APPLY FOR A UK FAMILY VISA
UK Family Visa
A UK family visa lets you join, or stay with, a family member who lives in the UK. What you need depends on how you’re related, your family member’s immigration status, and whether you’re applying from inside or outside the UK.
There are different rules for spouses and civil partners, unmarried partners, fiancés, children, parents and adult dependent relatives.
We advise individuals and families on coming to the UK, extending their stay and settling here, including cases that need to be considered on human rights grounds.
Who can apply?
You may be able to apply as:
- a spouse or civil partner
- an unmarried partner
- a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner planning to marry in the UK
- a parent of a child who lives in the UK
- a child joining or staying with a parent
- an adult dependent relative who needs long-term care
Having a relative in the UK doesn’t on its own mean you’ll qualify. Each route has its own requirements.
If your family member is in the UK on a work or study visa, you’ll usually need to apply as their dependant on that route instead.
Spouse and civil partner visas
A spouse or civil partner visa lets you live in the UK with your husband, wife or civil partner. Your partner needs to be British or Irish, settled in the UK, or have another qualifying status.
You’ll need to show your marriage or civil partnership is legally recognised and that your relationship is genuine. You’ll also need to meet the financial, accommodation and English language requirements.
Unmarried partner visas
Unmarried couples can apply under the same partner route. You’ll need to show you’ve been in a relationship similar to marriage for at least two years.
Living together is strong evidence, but you don’t have to have lived together for the whole time. If you’ve lived apart, you’ll need to explain why and show your relationship has continued. The rules are the same for opposite-sex and same-sex couples.
Fiancé, fiancée and proposed civil partner visas
If you’re planning to marry or form a civil partnership in the UK, you may be able to apply for a fiancé visa. You’ll normally need to marry within six months of arriving.
The visa is usually granted for six months and doesn’t let you work. Once you’re married, you can apply to switch to a spouse visa without leaving the UK.
Don’t confuse this with a Marriage Visitor visa, which is for people who want to marry in the UK but don’t plan to live here.
How much do you need to earn?
For most new partner applications, you and your partner will need a combined income of at least £29,000 a year. Savings can sometimes be used instead of, or alongside, income.
There are exceptions:
- if you first applied as a partner before 11 April 2024 and are extending with the same partner, the older rules may still apply to you
- if your UK partner gets certain disability or carer’s benefits, the £29,000 threshold doesn’t apply, but you’ll need to show you can support yourselves
The Home Office is very strict about financial evidence, and what you need depends on whether you’re relying on a job, self-employment, savings, a pension or other income. Getting this wrong is one of the most common reasons for refusal.
Accommodation and English
You’ll need to show you’ll have suitable accommodation in the UK that isn’t overcrowded.
You’ll also need to meet the English language requirement unless you’re exempt. For a first partner application, that’s level A1 in speaking and listening. When you extend, you’ll normally need a higher level.
How much does it cost?
The application fee for a partner visa is £2,064 from outside the UK, or £1,407 if you’re applying from inside the UK. You’ll also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 for each year of your visa.
Fees correct at October 2026. You can check the latest Home Office fees on GOV.UK.
How long does a decision take?
Usually around 12 weeks if you apply from outside the UK, and eight weeks from inside the UK if you meet the financial and English requirements. Applications that don’t meet them can take much longer.
Family visas for children
Children can apply to join or stay with a parent in the UK. What’s needed depends on the child’s age, their family circumstances and their parents’ immigration status.
If only one parent is in the UK, the Home Office may look at who has responsibility for the child, where the child lives, and whether there are serious family reasons for the application. Proving the family relationship isn’t enough on its own. The child’s best interests are always an important part of the decision.
Parent visas
If you’re the parent of a child who lives in the UK, you may be able to apply for a parent visa. The child must be British, settled, or have lived in the UK for at least seven years, and you’ll need to show you play an active part in their upbringing.
If you could apply as a partner instead, you’ll usually need to use the partner route.
Adult dependent relative visas
This route is for adults who need long-term personal care because of age, illness or disability and want to join a relative in the UK. It’s one of the hardest visas to get.
You’ll need to show the care you need isn’t available or affordable where you live, even with financial help from your relative in the UK. Your relative must also be able to support and house you. Applications are made from outside the UK, and good medical and financial evidence is essential.
What if you don’t meet the requirements?
If you can’t meet every requirement, your application may still be considered under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to family life.
This isn’t an automatic exception. The Home Office will look at whether refusing you would lead to unjustifiably harsh consequences for you or your family, including the best interests of any children. If you’re granted on this basis, you’ll usually be put on a longer, 10-year route to settlement.
If you’ve already been refused, we can advise on appeals.
Extending your family visa
You’ll need to apply to extend your visa before it runs out, showing you still meet the requirements. Changes in your job, income, family circumstances or immigration status can affect your application, so check where you stand early.
Can you get Indefinite Leave to Remain?
On the five-year partner route, you can currently apply for ILR after five years. If you were granted on human rights or other exceptional grounds, you’ll usually be on a 10-year route instead. Different rules apply to children and adult dependent relatives.
Settlement isn’t automatic. You’ll need to meet the relationship, residence, English and Life in the UK requirements in force when you apply. The government has proposed changes to the settlement rules, so check with us before you plan around a date.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, if your relationship meets the rules and you meet the financial, accommodation, English and other requirements.
Not necessarily. Your relationship must have been similar to marriage for at least two years, but you don’t have to have lived together for all of that time. You’ll need evidence of your relationship and a good reason for any time apart.
It depends on your circumstances. Transitional rules, certain benefits or savings may help. In some cases human rights grounds may be relevant, though they don’t remove the financial requirement.
Possibly, under the adult dependent relative route, but only if they need long-term personal care and meet strict requirements. Wanting to live together as a family isn’t enough on its own.
From some visas, yes. You can’t usually switch from a visitor visa. It depends on your current visa and circumstances.
Yes, if you’re here as a spouse or partner. You can’t work on a fiancé visa.
A partner visa is usually granted for 2 years and 9 months if you apply from outside the UK, or 2 years and 6 months from inside. Other family routes have different lengths.
UK family visa advice from Fusco Browne
A family visa application needs strong evidence of your relationship, as well as meeting the financial, accommodation and other requirements.
We advise on spouse and partner visas, applications for children and dependent relatives, extensions and settlement. We can also advise when your case may need to be considered on human rights grounds.
If you want to join a family member in the UK, extend your visa, or your family circumstances have changed, call us for a free initial assessment.