Home Office Warns Against Raising UK Family Visa Salary Threshold

The UK Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has recommended lowering the minimum income requirement (MIR) for family visas from the current £29,000 to a range between £23,000 and £25,000, arguing this would better balance economic wellbeing with family life and allow most British workers in full-time minimum-wage jobs to qualify. The MAC emphasized that the family visa route serves a different purpose than the skilled worker visa, which has a higher threshold of £38,700, and warned that raising the family visa threshold to the skilled worker level could violate Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to private and family life. The previous Conservative government had planned to increase the MIR to £38,700 in stages to reduce net migration, but this was paused by the current Labour government under Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who commissioned the MAC review. The committee also suggested maintaining a uniform MIR across UK regions but noted that excluding London data might address fairness concerns for non-capital residents. Home Office officials have indicated they are considering the MAC's recommendations, although it is reported that the Home Secretary may still pursue tougher rules despite legal concerns. Critics argue that a high MIR disproportionately impacts families, potentially destroying lives, and call for political courage to reform the system in a way that upholds human rights and family unity.