Moving to the United Kingdom is a common goal for international professionals, and it is easier to commit to when eligible family members can come too. The UK family visa is one of the most established routes for immigration to the UK.
A family visa lets a relative live in the UK and take up the opportunities available there. If you are applying for a UK family visa, this article covers what the visa is, who qualifies, and how the process works.
What is the UK family visa?
According to official UK government guidance, a family visa allows the applicant to come to the UK and live with a family member. That family member can be a spouse or partner, a fiance, fiancee or proposed civil partner, a child, a parent, or a relative who provides long-term care for the applicant.
Who qualifies for a UK family visa
The following people can apply for a UK family visa:
- Spouse or partner: married couples, civil partners, or unmarried partners in a long-term relationship
- Fiance, fiancee or proposed civil partner: normally granted an initial six-month visa
- Child: must be under 18 and not living an independent life
- Parent: where you are joining a parent who is settled in the UK
- Relatives needing long-term care: for adult relatives who require personal care
Types of UK family visa
There are several types of family visa, depending on your relationship to the person living in the UK. You can apply for a family visa to live in the UK with:
- A spouse, partner, fiance, fiancee or proposed civil partner
- A child
- A parent
- A relative who provides your long-term care
If you already live in the UK and have been here for a long period, you may also be able to apply on the basis of your private life.
UK family visa requirements
A UK family visa has requirements that both the family member in the UK and the applicant must meet. The precise rules depend on the type of family visa you are applying for.
Read more: The cost of moving to the UK
Requirements for the sponsor in the UK
The sponsor must be in one of the following positions:
- Hold a valid UK visa that permits dependants (such as a work, study or business visa). Some visas, including the Youth Mobility Scheme, do not allow dependants.
- Be a British or Irish citizen.
- Be settled in the UK, for example with indefinite leave to remain or settled status.
- Be an EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic or Liechtenstein citizen with pre-settled status, provided they started living in the UK before 1 January 2021.
- Hold a Turkish Businessperson or Turkish Worker visa.
- Have refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK.
Requirements for the applicant
The applicant must meet the following conditions:
- Be a close family member: a spouse or partner, fiance, fiancee, proposed civil partner, child, parent, or a relative who provides long-term care.
Where a child is applying, the child must not be living independently, must be unmarried, and must live with a parent, other than in situations such as university or boarding school. - Be able to support themselves and any dependants financially in the UK (children excepted).
- Meet the English language requirement.
- Have no relevant criminal record and pose no threat to UK security.
Working with a specialist immigration firm such as Aval Visa can help you assess eligibility, identify the documents you need, and understand processing times and the costs involved in a UK family visa.
Documents required for a UK family visa application
The table below sets out the documents needed for a UK family visa application:
| Document category | Documents required |
|---|---|
| 1. Identity and passport documents | - Valid passport with at least one blank page - Passport-standard photograph - eVisa share code (biometric residence permits have expired and been replaced by eVisas) |
| 2. Evidence of the relationship | - Marriage or civil partnership certificate - Child's birth certificate - Photos, messages or evidence of living together - Consent letter from the other parent (for children under 18) |
| 3. Financial documents | - Payslips for the last 6 months - Bank statements for the last 6 months - Evidence of other income (rent, shares, pension) - Evidence of savings (if required) |
| 4. Accommodation documents | - Tenancy agreement or property title for the accommodation - Utility bills in the sponsor's name - Housing inspection report |
| 5. English language documents | - Approved English language qualification at level A1 or above (e.g. IELTS Life Skills) - Degree taught in English, with an Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) confirmation |
| 6. Supporting documents | - Divorce certificate or death certificate of a previous spouse (if applicable) - Criminal record certificate (if applicable) - Previous immigration history - Completed online or PDF application form |
| 7. Medical documents (if required) | - Tuberculosis (TB) test result, if applying from a country where the test is mandatory |
How to apply for a UK family visa
Here are the steps in a UK family visa application:
- Step one, check eligibility: confirm that the applicant falls into one of the family visa categories (partner, child, parent or relative needing care) or qualifies to apply for settlement.
