Family Immigration Solicitors and Lawyers

A UK family visa allows a person to live in the UK with a qualifying family member for more than 6 months. It is different from a visitor visa, which is normally for short stays.

Family visa routes can include applications as a spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, fiancé, proposed civil partner, parent, child or adult dependent relative. The right route depends on your relationship to the person in the UK, their immigration status and what you are applying to do.

No. A spouse visa is one type of family visa.

The family visa category is wider. It can also include unmarried partner visas, civil partner visas, fiancé and proposed civil partner visas, parent visas, child visas and adult dependent relative applications.

This is why it is important to choose the correct route before applying. A spouse application, parent application and child application will not all use the same evidence.

The correct family visa depends on your relationship with the person in the UK and what you are applying to do.

You may need a spouse visa if you are married, an unmarried partner visa if you are not married but are in a genuine and durable relationship, a fiancé or proposed civil partner visa if you plan to marry or enter a civil partnership in the UK, a parent visa if you need to live in the UK to care for your child, or a child visa if a child is applying to join or stay with a parent.

Choosing the wrong route can lead to delay, extra cost or refusal. Our family immigration solicitors can help you check the correct route before an application is submitted.

Yes, you may be able to apply as an unmarried partner if you meet the relevant partner route requirements.

You will usually need to show that the relationship is genuine and durable. Evidence may include documents showing that you have lived together, shared responsibilities, stayed in regular contact, supported each other financially or emotionally, and intend to live together permanently in the UK.

If your relationship evidence is limited or you have lived apart for work, study, family or cultural reasons, it is sensible to get advice before applying.

In some cases, yes. You may be able to switch to a family visa from inside the UK if you are already here with valid permission and you meet the relevant requirements.

However, not everyone can switch from inside the UK. Visitors and people with visas of 6 months or less usually need to leave the UK and apply from outside the UK, unless a specific exception applies. We can help check whether an in-country application is available before you submit the form.

Usually, no. If your family member is in the UK temporarily on a work visa or student visa, you normally cannot apply under the family visa route.

In that situation, you may need to apply as their dependant instead, if that visa route allows dependants. This is a common point of confusion because people often use the words "family visa" generally. Legally, the correct route may be a dependant visa rather than a family visa.

The requirements depend on the route, but a family visa application may need evidence of your identity and nationality, your relationship to the person in the UK, the UK status of your sponsor or family member, your financial position, suitable accommodation, English language ability where required, previous immigration applications, any previous refusals or overstaying, suitability issues, and where relevant the circumstances of any children.

A spouse visa, parent visa, child visa and adult dependent relative application can all require different evidence. A solicitor can help check whether the evidence matches the correct route, rather than simply preparing a generic document list.

The financial requirement depends on the route. For many partner and spouse applications, the applicant and their partner usually need to show a combined income of at least £29,000 per year. Different rules can apply if the UK partner receives certain disability or carer benefits, or if the applicant first applied as a partner before 11 April 2024 and is extending with the same partner.

Financial evidence can be technical. This is one of the most common areas where family visa applications go wrong. We can help review the financial evidence and identify any gaps before the application is submitted.

The documents depend on the route, but common documents may include passports or travel documents, evidence of the sponsor's UK status, a marriage or civil partnership certificate where relevant, relationship evidence, children's birth certificates where relevant, financial evidence, accommodation evidence, English language evidence, divorce documents from previous relationships, immigration history documents, previous refusal letters, and certified translations for documents not in English or Welsh.

It is not enough to upload random documents. The evidence should match the route and answer the Home Office requirements clearly.

The cost depends on the route, where the application is made and whether any dependants are included. At the time of writing, GOV.UK lists the family visa fee for joining a partner, parent or child as £2,064 from outside the UK and £1,407 from inside the UK. Each dependant is listed at the same amount.

Most applicants also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, currently listed as £1,035 per year for most adults and £776 per year for children under 18. Home Office fees can change, so always check the latest GOV.UK fee information before applying.

Processing times depend on the route and whether you apply from inside or outside the UK. For many applications made from outside the UK, GOV.UK currently lists a processing time of 12 weeks. For partner or spouse applications made inside the UK where the applicant meets the minimum income and English language requirements, GOV.UK currently lists 8 weeks.

Some applications can take longer, and processing may be delayed if documents are missing, the Home Office asks for more information, or the case is complex.

This depends on the route and whether you apply from inside or outside the UK. Partner and parent family visas are commonly granted for 2 years and 9 months when applying from outside the UK. Extensions and switching applications from inside the UK are commonly granted for 2 years and 6 months.

A fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner visa is different. It is usually granted for 6 months so the couple can marry or enter a civil partnership in the UK, after which the person must apply to extend their stay under the partner route.

Whether you can work depends on the exact route and the conditions attached to your visa. A fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner cannot work or study during the engagement period. After the marriage or civil partnership, they must apply to extend their stay, and if approved they will usually have the right to work or study.

You should always check the conditions of your own visa or decision letter.

It may be possible, but the correct route depends on who you are bringing and their circumstances. A child may be able to join or stay with a parent under the child visa route. A parent may be able to apply under the parent route in specific situations. An adult relative who needs long-term care may be able to apply under the adult dependent relative route, which has strict requirements.

Each of these routes has different evidence and eligibility rules, so it is sensible to check the correct route before applying. Our family immigration solicitors can help you work out which route fits your situation.

Yes, many people on family visas need to apply for an extension before their current permission expires. An extension is not automatic. You still need to meet the relevant requirements and provide updated evidence, which may include updated financial documents, relationship evidence, accommodation evidence and information about any changes since your last application.

You should check the timing carefully and apply before your current visa expires.

Some family visa routes can later lead to indefinite leave to remain, also known as settlement. The timing and requirements depend on the route and whether you are on a 5-year route, 10-year route or another route.

If a family visa is refused, the first step is to read the refusal letter carefully and understand the reasons. Common refusal reasons include missing financial evidence, weak relationship evidence, incorrect documents, doubts about parental responsibility, failure to meet the English language requirement, previous immigration problems, or not explaining the case clearly.

Depending on the case, you may be able to appeal, make a fresh application or take another legal step. We can help review the refusal decision and advise on the most suitable next step.