United Kingdom: MAC Publishes Family Visa Financial Requirements Review
June 11, 2025
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At a Glance
- The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) published its family visa financial requirements review.
- The MAC did not recommend a specific minimum income requirement, but instead presented a range of options, each reflecting a balance between the promotion of economic well-being and the right to family life, inviting the government to choose based on its policy preference.
- The MAC rejected the idea that the minimum income requirement should be set equal to salary thresholds under the Skilled Worker route, which was suggested by the previous government.
- The MAC also suggested reform proposals including:
- Allowing the combining of savings with self-employment income, removing the current restriction on combining savings with self-employment;
- Allowing UK job offers or remote work roles to count toward the minimum income requirement for non-UK entry clearance applicants; and
- Maintaining a flat minimum income requirement for all families, regardless of the number of children.
- If the government accepts the MAC’s proposals, this could potentially result in reduced thresholds for family visas; and related reforms to the system could make it easier to meet the minimum income requirement.
The situation
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has published its family visa financial requirements review after being tasked with recommending to the UK government how the minimum income requirement should be set to balance the United Kingdom’s economic well-being with the right to family life.
A closer look
- Recommendations. The MAC instead presented a range of options for the minimum income requirement and suggested reforms to the current financial requirement rules. Key suggestions (among others) included:
- Allowing combining savings with self-employment income, removing the current restriction on combining savings with self-employment;
- Allowing UK job offers or remote work roles to count toward the minimum income requirement for non-UK entry clearance applicants;
- Using a simplified formula to calculate annual income; and
- Maintaining a flat minimum income requirement for all families, regardless of the number of children.
- It rejected as ‘incoherent’ thresholds under the Skilled Worker route as the appropriate minimum income requirement (the government previously proposed this approach).
- It suggested that the focus be on the GBP 23,000–GBP 25,000 range, which it considered achievable for most full-time UK workers.
- It also recommended annual reviews of minimum income requirements.
Background
The MAC’s recommendations are only effective if the government formally accepts them. Until then, employers are bound by current immigration rules. However, the MAC’s recommendations are highly influential and most of its recommendations are typically accepted by the government shortly after they are made.
Impact
If the government accepts the MAC’s proposals for the minimum income requirement, this could potentially result in reduced thresholds for family visas; and its related reforms to the system could make it easier to meet the minimum income requirement.
Looking ahead
It is now up to the UK government to decide which of the minimum income requirement ranges it will choose. It is likely that the minimum income requirement will not be as high as was expected under the last government. We will report on related developments.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
