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Family Visas

Home Family Visas

Family Visas

Family Visas

You need a family visa to live with a family member in the UK for more than 6 months. Your partner, spouse, son/daughter or parent  must also either:

  • Be a British or Irish citizen
  • Have settled in the UK - for example, they have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence
  • Be from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and have pre-settled status - they must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021
  • Have a Turkish Businessperson visa or Turkish Worker visa
  • Have refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK

You and your partner, spouse, son/daughter or parent  must intend to live together permanently in the UK after you apply. You will not be able to work during your stay in the UK under this category.


Applying from outside the UK

You can apply for a family visa to live with your:

  • Spouse or partner
  • Fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner
  • Child
  • Parent
  • Relative who’ll provide long-term care for you


You might also need to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. 


If you apply outside the UK a decision will usually be made within 24 weeks. If you apply in the UK a decision will usually be made within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service.


If you use the super priority service a decision will usually be made:

  • By the end of the next working day after providing your biometric information if your appointment is on a weekday
  • 2 working days after providing your biometric information if your appointment is at the weekend

Note: Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays.


It might take longer if your application is complex, for example you:

  • Do not meet the minimum income requirement
  • Cannot prove your knowledge of English
  • Need to attend an interview
  • Have not provided all the evidence that the Home Office needs
  • Have a criminal conviction or another personal circumstance that needs to be reviewed


EUSS - European Union Settlement Scheme Family Permit To Join Family In The UK

You may be able to get an EU Settlement Scheme family permit to come to the UK if you’re the family member of someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. You may also be able to apply if you’re the family member of an eligible person of Northern Ireland. The family members of some British citizens can also get a permit. You must be outside the UK to apply. The EU Settlement Scheme family permit will allow you to work and study in the UK.

A family permit makes it easier to travel with your family member to the UK or to join them there. It lets you come to the UK for up to 6 months. You can work and study, and come and go as many times as you want before the permit expires. Without one, you might not get a boarding pass or may be refused entry into the UK. You can apply to stay longer in the UK if you’re eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme.

You can apply if you’re one of the following family members:

  • Spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner
  • Child or grandchild under 21
  • Dependent child or grandchild over 21
  • Dependent parent or grandparent
  • This includes family members who were adopted under an adoption order that’s recognised in UK law.


You can also apply if you’re one of the following family members of the spouse or civil partner:

  • Their child or grandchild aged under 21
  • Their dependent child or grandchild over 21
  • Their dependent parent or grandparent


Spouses and civil partners of Swiss citizens

If you’re married to or in a civil partnership with an eligible Swiss citizen, the rules are different. You’ll still be eligible if:

  • You got married or formed your civil partnership between 31 December 2020 and 1 January 2026
  • You’re still married or in a civil partnership when you apply


Ukraine Family Scheme Visa 

The Ukraine Family Scheme allows applicants to join family members, or extend their stay, in the UK. Everyone must make a separate application, even children travelling with a family member. It is free to apply. You will be able to live, work and study in the UK and access public funds. You can stay in the UK for up to 3 years. It is free to apply to the Ukraine Family Scheme. You do not need to pay the immigration health surcharge or biometric enrolment fee for this scheme.

To apply to the Ukraine Family Scheme you must:

  • Be applying to join or accompany your UK-based family member
  • Be Ukrainian, or the family member of a Ukrainian national who is applying to the scheme to join a UK-based immediate family member
  • Have been living in Ukraine on or immediately before 1 January 2022 (even if you have now left Ukraine)


You can apply if you’ve already arrived in the UK and meet the requirements above. If you’re a Ukrainian national who had temporary permission to stay in the UK on or before 18 March 2022, you can apply to the Ukraine Extension Scheme instead. Your partner and children can also apply if they’re already in the UK as your dependants. If you previously had permission to stay in the UK but it has expired since 1 January 2022, you’re also eligible to apply to the Ukraine Extension Scheme. Your application will be subject to security checks.


Your UK-based family member must be one of the following:

  • A British national
  • Someone settled in the UK - for example, they have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence
  • Someone from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland who has pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and started living in the UK before 1 January 2021
  • Someone with refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK


Your UK-based family member must be one of the following:

  • Your immediate family member
  • Your extended family member
  • The spouse or civil partner, unmarried partner, child, parent, or fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner of your extended family member


You should provide a copy of an official document that confirms your family relationships if you are able to - for example, a marriage or birth certificate. You can still apply if you are unable to provide these documents. You should explain why you are unable to provide them when you apply - for example, if you had to leave all your documents behind when you left.


Immediate family members

An immediate family member is your or your UK-based family member’s:

  • Spouse or civil partner
  • Unmarried partner (you must have been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years)
  • Child who is under 18
  • Parent (if you are under 18)
  • Fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner


Extended family members

An extended family member is your UK-based family member’s:

  • Parent (if you are over 18)
  • Child who is over 18
  • Grandparent
  • Grandchild or your partner’s grandchild
  • Brother or sister
  • Aunt or uncle
  • Niece or nephew
  • Cousin
  • Mother-in-law or father-in-law
  • Grandparent-in-law
  • Brother-in-law or sister-in-law


If your UK-based family member is your (or an extended family member’s) spouse, civil partner, fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner, the relationship must have started before 1 January 2022. Other family members will be considered where there are exceptional circumstances.