Family Visa UK: Bringing Your Family to the UK

What Is a Family Visa?

A Family visa allows you to join or stay with a family member who is a British citizen or settled in the UK. It covers partners, children, and other dependants.

Who Can Apply?

• Partner — spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner of a British citizen or settled person
• Children — under 18, dependent on a parent in the UK
• Adult dependants — parents, grandparents, or other relatives who need long-term care

Requirements

1. Relationship — you must have a genuine and subsisting relationship
2. Sponsor's status — your partner must be British or hold ILR/settled status
3. Financial requirement — the sponsor must meet a minimum income threshold
4. English language — B1 level or above
5. Adequate accommodation — you must have somewhere to live
6. No recourse to public funds — you cannot claim most benefits

The Financial Requirement

The sponsor must show they earn above a minimum income threshold. The exact amount changes — check gov.uk for the current figure. You can meet this through:

• Employment income
• Cash savings (above £16,000)
• A combination of both

Application Process

1. Apply online on gov.uk
2. Pay the application fee
3. Provide biometric information
4. Submit supporting documents
5. Wait for a decision

Duration

• Initial grant: 2 years and 9 months
• Extension: 2 years and 9 months
• After 5 years: eligible for ILR

Key Differences: Spouse Visa vs Family Visa

The "Spouse visa" is actually a type of Family visa for married partners. The requirements and process are the same — it's just a more specific term.

Read more about spouse visas.

After the Family Visa

After 5 years on a Family visa, you can apply for ILR. After 12 months with ILR, you can apply for British citizenship.

For more about UK visas, see our UK visas guide.