Specialist consultancy Five Star International reports that the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has completed its review of the Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) for family visas, recommending a range of £23,000–£25,000. The government has yet to respond, leaving the current threshold at £29,000 for new applicants – a level introduced in 2024 and widely criticised as too high. The update, published on 23 January 2026, clarifies that earlier proposals to lift the bar to £38,700 have been shelved. (fivestarinternational.co.uk)
Applicants who filed before 11 April 2024 remain “protected” at the former £18,600 threshold, creating a two-tier system that immigration lawyers say is administratively complex. The MAC argues that setting the MIR at around £24,000 would allow most full-time minimum-wage workers to reunite with spouses while still limiting public-fund dependence. (fivestarinternational.co.uk)
![MAC review prompts debate over £29k family-visa income threshold]()
VisaHQ’s dedicated UK immigration specialists can help both employers and individuals navigate these shifting income rules. From assessing whether your salary meets the latest MIR figures to compiling supporting evidence and tracking application milestones, the online platform provides end-to-end guidance—learn more at https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/.
For corporate mobility teams, the MIR mainly affects long-term assignees who transition from work visas to family routes. A lower threshold would ease permanent settlement planning and reduce the risk of employees leaving the UK because partners cannot qualify. Conversely, if ministers keep the £29,000 bar, employers may need to adjust assignment allowances or consider remote-work alternatives. (fivestarinternational.co.uk)
The Home Office is expected to issue a formal response before the summer recess. Global mobility practitioners should monitor the outcome and prepare template communications for staff contemplating the partner route, highlighting evidence requirements and potential savings if the threshold falls. (fivestarinternational.co.uk)
Applicants who filed before 11 April 2024 remain “protected” at the former £18,600 threshold, creating a two-tier system that immigration lawyers say is administratively complex. The MAC argues that setting the MIR at around £24,000 would allow most full-time minimum-wage workers to reunite with spouses while still limiting public-fund dependence. (fivestarinternational.co.uk)
VisaHQ’s dedicated UK immigration specialists can help both employers and individuals navigate these shifting income rules. From assessing whether your salary meets the latest MIR figures to compiling supporting evidence and tracking application milestones, the online platform provides end-to-end guidance—learn more at https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/.
For corporate mobility teams, the MIR mainly affects long-term assignees who transition from work visas to family routes. A lower threshold would ease permanent settlement planning and reduce the risk of employees leaving the UK because partners cannot qualify. Conversely, if ministers keep the £29,000 bar, employers may need to adjust assignment allowances or consider remote-work alternatives. (fivestarinternational.co.uk)
The Home Office is expected to issue a formal response before the summer recess. Global mobility practitioners should monitor the outcome and prepare template communications for staff contemplating the partner route, highlighting evidence requirements and potential savings if the threshold falls. (fivestarinternational.co.uk)
