UK Family Visa New Minimum Income Financial Requirements Review 2025
If you’re planning to join your partner or family member in the UK through a Family visa, there’s one big topic you need to understand first: the financial requirement — officially called the Minimum Income Requirement (MIR).
In 2025, the UK government published an updated Family Visa Financial Requirements Review that could affect how much income you need to show, how you apply, and whether your application qualifies.
Let’s break it down.
What Is the UK Family Visa Financial Requirements Review?
This review, conducted by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) and published in June 2025, evaluates whether the current income rules for family visas are fair, lawful, and practical — especially after the UK’s exit from the EU and recent migration policy reforms.
The goal? To balance:
- The UK’s economic wellbeing,
- With people’s right to live with their families under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights – Ref.
What Has Changed in the Family Visa Financial Requirements?
Here are the key changes you should know if you’re applying for a UK Family visa now or in the near future:
1# Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) Raised
- The MIR was £18,600 for years (since 2012).
- In April 2024, it was raised to £29,000 for new applicants.
- This increase is now fully implemented and applies to most standard partner visa applications.
No additional income is required for children. The new MIR is a flat rate whether you’re sponsoring just a partner or a partner and children.
2# No Further Increases (For Now)
The previous government planned to raise the MIR further:
- £34,500 (40th percentile of Skilled Worker income)
- £38,700 (50th percentile)
✅ BUT: These increases were not written into law and were cancelled after the change of government in 2025. So, for now, £29,000 remains the standard requirement.
3# Armed Forces Sponsors Have a Lower Threshold
- If you’re in the HM Armed Forces, the income threshold is £23,496 (as of April 2024).
- This is a flat rate — no increase for children either.
4# EU Citizens Now Subject to Financial Requirements
- After Brexit, EU family members no longer have free movement.
- If you are applying to bring a family member from the EU, they must now meet the same financial requirements as non-EU nationals under the Family visa route.
5# Who Can Apply and From Where?
- You can apply for a UK Family visa from outside the UK (most common).
- You can also switch to the Family route from inside the UK if you’re already on a valid visa (e.g., Student or Skilled Worker).
❌ You cannot apply from within the UK if you’re on a Standard Visitor visa.
How Did These Changes Impact Applications?
- There was a surge in applications before April 2024 as people rushed to apply under the old £18,600 rule.
- Applications dropped in early 2025, possibly due to the higher £29,000 threshold making it harder for some people to qualify.
- The number of partner visa applications in Q1 2025 was 10,900, similar to pre-pandemic averages.
What About People Who Can’t Meet the £29,000 Threshold?
If your income is below the threshold, you may still qualify in special circumstances:
1# Use the Adequate Maintenance (AM) Test (Ref) if:
- You or your partner receive certain UK benefits (e.g., disability-related benefits).
- The AM test considers whether your household income is enough to support your family after housing costs, based on government figures.
- However, it’s used in less than 10% of applications.
Data Gaps & Recommendations from the Review
The MAC also highlighted:
- A lack of proper Home Office data on who uses the MIR vs AM test.
- A call for the government to better monitor application outcomes and financial barriers.
MAC also rejected aligning the MIR with the Skilled Worker salary threshold (e.g., £38,700), saying it would separate too many families and is unfair.
Summary for New Applicants on MIR after June 2025
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| MIR (standard partner visa) | £29,000 (flat, no child top-up) |
| MIR (HM Armed Forces) | £23,496 (flat) |
| EU family members | Now subject to MIR rules |
| Apply from abroad | ✅ Most applicants do |
| Switch inside UK | ✅ Only from certain visa types |
| Use AM test | ✅ Possible for low-income benefit recipients |
| Future MIR increases | ❌ Cancelled as of mid-2025 |
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