The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is an independent, expert body that advises the UK Government on immigration policy. It provide evidence-based recommendations to help the Government make informed immigration decisions.
The MAC identified several serious issues with the current income rules for family migration. These include:
The current income requirement of £29,000 is too high for many British citizens and settled individuals, particularly those in part-time or low-paid work, caring roles, or self-employment.
The MAC found clear evidence that the MIR is causing long-term harm to families, including separation of children from a parent, damage to mental health, and disrupted family life.
While the MIR was introduced partly to protect public funds, the MAC concluded that its financial benefits are limited and do not justify the level of disruption caused to families.
The UK’s income threshold is much higher than similar requirements in countries like Canada, the US, Australia, and across Europe
Applicants and sponsors frequently struggle with the complexity of the rules —especially when self-employed, combining income sources, or relying on benefits.
The MAC has proposed five key reforms aimed at making the family visa system fairer and more workable:
Reduce the threshold to between £23,000 and £25,000, reflecting full-time work at the National Living Wage.
Where the partner applying has a UK job offer or is able to work remotely, their income should be counted towards the financial requirement.
Greater flexibility should be given where strict rules or delays would otherwise result in separation of a parent and child.
For people on specified benefits (such as disability-related benefits), the current ‘adequate maintenance’ test should be removed and replaced with a simpler housing suitability check.
Any future changes to the MIR should be announced at least 12 months in advance, and the Home Office should collect better data on family migration.