The UK government has implemented stricter family visa regulations, effective from April 11, 2024. What are the new rules? Now, the Minimum income required to sponsor a family visa recipient has hiked from £18,600 to £29,000 annually that is over 55%. This is a part of a broader plan to gradually raise the salary thresholds up to £38,700 by early 2025, required for the Skilled Worker visa.
The Rishi Sunak Government has introduced the immigration system reforms, which included this recent increase in salary threshold for family visas. It also included tightening the student visa route in May 2023.
This Income requirement has remained unchanged for over a decade. As the government claims, it was well intended to curtail immigration levels. It aims to promote self-sufficiency among families and alleviate reliance on public funds while positively impacting the economy. Shockingly, with this new rule, approximately 300,000 individuals who arrived in the UK last year now no longer meet the criteria.
Now that the UK has made family Visa Criteria Strict, let’s have a look at 5 countries offering easy Family Visas.
Canada
Canada has a very welcoming immigration policy, considerably the best option for people looking to settle abroad, particularly in North America. Canada has a multicultural society, with a large Indian and Chinese Population, thus it is regarded as one of the top destinations for family migration, particularly among Indians. The nation has multiple facilities for study visas, work permits, and post-graduation work permits. It has accessible healthcare, immigrant-friendly policies, ample job opportunities, and is a safe and reliable destination for individuals seeking to establish themselves in a new country.
What makes Canada stand out? Canada's Express Entry system invites experienced professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors. It provides diverse opportunities across sectors like technology, healthcare, and natural resources. The immigration process is extremely simple with no complex eligibility criteria or robust paperwork. Moreover, various visa programs, including work permits, business class immigration, federal skilled worker visas, and the Canada Start-up Visa Program, cater to different immigration needs.
From a Family Sponsoring perspective, Canada offers two types of parent visa options: the Super Visa, a temporary choice allowing parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to make multiple entries for up to 10 years, staying up to two years at a time with financial support from their child; and the Parents and Grandparents Program, which permits holders to reside and work in Canada with higher requirements.
Then, To sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner in Canada, one must fulfil a few criteria including being a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, being at least 18 years old and having sufficient funds to support your spouse or partner, as well as any dependent children upon their arrival in Canada.
Easy? Right!
Germany
Let’s stop in Germany for a while. Moving to Europe for better opportunities is a dream of many. Germany, a beautiful country, has a lot to offer. Living in Germany offers access to other EU countries without additional visa requirements, alongside excellent social welfare benefits including healthcare, retirement plans, and tuition-free college education. The country's emphasis on work-life balance, high living standards, rich culture, efficient transportation, and healthcare system make it an attractive destination for global citizens seeking settlement. It has leading automotive manufacturing firms which attract skilled professionals from various sectors, particularly engineering.
The Skilled Workers Immigration Act and various visa opportunities streamline the immigration process, with a six-month permit to seek employment followed by a work permit application. Temporary residence permits allow a stay of up to four years, with eligibility to apply for citizenship upon meeting the criteria. Germany's robust economy, coupled with favourable work visa options like the Blue Card for skilled professionals, fosters a welcoming environment for expatriates.
Germany issues a unique and specialised Family Reunion Visa. Given that Parents of Individuals from non-European countries residing in Germany, have citizenship from the EU, EEA, or EFTA, they can apply for this visa. Moreover, Relatives and partners can apply for this visa, granting them the right to live and work in Germany without a separate work or residence permit.
Australia
Need Quality of Life? Professionals seeking to relocate can consider Australia. Australia consistently ranks among the most livable countries, all thanks to Its relaxed culture which makes it easy for migrants to easily adapt and embrace the Australian way of life. It has stunning landscapes, diverse cultures, and vibrant cities like Sydney and Melbourne. Necessities are readily available from high-quality healthcare, education, and safety standards even comparable to many developed nations.
In recent years it has become an attractive destination for immigrants seeking long-term benefits. The country's points-based immigration system targets skilled workers, facilitating the immigration process for expatriates. The thriving economy, particularly in sectors like technology, medicine, and engineering, presents numerous opportunities for expats. With its English-speaking environment and welcoming populace, Australia provides a seamless transition for those looking to settle in a dynamic and prosperous country.
New Zealand
Another Oceanian nation, New Zealand has made it to the list! New Zealand offers a family-friendly environment with a strong emphasis on work-life balance, high-quality education, and healthcare systems. The country's safe communities and low crime rates provide a secure environment for families. With its welcoming immigration policy and skilled immigration program, New Zealand is an inviting destination for expats.
New Zealand provides several options for parents of residents or citizens to join their families either temporarily or permanently. These options typically require having a child or grandchild who is a New Zealand resident or citizen, with some requiring sponsorship from them or their parents. First is the Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa: This visa allows multiple entries into New Zealand for up to 6 months at a time, with a total maximum stay of 18 months over 3 years, to visit your child or grandchild. But you must be sponsored by them, and you can include your partner in the application.
Then, the Parent Resident Visa, the residence-class visa is sponsored by a New Zealand resident child and allows parents to reside permanently in New Zealand. Lastly, the Parent Retirement Resident Visa, this visa allows permanent residency in New Zealand, requiring a yearly income of NZ$60,000, NZ$1 million to invest over 4 years, and an additional NZ$500,000 for living expenses. Permanent residency can be applied for after 4 years, and partners can be included in the application.
United Arab Emirates
Let’s have a look at the Middle East! Indians often move to the UAE for a better lifestyle and improved earning opportunities. The UAE is a sought-after destination for immigrant workers, primarily due to its favourable tax policies, where expats are not taxed on their income, inheritance, gifts, or capital gains. Moreover, the UAE does not require experience or a professional degree to work, and the cost of living is lower compared to many developed countries due to tax-free salaries, affordable public transport, and reasonable costs for food and utilities.
The expatriates can sponsor their spouse, children, or parents under the UAE family visa if they fulfil specific eligibility criteria, such as holding a valid residency permit or visa and fulfilling minimum salary requirements. Sponsors in Abu Dhabi are restricted to certain minimum salary requirements and must be engineers, educators, or employed in the medical field. Sponsoring family members is not restricted by occupation in Dubai; however, the spouse must have a minimum salary of AED 10,000 and obtain special permission from the appropriate authorities. Depending on the number of family members, a sponsor's minimum salary in the UAE varies; sponsors with more than six partners may be eligible for a waiver. At residence centres, sponsors are also required to present documentation of their familial ties.
Overall, the United States was not part of our list as the US and the UK, still remain a popular choice for immigrants to migrate into the developed countries for better life and better opportunities. But in recent years, the immigration policies have become stricter and stricter, making it tough for people to live there. So from the list, make a choice for yourself considering what suits you the best, Canada’s immigrant-friendly policies, Germany being a pathway to additional benefits in the EU, Australia and New Zealand’s quality of life or United Arab’s low cost of living. There are few other options to explore as well including what we missed Africa’s South Africa and Asia’s Singapore and Malaysia.
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