Starting Thursday, the UK government has implemented a significant increase in the minimum income required for British citizens and residents who want to sponsor their relatives on a Family Visa.
The new salary threshold has surged by over 55 per cent, rising from GBP 18,600 to GBP 29,000 annually. This increment comes as part of the government's previously announced plan to gradually raise the salary thresholds, which are set to align with the Skilled Worker visa salary requirement of GBP 38,700 by early next year.
The UK Home Office said that this adjustment represents the final step in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary James Cleverly's strategy to curtail legal migration and ensure that newcomers do not become a financial burden on taxpayers.
Cleverly emphasized the necessity of action to address the challenges posed by mass migration, saying, "There is no simple solution or easy decision which cuts numbers to levels acceptable to the British people." He underscored the government's commitment to swiftly implement measures aimed at reducing migration levels, protecting British workers and wages, and establishing an immigration system that inspires public confidence.
Sunak defended the staged approach to increasing the salary threshold, asserting that it aligns with the government's commitment to support families while ensuring they can financially sustain their dependents.
The Home Office clarified that the purpose of the income requirement is to promote self-sufficiency among families and prevent reliance on public funds, thereby positively impacting the economy. Under the new regulations, the sponsoring family member, or the applicant if they are in the UK with permission to work, must earn a minimum income of GBP 29,000 in the UK. This requirement can be met through various means, including savings.
"The government's ambition for a high-skill, a high-wage economy cannot rely on mass migration, and measures introduced as part of the package will protect British workers, encourage business to invest in, and recruit, workers domestically while prioritising only the very best talent from abroad," the Home Office noted.
These steps, according to the Home Office, aim to address the strain on public services, housing, and the job market caused by high migration levels, while simultaneously prioritizing the recruitment of skilled workers domestically and from abroad.
The recent adjustment to the Family Visa income requirement is expected to have a significant impact, affecting approximately 300,000 individuals who arrived in the UK last year. Since the beginning of this year, several visa regulations have been tightened as part of the government's comprehensive approach to managing migration effectively.
