Reuniting migrant families in the UK is expected to cost British taxpayers about £5.6 billion over the course of their lifetimes, according to new research by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). The advisory body said tens of thousands of migrant partners who arrive in the UK each year through family visas place a long-term financial burden on the state, despite contributing positively in their early years.
The MAC estimated that more than 40,000 migrant partners are granted family visas every year. Each of them is projected to cost the public purse around £109,000 over their lifetime. While many of these migrants work and pay taxes during their first two decades in the UK, the report found that this contribution is not enough to cover future costs linked to healthcare, social care, and pensions as they grow older.
According to the findings, the financial pressure increases sharply once migrants are granted indefinite leave to remain after five years in the UK. At this stage, they become eligible for public benefits. The MAC calculated that in the three years after gaining this status, migrant partners claimed around £109 million in benefits, averaging £2,400 per person.
The report also compared the long-term costs of migrant families with other migration routes. It said each successful asylum seeker is expected to cost the state about £300,000 over their lifetime. In contrast, British citizens of a similar age group are projected to contribute about £110,000 to the economy during their lives.
These findings support new immigration plans being introduced by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Under the proposed rules, refugees will no longer have an automatic right to bring their families to the UK. Instead, they must be employed and earn at least £29,000 a year before applying. The waiting period for indefinite leave to remain will also be extended from five to ten years, and up to twenty years for those who entered the UK illegally.
The MAC report highlighted a clear difference between migrant families and skilled workers. Skilled migrants were found to bring a strong financial benefit, with a net lifetime contribution of £47.7 billion overall. Foreign health and care workers were also shown to have a positive impact, contributing an estimated £5.5 billion.
Official data shows that partner visas increased from 47,500 in 2018 to more than 67,000 last year. The MAC said many migrant partners earn less than UK-born workers, with an average income of £21,000 a year compared to the UK median salary of £28,000. Employment rates among former asylum seekers were also lower than the national average.
The committee concluded that refugee and humanitarian routes are likely to continue placing a high cost on public finances. This is mainly due to lower employment rates, lower wages, and access to benefits. The report adds fresh fuel to the national debate over how the UK balances compassion, border control, and long-term economic sustainability.