UK Family Visas

There is no single visa called a ‘UK Family Visa’. If you wish to join or accompany your family member or partner to the UK, you must apply under a specific route within this category.

The main types of visa under the family category include:

• Spouse Visa, Unmarried Partner Visa, and Fiancé Visa
• Parent visa
• Child visa
• Ancestry visa
• Adult Dependant Relative visa
• EU Settlement Scheme Family Permits
• Family visitors

These different types fall under different categories of visa law. For example, Partner and Spouse Visa UK applications are made under the FL (M) route and dependent children and partners fall under the PBS route (which varies depending on the person being accompanied to the UK, e.g a Skilled Worker Visa or a Student Visa) UK Family Visit Visas fall under the ‘Standard Visitor’ category. EEA Family Permits come under EEA law rather than UK law.

Some of these categories are long-term, and others are temporary. Spouse and Partner, Ancestry, and Dependent Visas are all eligible for ILR.  Each visa type also has its own set of requirements, application processes, costs and lengths of stay.

As there are many different types of family visa, requirements for each of them will vary greatly. However, generally speaking, you should fulfil one of the following criteria in order to be eligible for the most common and popular types of Family visas:

• You are a married, in a civil partner with, or a long-term unmarried partner of a British citizen, settled person or someone with refugee status or humanitarian protection
• You are the fiancé of a British citizen or settled person
• You are the dependent spouse/partner or child of someone with valid entry clearance to the UK
• You are an adult in need of long-term constant care from a relative who is a British citizen or settled in the UK
• You are an overseas citizen with a grandparent who was born in the UK
• You are a person with refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK
• You are a Turkish Businessperson visa holder
• You qualify as an EU citizen or an individual from Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, possessing pre-settled status (as per regulations, you must have initiated residence in the UK before 1st January 2021)

The individual seeking a UK family visa must satisfy the following criteria:

• Spouse, partner, fiancé, fiancée, proposed civil partner, child, parent, or a relative for whom you will be providing long-term care (more details on each of these categories are provided below).
• If applying as your child, they must be dependent on you, which implies that they are not leading an independent life, are unmarried, and reside with you (unless they are attending university or boarding school).
• They must possess the means to financially support both themselves and their dependants in the UK. This financial requirement does not apply to children.
• They need to have a satisfactory command of the English language.
• They should not have a criminal record or pose a threat to the security of the UK.

The requirements for Family Visas can involve the applicant demonstrating that their relationship to the named relative, whoever that may be, is genuine. To show this, you must include evidence that proves this.

For example, marriage or birth certificates, photographs, proof of your communication, cohabitation, and shared finances. The types of documents you must include will vary depending on which category of leave you are applying for.

In cases where the UK-based family member acts as the applicant’s sponsor (as with Spouse, Unmarried Partner, and UK Fiancé visa applications) you may also need to include a letter of sponsorship. It should include information such as how long you have known each other, the nature of your relationship, your future plans together, as an example.

It should also include evidence which proves you are who you say you are and that you are either British, settled or have a valid form of entry clearance. This depends on the type of application being made.

Partner Visas are used by partners of British citizens and people who hold some kind of settled status in the UK, such as indefinite leave to remain.

To be eligible for a visa under this category, you must be:

• A spouse or civil partner of a British citizen or settled person
• A long-term unmarried partner who has lived with a British person or settled person in a relationship ‘akin to marriage’ for at least two years
• The fiancé or proposed civil partner of a British person or settled person

Partner Visa Requirements

To meet the requirements for a Partner Visa, you must show that you:

• Are in a ‘genuine and subsisting’ relationship with your British/settled sponsor
• Meet the combined financial requirement of £18,600 per year
• Meet the minimum English language requirements
• Meet the adequate accommodation requirements

Partner Visa Costs

A Partner visa application costs £1,048 if made from within the UK, and £1,538 if made from outside it.

Partner Visa Documents

The documents you need to include for a Partner visa may include (but not be limited to) the following:

• Valid passport or other travel ID
• Details of any previous immigration applications you’ve made
• Details of any criminal convictions
• Your parents’ dates of birth and nationalities
• Your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you’re required to take one
• Documentary proof that your relationship is genuine and subsisting
• Documentary proof that you meet the minimum financial requirements
• Documentary proof that you meet the minimum language requirements, or proof that you’re exempt from them
• Proof that you’ll get married to, or enter into a civil partnership with, your partner (if applicable)

The Parent visa can be used by parents of eligible UK-based children to come to the UK and care for them.

