The Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) for HM Armed Forces personnel sponsoring a partner or dependent child(ren) is set to rise, as announced on December 21, 2023. Under Appendix HM Armed Forces, the new MIR will increase to £23,496. Notably, this change does not introduce a separate provision for children within the MIR.

This adjustment takes into account the unique and often challenging nature of service within HM Armed Forces, acknowledging the risks, sacrifices, and potential dangers, including injury or death, that personnel face. Furthermore, it underscores the UK Government’s ethical commitment to service members and their families, as outlined in the Armed Forces Covenant. This Covenant establishes a pledge between the Government and military personnel, ensuring they and their families are not disadvantaged due to their service. It also recognises the vital role that families play in supporting the operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces, as well as the limited influence service members and their families have over deployments.

Importantly, this revised MIR will not affect those who already have permission under Appendix HM Armed Forces or those who submit applications before the MIR increase takes effect. These applicants will have their cases assessed based on the current MIR, where it proves more beneficial. This will also apply to children who wish to join or accompany a parent under Appendix HM Armed Forces.

Additional minor amendments to the Armed Forces appendices include:

• The application of Part 9: Grounds for Refusal to both Appendix HM Armed Forces and Appendix International Forces and Civilian Employees.
• A new transparency requirement, ensuring that a refusal will be assessed for potential violations of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, specifically for partners and children in Appendix HM Armed Forces under certain conditions.
• The inclusion of cross-cutting provisions across Appendix Continuous Residence, Appendix Relationship with Partner, and Appendix Children to ensure a consistent approach.
• Applicants for settlement in the UK under Appendix HM Armed Forces will now be able to combine time spent on other routes to settlement to meet the qualifying period under this appendix. However, for partners, at least one year of permission under Appendix HM Armed Forces is required to qualify.

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