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<p>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 21 December 2023 we set out further details on how we would implement this
through a staged implementation.</p><p>On 30 January 2024, we confirmed the Immigration
Rules we intend to lay on 14 March will set out that from 11 April we will raise the
threshold to £29,000 - that is the 25th percentile of earnings for jobs which are
eligible for Skilled Worker visas.</p><p>We will incrementally increase the threshold
to the 40th percentile (currently £34,500), and finally to the 50th percentile (currently
£38,700, and the level at which the General Skilled Worker threshold (GSWT) is set)
by early 2025.</p><p>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.</p><p>Whilst the level of the minimum
income requirement (MIR) is being raised, other aspects of the MIR will remain unchanged
including exceptions.</p><p>For example, where the applicant’s partner is in receipt
of specified benefits or allowances in the UK, such as Disability Living Allowance,
the applicant will be able to meet the financial requirement by providing evidence
of “adequate maintenance”, rather than meeting an income threshold.</p><p>The family
Immigration Rules also contain provisions to allow for a person to be granted a Family
visa even where they do not meet the MIR, where they show that their case raises exceptional
circumstances, and a refusal of family leave would lead to unjustifiably harsh consequences
for them or their family.</p><p>The published guidance on the current MIR is contained
in the link below: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/chapter-8-appendix-fm-family-members"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/chapter-8-appendix-fm-family-members</a>.</p><p>Analytical
work has been undertaken across Government to support decision making in this process,
and an Impact Assessment will be developed in due course.</p>
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