Migration Advisory Committee pushes back against £38,700 Minimum Income Requirement for Spouse visas

In a significant policy intervention, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has advised against the previously proposed increase to the Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) for family visas. The proposal, initially introduced by the former Conservative government, sought to raise the MIR from the current £29,000 to £34,500 in early 2025, and subsequently to £38,700 – the same salary threshold currently in place for Skilled Worker visas.

The review, commissioned by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, was tasked with evaluating whether the MIR strikes the right balance between safeguarding the UK’s economic wellbeing and respecting the fundamental right to family life. The MAC’s conclusion is clear: applying the same income standard used for work-based migration to the family route is illogical, inappropriate, and potentially unlawful.

“We do not recommend the approach based on the Skilled Worker salary threshold,” the MAC writes, “It is unrelated to the Family route and is the most likely to conflict with international law and obligations (e.g. Article 8).”

No simple solutions, but a more human approach

The MAC said that there is no “simple technical answer” to defining a fair income threshold. Balancing economic considerations with ethical and legal responsibilities involves complex trade-offs. In the course of its review, the Committee assessed four possible approaches to calculating the MIR: living standards, fiscal impact, alignment with the welfare system, and average earnings.

While the MAC stops short of recommending a fixed figure, it proposes a broad income range of £19,000 to £28,000. Most practical models indicate that a threshold between £23,000 and £25,000 – roughly equivalent to full-time work at the National Living Wage – would permit the majority of British workers in low-paid jobs to sponsor a partner.

“A threshold at this level,” the MAC argues, “would allow most British workers in full-time minimum-wage jobs to qualify.”

Raising the MIR to the level proposed by the previous government could have reduced net migration and lowered potential costs to taxpayers. However, the MAC warns this would come at a steep personal price – especially for families and children. Higher income thresholds disproportionately affect working-class families, including many with British children, forcing prolonged separation between loved ones.

What comes next?

The MAC’s recommendations are not binding, but they carry substantial weight in shaping immigration policy. Whether the current Labour-led government will adopt the MAC’s guidance remains to be seen. However, with mounting public concern about family separation and child welfare, and in light of legal obligations under international human rights law, the case for reform is growing ever stronger.

As the UK continues to debate the future of its immigration system, one thing is clear: economic prudence should not come at the cost of family unity.

Updated: 16.06.2025

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