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You need a family visa to live with a family member in the UK for more than 6 months.

Applying from outside the UK

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

• spouse or partner
• fianc茅, fianc茅e or proposed civil partner
• child
• parent
• relative who鈥檒l provide long-term care for you

Extending your family visa

You can apply to extend your stay with your family member if you鈥檙e already in the UK on a family visa.

You can extend at any time before your current permission to stay in the UK expires.

If you鈥檙e extending to stay with the same family member, you鈥檒l only get up to 28 days left on your current stay added to your new visa.

You must live in the UK for a certain amount of time before you鈥檙e eligible for settlement (鈥榠ndefinite leave to remain鈥�). Before you extend your visa, check how much time you need to settle in the UK.

You might be able to apply to stay on the basis of your private life if you鈥檝e lived in the UK for many years already.

Switching to a family visa

If you came to the UK on a different visa, you might be able to switch to a family visa to stay with your:

• spouse or partner
• child
• parent

You can switch at any time before your current permission to stay in the UK expires.

Fees

How much it costs depends on who you鈥檙e joining and how you apply.

	Apply outside the UK	Apply in the UK
Cost if joining your partner, parent or child	拢1,846	拢1,258
Cost for each dependant added to your application	拢1,846 each person	拢1,258 each person

Cost for adults who need to be looked after by a relative

How much it costs depends on what permission your relative has.

If they have temporary 鈥榩rotection status鈥� (permission to stay as a refugee or with humanitarian protection) it costs:

• 拢404 if you鈥檙e applying from outside the UK
• 拢1,258 if you鈥檙e applying from inside the UK

Otherwise, it costs:

• 拢3,250 if you鈥檙e applying from outside the UK
• 拢1,258 if you鈥檙e applying from inside the UK

If you cannot pay the fee, you may be eligible for a fee waiver in certain situations - for example if you cannot afford a place to live or your essential living costs.

Healthcare surcharge

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

For each adult (18 or older) it costs:

• 拢2,587.50 if you鈥檙e staying for 2 years and 6 months
• 拢3,105 if you鈥檙e staying for 2 years and 9 months
• 拢5,175 if you鈥檙e staying for 5 years

For each child (under 18), it costs:

• 拢1,940 if you鈥檙e staying for 2 years and 6 months
• 拢2,328 if you鈥檙e staying for 2 years and 9 months
• 拢3,880 if you鈥檙e staying for 5 years

Get a faster decision on your application

If you鈥檙e applying from the UK, you may be able to pay an extra 拢1,000 for the super priority service to get a faster decision.

You cannot use the super priority service if you鈥檙e applying as an adult coming to be cared for by a relative.

Other ways you can stay

You were the victim of domestic abuse or your partner died

You might be able to apply to settle in the UK if you had permission to stay in the UK as a partner when either:

• you were the victim of domestic abuse
• your partner died

Your family member has protection status (leave to remain as a refugee, permission to stay as a refugee or humanitarian protection)

You might be able to apply for 鈥榝amily reunion鈥� to join a partner or parent who has either:

• leave to remain as a refugee or permission to stay as a refugee in the UK
• humanitarian protection in the UK

When you cannot get a family visa

In some circumstances you cannot apply for, or switch to, a family visa.

Your family member has a work visa or student visa

You cannot apply for a family visa if your family member is in the UK temporarily on a work visa or student visa.

You can apply to stay with them as a dependant instead.

You have a visitor visa or a visa for 6 months or less

You鈥檒l usually need to leave the UK to apply for a family visa if either:

• you have permission to be in the UK as a visitor
• your visa is for 6 months or less

However, you might be able to switch to a family visa in the UK if you have either:

• a 6-month family visa as a fianc茅, fianc茅e or proposed civil partner
• permission to stay in the UK for the outcome of a family court case or divorce

To apply as a partner, you and your partner both need to be 18 or over.

Your partner 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 protection status (leave to remain as a refugee, permission to stay as a refugee or a person with humanitarian protection)
• have permission to stay as a stateless person

You and your partner must intend to live together permanently in the UK after you apply.

What you鈥檒l need to prove

You must be able to prove one of the following:

• you鈥檙e in a civil partnership or marriage that鈥檚 recognised in the UK
• you鈥檝e been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply
• you are a fianc茅, fianc茅e or proposed civil partner and will marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of arriving
• you鈥檝e been in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply but you cannot live together, for example because you鈥檙e working or studying in different places, or it鈥檚 not accepted in your culture

You also need to prove you:

• have a good knowledge of English
• meet the financial requirements

If you cannot provide this proof you may still be able to apply for a visa or extend your permission to stay if:

• you have a child in the UK who is a British or Irish citizen or has lived in the UK for 7 years and it would be unreasonable for them to leave the UK
• it would breach your to stop you coming to the UK or make you leave

If you鈥檙e applying as a fianc茅, fianc茅e or proposed civil partner

You must prove that:

• any previous marriages or civil partnerships have ended
• you plan to marry or become civil partners within 6 months of arriving in the UK

You鈥檒l need to apply for permission to extend your stay in the UK when you marry or enter into a civil partnership. If your application is approved, you鈥檒l have the right to work or study in the UK.

