Proposed changes to UK immigration rules – family visas, May 2025

23 May 2025

UK government has announced radical changes across many immigration categories, including family visas. The immigration white paper presented to Parliament on the 12th May 2025 summarises proposals for future legislation. According to the document, the government is planning to set out a new family policy that will affect those applying for a UK spouse, unmarried partner or fiancée visa. Key changes include introducing a clear framework and potentially tightening the requirements for those seeking to enter or remain in the UK on the basis of exceptional circumstances known as the 10-year partner route to settlement, increasing English language requirements for partners and spouses of British Citizens and UK permanent residents, conducting a refresh of the Life in the UK test and how it operates which will affect those seeking to apply for settlement or ILR, tightening the suitability rules to ensure only individuals of good moral character are granted permission to live in the UK, and possibly raising the minimum income threshold for family visas from £29,000 to £38,700 following the Migration Advisory Committee’s review which is expected to be released in June 2025.

Existing family visa holders should be able to rely on the requirements as they applied at the time of submitting their initial entry clearance or leave to remain application, as the Home Office would not normally apply changes to the immigration rules retrospectively. Therefore, it is advisable to apply for a UK partner, spouse or fiancée visa before any changes come into effect. It appears at this stage that the new policy will not extend route to settlement from five to 10 years for family visa holders, as according to the white paper document, the government intends to continue offering a shorter pathway to settlement to non-UK dependents of British Citizens.

A new family policy is expected before the end of 2025.

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