Partner-family income requirement remains GBP29,000

In force Residency In force 11 Apr 2024

The minimum income requirement for a new partner-family route application is GBP29,000. People whose first qualifying family application pre-dated 11 April 2024 remain under specified transitional calculations. The 2025 Migration Advisory Committee review did not itself change the legal threshold.

Who it affects

British or settled sponsors and partners using the family route.

Sources

Primary: GOV.UK — family-route settlement financial requirement ↗

Verified 2026-08-02 · methodology

Related changes in United Kingdom

More recent updates

In force 1 Jan 2027

Announced Visa & immigration

Graduate visa will reduce to 18 months for new non-doctoral applications

Non-doctoral Graduate visa applications made on or before 31 December 2026 receive two years. Applications from 1 January 2027 receive 18 months. PhD and other doctoral graduates continue to receive three years. The route remains unsponsored, non-extendable and does not itself lead to settlement.

Who it affects: International graduates planning post-study work after 2026.

GOV.UK — Graduate visa ↗ · verified 2026-08-02

In force 1 Jul 2026

In force Residency

Successful new applications move to eVisa-only evidence

UKVI stopped issuing visa vignettes to successful new applicants on 1 July 2026. Successful applicants receive an eVisa and must use a UKVI account to view permission and keep travel-document details current; limited forms accompanying an eVisa may still be issued where specified.

Who it affects: New visa applicants, carriers, employers and landlords checking status.

UKVI — updates on the move to eVisas ↗ · verified 2026-08-02

In force 1 May 2026

In force Housing

Renters’ Rights Act reforms take effect in England

From 1 May 2026 applicable private tenancies in England move to the assured periodic model, section 21 no-fault eviction is unavailable, landlords can generally increase rent once a year through the statutory process, and tenants receive new protections. Housing law differs in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Who it affects: Private renters and landlords in England.

GOV.UK — Renters’ Rights Act overview ↗ · verified 2026-08-02

In force 1 Apr 2026

In force labour

National Living Wage rises to GBP12.71

From 1 April 2026 the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is GBP12.71 per hour. The 18-to-20 rate is GBP10.85, and the under-18 and apprentice rate is GBP8.00. Immigration salary rules are separate and usually require materially higher annual pay.

Who it affects: Employees and employers across the UK.

GOV.UK — National Minimum Wage rates ↗ · verified 2026-08-02

In force 25 Feb 2026

In force Visa & immigration

ETA requirement is enforced for non-visa nationals

From 25 February 2026 carriers can prevent non-visa nationals from travelling without an ETA or other valid digital permission. An ETA costs GBP16, permits multiple journeys, and lasts for two years or until the linked passport expires, whichever is sooner. It is permission to travel, not permission to enter.

Who it affects: Visa-exempt visitors other than exempt categories such as British and Irish citizens.

Home Office — UK enforces digital permission to travel ↗ · verified 2026-08-02

In force 8 Jan 2026

In force Visa & immigration

High Potential Individual route expanded and capped

The Global Universities List was expanded and the HPI route became subject to an annual cap of 8,000 applications per allocation year. Eligibility still depends on the list covering the qualification award date, a degree awarded in the previous five years, English and other route requirements. HPI remains a two-year route, or three years for doctoral graduates, without a direct settlement path.

Who it affects: Recent graduates of eligible non-UK universities.

GOV.UK — Immigration Rules Appendix High Potential Individual ↗ · verified 2026-08-02