How to prove your relationship

Send evidence that:

• comes from the government, a bank, landlord, utility provider, or a medical professional
• confirms your relationship with your partner - for example, that you live together, share expenses or are married or in a civil partnership
• is less than 4 years old

You can use things like:

• a marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate
• a tenancy agreement, utility bills or council tax bills confirming that you live at the same address or pay bills together
• a bank statement from a joint bank account, or confirming that you live at the same address
• a letter from your doctor or dentist confirming that you live at the same address

If you do not have any evidence that meets these criteria, there is other evidence you can provide instead, including:

• a one-off bill like vet鈥檚 fees or home repair costs
• letters confirming you and your partner are on the voting register for the same address
• student finance paperwork confirming that you live at the same address

If you do not live together

If you cannot live together because of work or study, or for cultural reasons, you鈥檒l need to prove that you have an ongoing commitment to each other. You can do this by providing evidence that you:

• communicate regularly with each other 听
• support each other financially 听
• care for any children you have together 听
• spend time together as a couple, for example on holiday or at events

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK for 2 years and 9 months on this visa. If you鈥檙e applying as a fianc茅, fianc茅e or proposed civil partner, you can stay for 6 months.

After this you鈥檒l need to apply to extend your stay.

If you extend or switch to this visa

If you extend your family visa or switch to this visa you can stay in the UK for 2 years and 6 months.

How to apply

You鈥檒l need to prepare information and evidence to provide with your application.

How you apply depends on whether you鈥檙e in the UK or not.

Outside the UK

You must .

In the UK

You must .

If you cannot pay the fee

You can apply for a fee waiver if you cannot pay the fee because you:

• do not have a place to live and cannot afford one
• have a place to live but cannot afford essential living costs like food or heating
• have a very low income and paying the fee would harm your child鈥檚 wellbeing

.

Apply for a fee waiver online from inside the UK.

Get help to apply online

You can get help with completing the online visa application form if you:

• do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device
• do not have internet access

You can only use this service if you鈥檙e applying in the UK.

How long it takes

If you apply outside the UK you鈥檒l usually get a decision within 12 weeks.

If you apply inside the UK and you meet the financial requirements and English language requirements, you鈥檒l usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

If you apply inside the UK and you do not meet the financial requirements and English language requirements, it currently takes about 12 months to get a decision.

You may be able to pay for a faster decision.

Applying with your children

You can add children to your application as dependants if both of the following apply:

• they are under 18 when you apply, or were under 18 when they were first granted leave
• they do not live an independent life

Your child is living an independent life if, for example, they鈥檝e left home, got married and had children.

When you can settle permanently

The earliest you can apply to settle in the UK (called 鈥榠ndefinite leave to remain鈥�) is after you鈥檝e lived in the UK for 5 years continuously on a family visa as a partner.

You cannot include time you鈥檝e spent in the UK:

• on any other visa
• as a fianc茅, fianc茅e or proposed civil partner

The rules are different if you applied before 9 July 2012.

If you applied before 9 July 2012

You can only extend your family visa if all the following are true:

• you were given permission to stay in the UK as a partner before 9 July 2012
• you are not eligible to settle in the UK
• you have not been granted or refused another visa

You must also prove that:

• you have knowledge of English听
• you and your partner have enough money to financially support yourself and your dependants without relying on public funds

Check the information and evidence you鈥檒l need to prove your income.

If you apply for a family visa as a partner, you and your partner usually need to prove that your combined income is at least 拢29,000 a year.

This is called a 鈥榤inimum income requirement鈥�.

The financial requirements are different if either:

• your partner is getting certain disability or carer鈥檚 benefits
• you first applied as a partner before 11 April 2024 and you鈥檙e extending that visa - this includes if you first applied as a fianc茅, fianc茅e or proposed civil partner

How you prove your income depends on how you got it. You may be able to use your savings instead of income to show you meet the requirement.

Check the information and evidence you鈥檒l need to prove your income.

If your partner is getting disability or carer鈥檚 benefits

You do not need to meet a minimum income requirement if your partner gets one of the following benefits:

• Disability Living Allowance
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer鈥檚 Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment
• Armed Forces Independence Payment or Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
• Constant Attendance Allowance, Mobility Supplement or War Disablement Pension under the War Pensions Scheme
• Police Injury Pension
• Child Disability Payment
• Adult Disability Payment

You need to show you and your family have enough money to house and support yourselves without relying on additional public funds. The caseworker considers your income and housing costs.