- Step two, work out the costs: check the application fee, the immigration health surcharge and whether a fee waiver may apply.
- Step three, take a medical test if required: if the applicant is from a country where a tuberculosis (TB) test is required, it must be done before the application is submitted.
- Step four, apply online: the applicant or their representative completes the online form. Applicants aged 16 and over must review and confirm their own application.
- Step five, biometrics: the applicant provides fingerprints and a photograph at a designated centre. Outside the UK this is a visa application centre; inside the UK it is UKVCAS.
- Step six, upload supporting documents: scans of identity documents, evidence of the relationship, financial evidence, accommodation details and any other required documents are submitted through the online platform.
- Step seven, the decision and what follows: if you are in the UK, you can remain, work or study while the decision is pending. If you are outside the UK, an entry vignette is issued on approval; it is valid for a limited period stated on the vignette itself, so travel within that window and check the dates as soon as you collect your passport. After arrival you complete your immigration status through your UKVI account, which now holds your status digitally as an eVisa rather than on a physical biometric residence permit.
How long does a UK family visa take?
Applying for a family visa from outside the UK normally takes up to 12 weeks for a decision in standard conditions. Applying from inside the UK, standard processing varies with the circumstances of the case and generally runs from 8 weeks to 12 months. In some cases you can pay extra for a faster decision where the Home Office priority services are available.
Read more: UK tourist visa
Validity and extension of the UK family visa
How long is a UK family visa valid, and how do you extend it when it runs out? The table below sets this out:
| Topic | Key points |
|---|---|
| Best time to apply for an extension | Up to 28 days before the current visa expires (from inside the UK only) |
| Length of the extension | 2 years and 6 months (in most cases) |
| Processing time | Usually 8 weeks / priority service: 5 working days (if the extra fee is paid) |
| Extension fee (standard) | GBP 1,407 per person from inside the UK (GBP 2,064 from outside) |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | About GBP 2,587.50 per adult for 2.5 years |
| Key documents required | Evidence of a genuine relationship, financial documents, English language qualification (A1), address details, identity documents |
| Current financial requirement | Minimum income of GBP 29,000 for a spouse/partner (raised from the previous threshold) |
| Permission to stay while the application is decided | Yes — under Section 3C you may continue to live, work and study in the UK |
| Extension application form | Form FLR(M) for spouse/partner and parent/child routes |
UK family visa fees
The cost of a UK family visa depends on the type of application and where it is made, inside or outside the UK.
The fee per person by place of application is:
- Outside the UK: GBP 1,938
- Inside the UK: GBP 1,321
If further family members are added to the application, for example another child, the same fee is payable for each person.
Fees for adult dependent relatives needing long-term care
If your relative has refugee status or humanitarian protection:
- From outside the UK: Home Office application fees are set out in the published fee schedule and change regularly; check the current fee for your route before you apply
- From inside the UK: GBP 1,321
In all other cases:
- From outside the UK: GBP 3,413
- From inside the UK: GBP 1,321
Before paying, make sure your bank will authorise the payment so the transaction is not declined. If you cannot afford the fee, you may be able to apply for a fee waiver.
Why UK family visas are refused
An application may be refused for the following reasons:
- The relationship is not genuine or has not been evidenced
- The financial or accommodation requirements are not met
- Documents are incomplete or the information provided is insufficient
- General requirements, such as the English language level or the criminal record check, are not met
If the visa is refused, there are two main options:
1. Appeal: only available where you can show the decision breaches your right to family or private life. The deadline is 14 days inside the UK and 28 days outside it. The tribunal fees are:
- GBP 80 for a decision on the papers
- GBP 140 for an appeal with an oral hearing
2. A new application: you can submit a fresh application, but the full fee is payable again.
If your visa is refused, take advice from a specialist immigration adviser quickly so that the right route, an appeal, a new application, or a different visa category, is chosen.
Frequently asked questions
- When can you apply for settlement in the UK?
If you held leave as a partner and you have experienced domestic abuse, or your partner has died, you may be able to apply. - Do I need English for a family visa?
In many cases you must prove your English language ability. - What if I have a previous immigration history?
You must provide details of every previous immigration application, including visas and entry stamps.
