Family Visas UK

UK Family Visas

If you plan to stay with a family member in the UK for more than 6 months, you will need to apply for a UK Family Visa. There are various family visa categories available, and the specific route you should apply for will depend on your circumstances. You can apply for a family visa to join the following individuals:

• Your spouse or partner
• Your fiancé, fiancée, or proposed civil partner
• Your child
• Your parent
• A relative who will provide long-term care for you

Each UK Family Visa has specific eligibility requirements. However, in addition to applying to join an eligible relative in the UK, the relative you wish to join must meet one of the following criteria:

• Hold a valid UK visa that permits dependants to join them.
• Be a British or Irish citizen.
• Have settled status in the UK (such as Indefinite Leave to Remain or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme).
• Be an EU national, or a citizen of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, and hold pre-settled status (provided you started living in the UK before 1 January 2021).
• Hold a Turkish Businessperson visa or Turkish Worker visa.
• Have refugee status.
• Have been granted humanitarian protection in the UK.

Spouse Visa

The Spouse Visa allows spouses and civil partners of UK-based partners to join them in the UK. Successful applicants will be able to live, work and study in the UK for up to 2 years and 9 months, after which an application can be made to extend the visa. If an individual decides to apply for an extension of their Spouse Visa, they may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the future.

To be eligible to apply for a UK Spouse Visa, individuals must be either in a marriage or civil partnership with their UK-based partner - the marriage or civil partnership must be legally recognised in the UK. In addition to this requirement, individuals will be required to meet a set of relationship, English language and financial requirements.

Unmarried Partner Visa

An Unmarried Partner Visa allows individuals who are in a long-term relationship with a UK-based partner to join them in the UK. Successful applicants will be able to live, work and study in the UK for up to 2 years and 9 months, after which an application can be made to extend the visa. By extending the visa, individuals may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

To be eligible to apply for this visa, individuals must have been in the relationship for at least 2 years prior to the date of application. The previous requirement, to have lived together in a relationship similar to a marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years has now been removed from the Immigration Rules.

In addition to this requirement, individuals will be required to meet a set of relationship, English language and financial requirements.

Fiance Visa

A Fiance Visa allows individuals who are engaged to a UK-based partner to enter the UK to enter a civil partnership or marry their partner (also referred to as a ‘sponsor’) within six months of arriving in the UK. In addition to this requirement, to be eligible to apply for a Fiancé visa, applicants are required to meet a set of relationship, English language and financial requirements.

The Fiance Visa only lasts for six months. Unlike other UK Family Visas, the Fiance Visa cannot be extended. If an individual wishes to remain in the UK, then they must apply to switch to another visa (i.e. the Spouse visa). By switching to a Spouse Visa, in the future, individuals may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

Parent Visa

A Parent Visa allows parents of British citizens or those with settled status in the UK to come to, and settle in the UK. Successful applicants will be able to live, work and study in the UK for up to 2 years and 9 months, after which an application can be made to extend the visa. By extending the visa, individuals may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

To be eligible for this visa, the child which the parent is applying on the basis of must either be a British or Irish citizen, settled in the UK, have pre-settled status in the UK, or have lived in the UK for 7 years continuously, and it would not be reasonable for them to leave. In addition to this requirement, individuals will be required to prove their relationship with their child and meet a set of financial and English language requirements.

Adult Dependent Visa

The Adult Dependent Visa enables individuals who require long-term care to reside in the UK with a close relative who can provide this care. This visa is designed for elderly or dependent family members who rely on daily care and support and are unable to support themselves financially or carry out daily tasks independently.

Applicants must demonstrate their dependence on the care and support of their UK-based relatives and prove that they cannot receive adequate care in their home country.

How to apply for a UK Family Visa

To apply for a UK Family Visa an online application must be submitted. The online application which you will be required to complete depends on what specific Family Visa is being applied to and where the application is being made from (inside or outside the UK).

As part of the application process you will be required to provide a range of information and documents to support your application.

If you require assistance to apply for a UK Family Visa get in touch to speak to an expert immigration lawyer.

Can you work on a Family Visa in the UK?

Whether or not you can work on a Family Visa in the UK depends on what kind of Family Visa you have. For instance, the Parent Visa, Spouse Visa and Unmarried Partner Visa will enable individuals to work in the UK. However, individuals with a Fiance Visa will not be able to work in the UK. If you are unsure whether you have the right to work in the UK it is important to speak to an immigration lawyer.