The minimum income normally required to sponsor someone for a spouse/partner visa will rise in stages to £18,600 per year to £29,000 and ultimately around £38,700.

In a bid to reshape immigration policy, Home Secretary James Cleverly unveiled a comprehensive “five-point plan” aimed at reducing immigration and recalibrating visa regulations. The plan, initially outlined on December 4, 2023, has since undergone adjustments, with further details released by the Home Office on December 21. Here are the key changes:

1. **Restriction on Social Care Worker Visas**: Effective March 11, 2024, social care workers will be prohibited from bringing dependents, including partners and children, on their visas.

2. **Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold Increase**: Beginning April 4, 2024, the baseline minimum salary required for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa will surge from £26,200 to £38,700. Notably, this adjustment will not apply to the Health and Care Worker visa or education workers on national pay scales.

3. **Revisions to Shortage Occupation List**: Scheduled for implementation in April 2024, likely on April 4, alterations to the shortage occupation list will be made to limit the sponsorship of overseas workers below the standard minimum salary.

4. **Spouse/Partner Visa Minimum Income Escalation**: The minimum income prerequisite for sponsoring a spouse/partner visa will incrementally rise to £29,000 on April 11, 2024. Subsequent increases to around £34,500 and ultimately approximately £38,700 are anticipated by early 2025.

5. **Review of Graduate Visa Program**: The Migration Advisory Committee is tasked with assessing the Graduate visa, a two-year unsponsored work permit for overseas graduates of British universities. Although the Home Office was scheduled to commission this review in January 2024, the process had not commenced as of the time of writing. The committee is expected to report its findings in late 2024.

These changes mark a significant shift in the UK’s visa landscape, reflecting the government’s commitment to reforming immigration policies and addressing labor market dynamics. Stay tuned for further updates as these adjustments take effect over the coming months.