Experts Warn Lower Family Visa Threshold Could Drive Up Migration

Lowering the UK’s minimum income requirement for family visas could lead to a measurable rise in net migration, according to new analysis from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). The committee warned that easing the financial criteria for sponsoring family members to join UK residents could increase net migration by between 1% and 3%, depending on how much the threshold is reduced.

Currently, the income requirement sits at £29,000, with plans to raise it further to £38,700 by early 2025. This would align the threshold with the salary level for skilled worker visas. However, the MAC has proposed a more moderate approach, suggesting a threshold of between £23,000 and £25,000. This, they argue, would better balance the needs of families and the government’s aim to manage migration levels.

Critics of the current policy, including human rights campaigners and migrant support organisations, argue that the existing and proposed thresholds are too high and effectively separate thousands of families. They warn that the rules disproportionately impact low-income workers and ethnic minority communities, creating situations where British citizens cannot live with their spouses or children simply because they do not meet the income requirement.

The MAC also raised legal and ethical concerns, stating that the high threshold could conflict with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to family life. The committee emphasized that family reunification should be treated differently from economic migration, pointing out that the two types of visas serve different purposes and should not be bound by the same financial criteria. It specifically warned against implementing higher thresholds for families with children, which could have severe and lasting consequences.

While the Home Office is currently reviewing the MAC’s recommendations, it has so far maintained that sponsors should be able to support family members without relying on public funds. Government officials have stressed the need to find a balanced approach, one that supports family unity while also addressing wider economic and social concerns about migration and public service demands.

The ongoing debate over the family visa income requirement reveals the complex tension between immigration control and fundamental human rights. The final decision, expected in the coming months, could significantly reshape the landscape of UK immigration policy, with real-world implications for thousands of families hoping to build a life together in the country.