Family Visa Financial Requirements: Insights from Migration Advisory Committee June 2025
Introduction to Family Visa Financial Requirements
The family visa route, as a fundamental passageway for persons wanting to reunite with family members in the United Kingdom, is an important route. As of June 2025, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has recently provided useful updates on the financial requirements for obtaining a family visa. Recognising the importance of these financial requirements and the role they play within the overall visa application process is essential for any applicant.
Financial criterion has changed a great deal over the past few years in response to wider economic and government policies. This article examines the latest recommendations of the MAC, and highlights what the applicant/sponsor can expect.
The minimum income requirement is central to a family visa application that sponsors must meet, which is currently set at £29,000 per year for a partner and increases with number of dependents. This level of income is intended to protect the state from the costs of the applicant lacking financial resources. For example, if there is a career development, a net value, a job offer with a stated salary, or if a defendant accepts offer of employment, all are opportunities that sponsors have (MAC, 2020, p.2-10). The MAC did acknowledge that the cost of living in a diverse range of area of the UK can drive inequalities into the minimum income requirement, which is why the MAC recommended flexibility in the economic conditions of applicants/migrants concerning job mobility.
The MAC was very clear to note that the income threshold, set at £29,000 – is inadequate in some areas for family reunification, e.g. in London about 40 percent of living arrangements – or potentially more, are over £29,000 . Moreover, the amount of £29,000 is based on occurrence of basic needs, housing, food, and some savings – and does not take into account future needs, (MAC, 2020).
Understanding the Financial Threshold
The central issue in their family visa application was the financial threshold. The financial threshold is intended to prevent families from relying on public funds and this is managed at £29,000 when the sponsor earns this for themselves, but this amount can vary depending on the number of dependants.
The minimum income level for a child is increased by £3,800 for each additional child in the application, to ensure families can provide for their children, noting the rising cost of living in the UK.
Income Sources Recognised by the MAC
The MAC has indicated several sources of income to factor in when assessing the financial threshold, including income from paid or salaried employment, self-employed earnings, and certain savings. It is important that applicants know what income to include and how they can prove it.
Typically for paid employment you will need to provide payslips and tax return, and for self-employed income you will want to provide sufficient proof of your self-employed income with business accounts and tax documents. Savings could also be included as income if they exceed £62,500 if applying before 11th April 2024 and £88,500 if applying on or after 11th April 2024. The savings must have been held for a minimum of 6 months prior to applying.
Alternative Financial Routes
While the income threshold remains the core criteria, the MAC have proposed alternative pathways for applicants who may have trouble meeting the core requirements. Applicants should be able to demonstrate the financial requirement using a combination of income and savings. For people with incomes that fluctuate during the year or for those who are newly self-employed, this would provide a good level of flexibility.
In addition, the MAC recognised that sponsors who are on maternity leave or long-term sick leave need allowance for their circumstances and conditions. The MAC said that sponsors need to be able to use their income before entering maternity or sick leave to meet the financial requirement so that families are not penalised in any way for a temporary fall in income.
Impact of Financial Requirements on Family Reunification
The income threshold remains the key criteria, but the MAC has proposed different options for applicants who may find it difficult meeting the strict core requirements. Applicants should be able to meet the financial requirement guided by income and savings. This would provide good flexibility for some individuals with fluctuating income throughout the year, e.g., newly self-employed people.
Furthermore, the MAC recognised that individuals who are sponsors on maternity leave or long-term sick leave need some consideration for their circumstances and conditions. The MAC said that sponsors should be able to use their income before commencing maternity or sick leave, and as a result, meet the financial requirement so that families are not disadvantaged in any way for temporarily reduced income.
Regional Variations in Living Costs
One of the main justifications for changing the financial requirements is the stark contrast between where families live in the UK and the costs they experience. The MAC considered that, with a single threshold income requirement, it could not easily grant exemptions to families living in areas with lower costs of living, and so a shared threshold was problematic.
It is possible that £29,000 is generous for a family living in a rural property, whereas that sum may not even cover basic bills in London. Therefore, the MAC also recommended that the government reviews regional living costs, to feel confident that financial requirements are proportionate for applications.