Parent Visa Requirements

There are a number of requirements that applicants and their child must meet for this visa. These include (but are not limited to) the following:

• The child must be 18 or under
• The child must be living in the UK and be a British citizen or have settled status
• The parent needs to have sole or shared parental responsibility for the child. If responsibility is shared, the child’s other parent cannot be the applicant’s partner and also be a British citizen or have settled status
• The parent will be taking an active role in the child’s upbringing
• The parent will need to meet minimum English language requirements
• The parent will need to meet minimum financial requirements

Parent Visa Costs

A Parent visa application costs £1,048 if made from within the UK, and £1,538 if made from outside it.

Parent Visa Documents

The documents you need to include for a Parent visa may include (but not be limited to) the following:

• Valid passport or other travel ID
• Details of any previous immigration applications you’ve made
• Proof of the relationship between you and your child
• Documentary proof that you are, or will be, taking an active role in your child’s upbringing, particularly ones from the government, schools, courts or medical professionals
• Proof that you can speak English to the minimum standard
• Proof that you can support yourself financially
• Your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you’re required to take one

The Child visa allows eligible children to join their parents in the UK. A number of requirements apply to this visa, including separate requirements depending on how old the child is and where they were born.

Child Visa Requirements

There are a number of different requirements for this visa based on the following:

• If the applicant is under 18 or over 18
• If the applicant was born in the UK or outside the UK
• What kind of immigration permission the applicant’s parent has in the UK

For this reason, it’s important to ensure that you fulfil the specific requirements for your own situation and ensure that your own family situation means that you’re eligible for this visa type.

Child Visa Costs

A Child visa application costs £1,048 if made from within the UK, and £1,538 if made from outside it.

Child Visa Documents

The documents you need to include for a Child visa may include (but not be limited to) the following:

• Valid passport or other travel ID
• Details of any previous immigration applications you’ve made
• Proof of relationship between the applicant and their parent
• Proof of parent’s immigration status in the UK
• Proof that the applicant doesn’t live an independent life (if relevant)
• Proof that the applicant is being financially supported by the parent (if relevant)

The Ancestry visa can be used by a person whose grandparent was born in the UK to move to and settle in the UK. It is a long-term residence visa that can lead to indefinite leave to remain.

Ancestry Visa Requirements

You must meet several specific requirements to be eligible for the Ancestry visa. For example, you must:

• Be 17 years old or over
• one of the following:
  • A citizen of a Commonwealth country
  • A British overseas citizen
  • A British overseas territories citizen
  • A British national (overseas)
  • A citizen of Zimbabwe
• Be able to demonstrate your relationship with your grandparent is genuine
• Plan to get a job in the UK
• Have enough money to support yourself and any dependents

Ancestry Visa Costs

The Ancestry Visa application fee is £531. You must apply for this visa from outside the UK.

Ancestry Visa Documents

You will need to include several documents to prove you meet the requirements for a UK Ancestry Visa. These include:

• Your birth certificate
• The birth certificate of the parent and grandparent you are making a claim under
• The marriage certificates of your parents and grandparents
• Proof that you plan to find work/that you have work lined up in the UK (e.g job application or offers, or a business plan if you plan to be self-employed)

The Ancestry Visa lasts for five years.

After this time, you can either extend it or apply for ILR, provided you meet the settlement requirements.

The Adult Dependent Relative visa is used by people who need long-term, daily care from their UK-based relative. To be eligible, they must be unable to receive this care in their home country.

An adult dependent can be an adult child, grandchild, parent or sibling. The carer (called the sponsor) must be either a British nation or settled person.

Adult Dependent Relative Visa Requirements

To meet the requirements for this UK visa, the applicant must be able to demonstrate that:

• They are unable to complete everyday tasks, including household and personal care tasks without help
• This inability must come from a long-term disability or illness, or age
• Be unable to receive the care they need in their home country because it either doesn’t exist or they cannot afford it

The UK family member must show that they are able to financially support you and provide the care you need while you are in the UK.

This is a permanent type of family-based visa. If granted, the adult dependent relative is able to live in the UK indefinitely without having to extend their visa or apply for settled status.

Adult Dependent Relative Visa Costs

People applying to take care of an adult relative in the UK must pay a fee of £3,250 if applying outside the UK, or £1,048 if applying from inside the UK.

Adult Dependent Relative Visa Documents

Applicants (or those applying on their behalf) should provide extensive documents which show the relative needs long-term care, and that they are unable to access this in their own country. Examples of these documents include:

• Medical evidence. This must prove that the applicant has a long term condition, disability, or illness which makes it impossible for them to complete everyday tasks by themselves. This could be a note from a doctor or health professional, proof of examinations, prescriptions, test results, X-rays, etc.
• Proof that care is unavailable or inaccessible. This must come from either a local health authority, a doctor/health professional, or a local authority in general. Proof of finances can also be used to prove that they are unable to afford care, if this is the basis of the application.
• Documents that show the UK-based relative is able to provide this care. This could be bank statements, payslips, a job contract. A letter should also be included which shows the British relatives’ care plans and willingness to support their relative.

