Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to maintain the minimum income threshold level for spouse visas in place on 1 February 2024.

On 4 December 2023 the Home Secretary announced his intention to raise the MIR to £38,700, aligned to the level at which the General Skilled Worker threshold is set.

On 30 January 2024, the Minister of State for Legal Migration and the Border confirmed the Immigration Rules we intend to lay on 14 March will set out that from 11 April 2024 the minimum income threshold for Family visas will be raised to £29,000, that is the 25^th percentile of earnings for jobs which are eligible for Skilled Worker visas. We will incrementally increase the threshold, moving to the 40^th percentile (currently £34,500), and finally to the 50^th percentile (currently £38,700, and the level at which the General Skilled Worker threshold is set) by early 2025.

It is important that the changes are delivered in a sensible and pragmatic way that gives families time to adapt, but ensures they deliver the reduction in numbers the British people expect.

This change will not be applied retrospectively to people already on the five-year partner route. Those who already have a Family visa within the five-year partner route, or who apply before the minimum income threshold is raised, will continue to have their applications assessed against the current income requirement and will not be required to meet the increased threshold. This will also be the case for children seeking to join or accompany parents.

Anyone granted a fiancé(e) visa before the minimum income threshold is raised will also be assessed against the current income requirement when they apply for a Family visa within the five-year partner route. Those already in the UK on a different route, who apply to switch into the five-year partner route after the MIR has been increased, will be subject to the new income requirement.