The Home Secretary announced on Tuesday 30th January 2024 that new minimum salary requirements for visas for foreign workers will take effect "within weeks".
In an attempt to reduce legal immigration, the government announced in December that a raft of new limitations would be placed on individuals and their families travelling to Britain. Among them was a substantial increase in the minimum wage required to qualify for a visa.
- Reforms to restrict care workers from bringing family members to the UK will come into force on 11th March 2024.
- Measures requiring care providers to register with the Care Quality Commission if they are sponsoring migrants will also start on 11th March 2024.
- An increase to the minimum salary required for those arriving on a Skilled Worker Visa, from £26,200 to £38,700, will start from 4th April 2024.
- The minimum income threshold for those bringing dependents to the UK on family visas will increase in stages starting on 11th April 2024. From this date, workers will need to be earning at least £29,000-a-year to bring a family member from abroad - up from £18,600.
The Government has not provided a timeframe for when the threshold would increase above £29,000.
The Home Office confirmed that visa applications already submitted would be assessed under the old rules.
We will provide further information as and when it is announced.
For further help and advice on any business immigration matter please get in touch with your usual 3CS contact.