If you’re the family member of someone from the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway or Liechtenstein, you may be able to come to the UK to join them under certain circumstances as part of the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS).

EU Settlement Scheme Family Requirements

To be eligible for this immigration pathway, all of the following must apply:

• Your family member started living in the UK by 31 December 2020
• They have settled or pre-settled status
• You’re joining them in the UK on or after 1 April 2021

You will be able to apply through this route as a spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, or as a child, grandchild or great-grandchild under 21 years old. You may also apply as a dependent parent, grandparent or grand-parent in certain circumstances.

Specific requirements for different types of family permit will depend heavily on the type of relationship involved, the immigration status of the UK-based family member, and multiple deadlines for the EUSS.

EU Settlement Scheme Family Costs

It’s free to apply for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit.

EU Settlement Scheme Family Documents

The documents you will need to provide for a EUSS family permit include (but may not be limited to) the following:

• A valid passport, travel document or national identity card
• Proof of your relationship with your family member
• Proof of your family member’s eligibility for the scheme, such as proof of theory immigration status or immigration history
• Details of any previous criminal convictions

If you need to come to the UK to visit a family member for a temporary period, you may be able to apply for a Family Visitor Visa.

This type of entry clearance falls under the ‘Standard Visitor Visa’ category.

This type of visa is temporary, and it lets the holder visit their UK-based family for a specified period. This is usually 6 months or less. During their visit, the visa holder cannot work or conduct business, and they cannot switch onto any other visa category.

Family Visit Visa Costs

A UK Family Visit costs £100. In some specific circumstances, this can be higher. This is the case if it needs to be extended. This usually happens when you need to visit a family member for ongoing medical reasons, over a period of years.

Family Visit Visa Documents

The documents you need to submit for a Visit Visa are as follows:

• Your passport/a valid travel document
• Financial documents that prove you can support yourself in the UK (like bank statements, wage slips, proof of income etc)
• Proof that you will return to your home country (e.g a mortgage, a job, a place on a course, a family etc).

The Adult Dependant Relative Visa allows eligible adult dependents of a British citizen, a person settled in the UK, or someone with refugee or humanitarian protection status to join their family member in the UK.

This visa is intended for individuals who require long-term care and support due to serious illness, disability, or age and who are unable to receive the required level of care in their home country.

Note that applicants don’t need to prove their level of English or pass the Life in the UK Test.

Adult Dependant Relative Visa Costs

An Adult Dependant Visa costs £3,250 if you’re applying from outside the UK and £1,408 if you’re applying from inside the UK.

Adult Dependant Relative Visa Documents

The documents you need to submit for an Adult Dependant Relative Visa are as follows:

• Your passport or a valid travel document
• Financial documents that prove you or your UK family carer can support yourself in the UK (like bank statements, wage slips, proof of income etc) without relying on public funds.
• Your TB test results, if you come from a country where TB is common. Check the UK government website for the updated official list of these countries.

The PBS Dependant Visa is a type of visa available under the Points-Based System (PBS) in the UK. It is designed for family members or dependents of individuals who hold certain types of visas within the PBS, such as Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 4, or Tier 5 visas.

This visa allows eligible dependents to join their family member in the UK during their period of stay. The main visa holder needs to currently be a PBS migrant or in the process of applying to become one for points-based visas like the Skilled Worker Visa or Health and Care Visa.

PBS Dependant Visa Costs

The PBS Dependant Visa fees are subject to change, and depend on the visa category you are applying for.

PBS Dependant Visa Documents

A Family Reunion Visa is a type of visa that allows certain family members of individuals who have been granted asylum or humanitarian protection in a country to join them in that country.

The purpose of this visa is to reunite families who have been separated due to conflict, persecution, or displacement.

Family Reunion Visa Costs

If the applicant is using the visa to reunite with asylum seekers in the UK, then the visa application fee is nullified, and free of charge. Check the UK’s official government website for further details on fees depending on your specific situation.

Family Reunion Visa Documents

• Passport or official national ID document
• Marriage certificates
• Certificate of birth
• Certificate of adoption
• Tuberculosis (TB) certificate (based on the applicant’s originating country)
• Sponsor’s personal details, encompassing their name, birthdate, citizenship, and Home Office reference code
• A declaration from the sponsor elucidating the conditions that resulted in the candidate being left behind, along with specifics of any recent communication between the sponsor and candidate