Long-term Solutions for Family Visa Applicants
Given the continual struggles family visa applicants have encountered, the MAC recommended some constructive, long-term systemic changes, such as introducing a more flexible income assessment, modifying the existing income threshold according to a region’s economic climate, as well as the government being able to provide families in need with financial assistance (such as a grant or an interest-free loan) to help meet the income requirement. Overall, should families have access to the appropriate financial support, it would better enable families to reunite with loved ones domestically and make the process much easier.
Documentation and Evidence Requirements
Submitting the appropriate documentation is a vital element of the family visa application process . The MAC has emphasised that clear and thorough evidence should be provided to demonstrate the financial requirements are met, or there could be unnecessary delays or refusals of applications.
Applicants should make sure that they are submitting up to date financial documents that reflect their current circumstances. This may include bank statements, payslips, tax returns and any other relevant financial information. The MAC has also advised that applicants should seek professional advice if they are unsure about the documentation required. Obtaining professional assistance can help avoid common traps.
The Future of Family Visa Financial Requirements
The report published by the Migration Advisory Committee in June 2025 suggests that the current financial requirements in place of family visas may soon change. As the government evaluates the consequences of their financial requirements on families’ ability to reunite, there may be more opportunities for reform that better meets the needs of families in the UK today.
There are many advocates for reform who maintain that, in order to respect and came up with better solutions to allow families to unify, the approach to financial assessments needs to be more humane and flexible. The MAC’s recommendations are simply the first step in thinking about how we can create a system that is more inclusive of families from a greater diversity of backgrounds.
Potential Reforms on the Horizon
As the government considers the MAC’s recommendations, they may be able to enact future reforms that will relieve some of the cost burden that family visa applicants shoulder. The possible reforms include changing the income ceiling, regional variation, and improved frameworks to support families unable to meet the requirements.
The MAC is recommending lowering the ceiling to an amount around £23,000-£25,000 (approximately full-time minimum wage). The MAC argues this ceiling is modest enough that families will have enough standing that they will not end up in poverty (in the UK). Some other practical reforms identified involved taking job offers for overseas partners into account for family-linked requirements, simplifying complex rules associated with self-employment, providing advance notice of changes to thresholds to families and better data collection to properly ascertain the effects of changes to policy. The committee particularly noted that the current system discriminates against families with children, and therefore recommendations were made for greater flexibilities in family situations, in order to mitigate additional separation costs to families.
These changes could improve the experience for applicants and their families, creating a more family-friendly atmosphere for those wishing to reunite with loved ones in the UK. continued discourse on those themes is important in the wider debate of a fair and just immigration system.
The financial aspects of family visas are an important element of the immigration system in the United Kingdom. The Migration Advisory Committee (June 2025) recommendations provide useful clarity for applicants and their sponsors to their requirements of understanding and compliance.
With discussions continuing the concept of family reunification, possibilities for real changes exist that can help tackle the challenges facing families. By pushing for a more elastic and compassionate approach to financial assessments, stakeholders can start to work towards a system that is genuinely supportive of family unity and can reflect some of the varied realities of life in the UK.
Enhance Your Expertise with HJT Training
Financial requirements are the primary reason that most family visas fail, with applicants often unable to demonstrate that they have adequate funds, or difficulties with combinations of income sources, while in the cases when financial exemptions apply, it is often refusals of the visa. Dealing with financial requirements for family visas is a complex and intricate process that requires a good and broad understanding of current immigration law and practice.
At HJT Training we provide training to develop your skills and knowledge to deal with these complexities.
Join HJT’s live online course MAKING FAMILY APPLICATIONS IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. Antonia Randall-Brandwood will cover complexities on how to comply with the rules with respect to financial exemptions and other exceptions.
For more details on the course or to book, visit here To ensure the quality of course delivery, we have limited spots for this online course.
Written By, Shareen Khan – Legal Content Writer, HJT Training
Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration advisors should consult the full decisions and official policy documents when advising clients on specific cases.
If you are reading this blog after 22nd July 2025 and have enquiries regarding complex family visa applications, contact us on enquries@hjt-training.co.uk or, call us on 075 4416 4692