Check the guidance in Appendix FM and Appendix HM armed forces: minimum income requirement for more information.

If you first applied as a partner before 11 April 2024 and you鈥檙e extending that visa

If you鈥檙e extending your stay with the same partner, you and your partner will need to prove that your combined income is at least 拢18,600 a year.

You must prove you have extra money for any children who:

• you鈥檙e applying for a family visa with
• are already in the UK as dependants on your family visa
• are already in the UK as your partner鈥檚 dependants

You do not need to prove you have extra money for any children who:

• are British or Irish citizens
• have pre-settled status
• are permanently settled in the UK

You might not need to prove you have extra money if your children are citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland and they do not have pre-settled status or are not permanently settled in the UK. Check the guidance in Appendix FM and Appendix HM armed forces: minimum income requirement for more information.

If you need to prove extra money for children, you鈥檒l need to prove an extra:

• 拢3,800 a year for the first child
• 拢2,400 a year for each additional child you have after the first child

If the total amount you鈥檇 need to earn based on your children would be more than 拢29,000, you only need to prove you make 拢29,000 a year.

If you cannot meet the financial requirements

If you cannot meet these financial requirements you may still be able to apply for a visa or extend your stay if:

• you have a child in the UK who is a British or Irish citizen or has lived in the UK for 7 years and it would be unreasonable for them to leave the UK
• it would breach your to stop you coming to the UK or make you leave

If you do not meet the financial requirements, the earliest you鈥檒l be able to apply to settle is after 10 years in the UK.

You can apply to live in the UK to care for your child.

Your child must either:

• be under 18 on the date you apply
• have been under 18 when you were first granted leave

Your child must:

• live with you, unless they鈥檙e living away from home in full-time education - for example, at boarding school or university
• not be married or in a civil partnership

Your child must be living in the UK. One of the following must also be true:

• they鈥檙e a British or Irish citizen
• they鈥檝e settled in the UK - for example, they have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence
• they鈥檙e 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
• if you鈥檙e applying in the UK, they must have lived in the UK for 7 years continuously and it would not be reasonable for them to leave

Parental responsibility

You need to have sole or shared parental responsibility for your child.

If you share parental responsibility, the child鈥檚 other parent must not be your partner. They 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

If the child lives with their other parent or carer, you must have access to the child in person, as agreed with the other parent or carer or by a court order.

What you鈥檒l need to prove

You must be able to prove that you鈥檙e taking an active role in your child鈥檚 upbringing and you plan to continue after you apply.

Send evidence that:

• comes from the government, school, court or a medical professional
• shows you鈥檙e living with or caring for your child
• is less than 4 years old

You can use things like:

• a letter from your child鈥檚 school confirming you take them to school or go to parent evenings
• a letter to your address from the local authority confirming your child鈥檚 school
• a letter from your child鈥檚 doctor, dentist, or health visitor confirming that you take them to appointments
• court order paperwork confirming that your child lives with you or that you鈥檙e taking an active role in their upbringing

If you do not have any evidence that meets this criteria, there is other evidence you can provide instead. However, it鈥檚 less likely that you鈥檒l be given a visa in this case.

Other evidence you can provide includes:

• a parental agreement drafted by a solicitor and signed by you and the child鈥檚 other parent
• a letter from HMRC confirming that you鈥檙e claiming Child Tax Credit
• social services paperwork confirming that you spend time with your child, or that you鈥檙e applying for access

Things like greetings cards, photographs and text or social media messages are not considered strong evidence of your role in your child鈥檚 upbringing and are unlikely to help your application.

English language and financial requirements

You must also prove you:

• have a good knowledge of English
• can financially support yourself without claiming public funds

The caseworker uses your income and housing costs to check if you can support yourself.

If your child or any other dependants live with you, you must also prove you can financially support them without claiming public funds.

Check the information and evidence you鈥檒l need to prove your income.

If you do not meet the English language and financial requirements you can still extend your permission to stay if:

• your child in the UK is a British or Irish citizen or has lived in the UK for 7 years
• it would be unreasonable for them to leave the UK

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK for 2 years and 9 months on this visa. After this you鈥檒l need to apply to extend your stay.

If you extend your family visa or switch to this visa you can stay in the UK for 2 years and 6 months.

How to apply

You鈥檒l need to prepare information and evidence to provide with your application.

How you apply depends on whether you鈥檙e in the UK or not.

Outside the UK

You must . You must also complete Appendix 5.

In the UK

You must .

If you cannot pay the fee

You can apply for a fee waiver if you cannot pay the fee because you:

• do not have a place to live and cannot afford one
• have a place to live but cannot afford essential living costs like food or heating
• have a very low income and paying the fee would harm your child鈥檚 wellbeing

.

