On April 11, the UK government increased the minimum income required to sponsor someone coming to the UK on a family visa from £18,600 to £29,000, a rise of more than 55%.
By early 2025, this threshold will increase twice more, eventually reaching £38,700 to align with the new salary threshold for a Skilled Worker visa.
While these changes might seem daunting, there are still opportunities for those earning below these thresholds to bring their families to the UK.
The government’s principle is that sponsors must financially support their dependants to ensure self-sufficiency and integration into British life without relying on public funds.
This new threshold is designed to ensure that families have the financial stability to support themselves in the UK.
How Will This Policy Apply to Those Already in UK?
- Individuals who already hold a family visa within the five-year partner route, or who applied before the income requirement was raised, will continue to be assessed against the income requirement in place at the time of their initial application.
- This also applies to children seeking to join or accompany their parents.
- Those granted a fiancé visa before the threshold increase will be assessed based on the requirements at the time of their initial application for a family visa within the five-year partner route.
- New applicants, however, will need to meet the new income requirement or demonstrate exceptional circumstances.
Why the Increase to £38,700?
The new threshold is based on the median income for people in high-skilled jobs and reflects the salary threshold for the Skilled Worker visa route. This ensures that sponsors and their families are financially capable of supporting themselves in the UK.
How Will Your Income Be Calculated?
The sponsoring partner, who must be a British citizen or a settled person in the UK, and/or the applicant, if they are in the UK with permission to work, must have a combined income of £29,000 earned in the UK.
This means that if the applicant is already in the UK and working, their income will be considered alongside the sponsor’s income.
Are You Afraid Your Family Will Be Separated Because of this New Policy?
The family Immigration Rules include provisions for exceptional circumstances where refusing an application would cause unjustifiably harsh consequences for the applicant, their partner, a relevant child, or another family member.
In such cases, leave may be granted on a ten-year route to settlement instead of the standard five-year route.
While the new income thresholds present challenges, families should not lose hope. There are still pathways to successfully apply for a family visa, especially in cases of exceptional circumstances.
Consulting with immigration experts or lawyers can provide valuable guidance and help navigate the application process effectively. Further information on how to benefit from exceptional circumstances can be found on this UK government website.
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