New salary limit for family visas in UK comes into force, know new rules

London: The minimum income limit for UK citizens and residents who want to invite relatives to the country on a family visa has been raised by 55 per cent from Thursday. These include people of Indian origin living here.

The government had announced such a scheme last year. From Thursday, the minimum annual income of people who invite relatives to the UK on family visas has been raised from 18,600 pounds to 29,000 pounds.

The wage limit will be increased twice over next year to match the 38,700 pounds for skilled worker visa pay threshold.

The UK Home Office said it was a last-ditch effort under a package brought in by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary James Cleverly to reduce legal migration and ensure taxpayers are not burdened by immigrants.

“The situation has reached a peak with a large number of migrations,” Cleverley said. There is no simple solution or easy decision to reduce the number to a level acceptable to the British people.”