: prepare under the current rules, but also stay informed, as policy changes could arrive by the end of 2025. In a system where the difference of a few thousand pounds can determine whether loved ones live together or apart, awareness is everything.