Family Visas - Join Your Family in the UK
Eligibility for a UK Family Visa
If you're a non-UK or Irish national aspiring to live and work in the UK for an extended period, you'll need to apply for a UK Visa. Various visa types cater to different circumstances. A family visa is required for those wishing to join family members in the UK for over six months.
Who Can Apply for a Family Visa?
If you're residing outside the UK, you can apply for a Family Visa to join your spouse, fiancée, partner, child, parent, or relative who will provide long-term care for you. Other eligibility routes include:
- Your relationship ended due to divorce, or your partner has recently passed away.
- You are the parent of a British or settled child, or a child who has lived in the UK for seven years or more.
- You are eligible under the Ukrainian Family Scheme.
- You wish to settle in the UK or extend your existing family visa.
- Your UK-based family member can sponsor your visa application.
Types of UK Family Visas
Non-UK and Irish nationals intending to stay in the UK for over six months will need to apply for a Family Visa if they meet any of the following criteria:
- Your family member/spouse is a British citizen.
- Your family member/spouse has Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or settled status.
- You have a qualifying relationship with someone in the UK who holds refugee status or humanitarian protection.
If you are already in the UK on a different visa, you might be able to switch to a family visa to stay with your child, fiancée, or partner. The type of Family Visa you require depends on your relationship with the person settled in the UK.
Spouse Visa
Under the UK Family Visa scheme, partners and spouses can stay in the UK for up to 2.5 years. After this period, you can apply for an extension, allowing a total stay of five years. Following this, you may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) if you have lived in the UK for over five years.
Requirements for a UK Spouse Visa
- Both you and your partner must be over 18 years old.
- You must be in a genuine relationship.
- You must intend to live in the UK for at least 2.5 years.
If applying as a fiancée, your visa will be limited to six months, during which you must marry your fiancée to avoid deportation. You can also include dependent children in your application.
Financial and Language Requirements
- The sponsoring family member (or you, if you have permission to work in the UK) must have a minimum income of £29,000. This can be met through savings or a combination of savings and a lower income.
- You must meet one of the following language requirements:
- Pass an approved language test.
- Hold a qualification from an English-speaking course.
- Be from a majority English-speaking country.
These language requirements do not apply if you have a mental or physical disability that prevents you from meeting them or if you are 65 years or older.
Child Dependent Visa
Children who are overseas nationals can apply for a UK Family Visa either with their parent's application or separately. To qualify, the child must be under 18 when the application is made and still dependent without having formed an independent family unit. The sponsoring parent or carer must also meet financial requirements. After five years in the UK, the child can apply for British naturalisation.
UK Ancestry Visa
A UK Ancestry Visa is available to those with a British-born grandparent. This visa allows you to work, live, and study in the UK. After five years, you can apply for settled status.
Adult Dependent Visa
Adults over 18 who require long-term care may be eligible for an Adult Dependent Visa. This visa is for parents, grandparents, or adult children of British citizens who need long-term care provided by a UK-based relative. This visa allows indefinite stay if the UK relative has British citizenship or settled status. It is difficult to obtain and requires substantial evidence of the need for care that cannot be met in your home country.
Family Reunion Visa
The Family Reunion Visa allows family members of refugees in the UK to join them. The refugee acts as a sponsor and must have refugee status, humanitarian protection for at least five years, or have entered under specific refugee programmes.
PBS Dependent Visa
The Points-Based System (PBS) Dependent Visa allows family members of individuals living in the UK to reside, work, and study in the UK, as long as the primary visa holder has permission to stay.
Common Reasons for Family Visa Rejection
- Failure to meet requirements.
- Inadequate supporting information.
- Risk to UK public health or safety.
- False or misleading information.
- Criminal convictions affecting eligibility for naturalisation.
Let Us Help You Reunite with Your Family in the UK
Ready to join your loved ones in the UK? Our experts guide you through the family visa application process for a successful outcome.
Ready to join your loved ones in the UK? Our experts guide you through the family visa application process for a successful outcome.