Lowering UK family visa income bar may raise net migration; says advisory panel

The UK’s Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has recommended that the government lower the minimum income required for a British citizen or settled resident to sponsor a partner’s visa. The committee said that a threshold between £23,000 and £25,000 could support families without forcing them to live apart, but it also warned that such a move could slightly raise net migration, according to a report by The Guardian.

As of April 2024, the income requirement for sponsoring a foreign partner was raised to £29,000. The MAC’s new report suggests the increase to £38,700—planned by the previous Conservative government—should be dropped. It found the policy would likely conflict with international law, especially Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to family life.

The committee offered several options:

• A threshold of £24,000 to £28,000 would prioritise economic concerns and reduce burden on public funds.
• A threshold of £23,000 to £25,000 would help families remain self-sufficient without exceeding the minimum wage.

If the threshold drops to £24,000, the report estimates that net migration could rise by 1% to 3% in future years.

As per the Guardian report, committee chair Professor Brian Bell said, “While the decision on where to set the threshold is ultimately a political one, we have provided evidence on the impacts of financial requirements on families and economic wellbeing.”

The MAC also advised that the threshold should not be higher for families with children, despite their higher living costs, due to the severe impact separation has on children. It recommended maintaining the same threshold across all regions of the UK.

Campaigners reacted with mixed feelings. Caroline Coombs, co-founder of Reunite Families UK, said: “Any threshold even at minimum wage would still separate many groups of people who just want to be a family here in the UK.”

She added: “We are calling on the home secretary to have the political courage to change a system … destroying the lives of British and settled residents and their children for over a decade.”

The Home Office confirmed it is reviewing the MAC's findings. A spokesperson said, “The home secretary commissioned the independent migration advisory committee to undertake a review. We are now considering its findings and will respond in due course.”