What are the new financial requirements for UK partner visas and family members?

On 11 April 2024, the minimum income threshold to sponsor a family member increased from £18,600 to £29,000. When evidencing income, you must usually have held this same source of income for the last six months prior to your visa application. One advantage is that the income required remains the same, regardless of how many children are also applying. These rules are the same whether applying to join a family member in Belfast, Northern Ireland or London.

There are several ways you can meet this minimum income requirement:

• Salaried employment
• Self-employment such as being a business owner or director
• Through pensions or investments
• Savings
• Your partner’s employment or self-employment income can also be considered (that is if they happen to already be in the UK with permission to work)

It is possible to combine employment income with non-employment income to meet the requirements. An example may be through savings totalling £88,500. As immigration lawyers if relying on savings we urge a level of caution here. You should seek legal advice around this area whether you intend to live in Belfast – Northern Ireland – London.

If your family member in the UK has already been on the 5-year route to settlement since before 11 April 2024 you can avail of the old annual income requirement of £18,600. However, If you have children applying also who are not British or settled in the UK, this will be higher depending on the number of children applying. As immigration lawyers we often advise family members based in Belfast, Northern Ireland or London on the income requirements when applying for multiple family members at the same time.

It is anticipated in Q4 of this year that the current Government will increase the minimum requirement to £34,500 per year. In 2025 it is planned to go up to £38,700. As immigration lawyers we advise clients in Belfast, Northern Ireland and London that the salary requirements are likely only going to increase. It may be prudent to submit an application to the Home Office sooner rather than later if these legal changes are implemented in 2024 and 2025. It is important to note that any increases to the minimum income requirements will apply exactly the same for individuals wishing to join family in London as they would be in Belfast. There are no regional differences despite the fact that people’s income is often much less in Belfast than in London for example.

The Immigration Rules give separate requirements for entry clearance applications (applications from abroad also known as visa applications) and applications for leave to remain (applications from within the UK). The rules are similar for each but not exactly the same. The Immigration Rules require that applicants must be ‘suitable’ and ‘eligible’. ‘Suitability’ deals with issues of criminal conduct, ‘bad character’ and certain aspects of previous immigration history.

For those applying for a visa (entry clearance), they must also consider whether their application may be refused under paragraph 320 (11) of the immigration rules ‘where the applicant has previously contrived in a significant way to frustrate the intentions of these Rules’. So if you have tried to secure a visa or leave to remain in the UK in the past and have a ‘bad’ immigration history, your application may be refused.

Due to the current administration wishing to reduce net migration figures it is often applications of this nature that are heaving scrutinised by entry clearance officers. As immigration lawyers we advise our clients whether in Belfast or London to ensure you seek legal advice in ensuring your application is submitted in the strongest light as possible. Failure to submit relevant documents or missing documents could end up in a visa refusal for your family member.

Refusals do not look good when considering making a second or third visa application to the Home Office. Therefore, we advise as immigration lawyers to seek professional advice to secure that visa required in the first instance whether applying to join a family member in Belfast or London.

CMC Immigration Law is an immigration practice based in London and Belfast which provides UK immigration services and solutions to businesses and private individuals throughout the world.