Category:
Family
Who should apply for a UK Family Visa?
The family route is ideal for individuals looking to join their loved ones in the UK, typically encompassing spouses, unmarried partners, and children. If your loved one is a British citizen, is settled in the UK, or is in the UK with protection status, there are various routes available for applying for a visa on the basis of your familial ties.
You might also qualify for a visa based on your UK ancestry.
Who can bring family members to the UK?
To bring a family member to the UK on a family visa, you need to be a UK or Irish citizen, or have settled in the UK (Indefinite Leave to Remain or Settled Status), or have refugee status or humanitarian protection. Alternatively, you must hold any other eligible visa that allows dependant family members to come to the UK.
​
There is a range of UK visas under the family visa route, including:
Types of UK Family Visas - Appendix FM
Appendix FM, or "Family Migration," provides a way for individuals to join family members in the UK as a partner, parent, child, or adult dependent relative.
​
To qualify for a family visa under Appendix FM, applicants must be related to or in a relationship with:
-
British or Irish citizens,
-
Individuals with UK settled status (e.g., indefinite leave to remain or EU Settlement Scheme status if residing in the UK before January 1, 2021),
-
Holders of a Turkish Businessperson or Worker visa, or
-
Individuals with refugee status or humanitarian protection.
Successful applicants are generally granted a 33-month (2 years and 9 months) entry visa or 30-month (2 years and 6 months) permission to stay. They can work during this period but cannot access public funds (state benefits), except in cases of destitution.
​
Choosing the wrong visa type can lead to processing delays or even an outright rejection of the application.
That's why it's important to understand the specific requirements and conditions for each visa type before you apply.
Other types of visas
PBS Dependants
The Points-Based System (PBS) is the UK's way of allowing students , skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and others to move to the UK
if they meet certain criteria.
Under this system, eligible applicants can bring their family members, helping families settle together while they live and work in the UK.
Ancestry visas
An Ancestry visa allows Commonwealth citizens to live and work in the UK based on their UK ancestry.
​
Visa holders are free to work without needing employer sponsorship. It is also not necessary to earn a particular level of salary which is usually a requirement on work visa routes. You can also study in the UK. Successful applicants receive entry clearance for five years, after which they may apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR). Dependent partners and children are eligible to join under this route.
To qualify, you must meet the following requirements:
​
-
Be a Commonwealth citizen
-
Be at least 17 years old
-
Have a grandparent born in the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or Ireland (if born before March 31, 1922)
-
Intend to work in the UK, which includes plans to find employment or become self-employed
-
Be able to support yourself and any dependants without relying on public funds.
​
Who is a commonwealth citizen?
​
Commonwealth nationals are citizens of the countries listed in Schedule 3 to the British Nationality Act 1981. The list of Commonwealth countries can change so you should always check before applying.