Apply for a fee waiver online from inside the UK.

Get help to apply online

You can get help with completing the online visa application form if you:

• do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device
• do not have internet access

You can only use this service if you鈥檙e applying in the UK.

How long it takes

If you apply outside the UK you鈥檒l usually get a decision within 12 weeks.

If you apply inside the UK it currently takes about 12 months to get a decision.

You may be able to pay for a faster decision.

Applying with other children

You can add other children to your application as dependants if one of the following applies:

• they are under 18 on the date you apply
• they were under 18 when they were first granted leave on a family visa

They must also:

• live with you, unless they鈥檙e living away from home in full-time education - for example, at boarding school or university
• not be married or in a civil partnership

When you can settle permanently

The earliest you can apply to settle in the UK (called 鈥榠ndefinite leave to remain鈥�) is after you鈥檝e lived in the UK for 5 years continuously on a family visa as a parent.

You cannot include time you鈥檝e spent in the UK on any other visa.

The rules are different if you applied before 9 July 2012.

You can apply for a family visa to join your parent in the UK.

You may not need a family visa if at least one of your parents has indefinite leave to remain or proof of permanent residence. Check if you can apply to settle in the UK.

If your parent cannot include you in their form and you鈥檙e in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for Private Life in the UK.

If your parent has settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme.

You were born in the UK

You鈥檒l get the same permission to stay as your parent if you were born in the UK.

You can either:

• be added to your parent鈥檚 next application as a dependant
• apply separately

You must:

• live with your parent in the UK, unless you鈥檙e living away from home in full-time education - for example, at boarding school or university
• not be married or in a civil partnership

If you鈥檙e under 18, you鈥檒l need to know what kind of permission to stay in the UK (鈥榣imited leave to remain鈥�) your parent has.

If you鈥檙e 18 or over, you can only apply if you have permission to stay in the UK (鈥榣eave to enter or remain鈥�) which started when you were under 18. They must also apply from inside the UK.

You were born outside the UK

Whether you can apply depends on your age and how your parent applied.

You must:

• live with your parent, unless you鈥檙e living away from home in full-time education - for example, at boarding school or university
• not be married or in a civil partnership

If you鈥檙e under 18

One of your parents must be applying or have applied for a visa or to extend their permission to stay as a:

• partner - and the partner they鈥檙e joining is your other parent
• parent - and they have sole parental responsibility for you

Otherwise, you might still be eligible to apply if there are serious reasons to let you come to or stay in the UK and there are plans for your care.

If you鈥檙e 18 or over

Your parent can include you in their application as a dependant, or you can apply separately yourself.

You can only apply if you have permission to stay in the UK (鈥榣eave to remain鈥�) on a family visa which started when you were under 18.

If you apply separately from your parent

You鈥檒l need to include proof of your parent鈥檚 income when you apply. Their income has to meet the financial requirement for their type of family visa.

For example, if your parent is applying for a family visa as a partner, you鈥檒l need to include proof they can meet the financial requirement for partners.

Check the information and evidence you鈥檒l need to prove your parent鈥檚 income.

Apply from outside the UK

You鈥檒l need to prepare information and evidence to provide with your application.

Apply at the same time as your parent

Which form you need to fill in depends on whether your parent is applying to enter the UK as the partner of one of the following:

• a British or Irish citizen
• a person with indefinite leave to remain
• a person settled in the UK - for example, they have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence
• a person from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein who has pre-settled status - they must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021
• a person with a Turkish Businessperson visa or Turkish Worker visa
• a person with protection status (leave to remain as a refugee, permission to stay as a refugee or a person with humanitarian protection)
• a person with permission to stay as a stateless person

If they are applying as one of these, you must fill in the .

If they are not, you must fill in both:

• the
• the Appendix 1 paper form

Apply separately

Which form you need to fill in depends on whether your parent has leave to enter or remain in the UK on a 5 or 10-year route to settlement as the partner of:

• a British or Irish citizen
• a person with indefinite leave to remain
• a person settled in the UK - for example, they have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence
• a person from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein who has pre-settled status - they must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021
• a person with a Turkish Businessperson visa or Turkish Worker visa
• a person with protection status (leave to remain as a refugee, permission to stay as a refugee or a person with humanitarian protection)
• a person with permission to stay as a stateless person

If they do, you must fill in the .

If they do not, you must fill in both:

• the
• the Appendix 1 paper form

Apply from the UK

You鈥檒l need to prepare information and evidence to provide with your application.

If you鈥檙e already in the UK, you must .

You can also check if you鈥檙e eligible for a different type of visa.

If you cannot pay the fee

You can apply for a fee waiver if you cannot pay the fee because you:

• do not have a place to live and cannot afford one
• have a place to live but cannot afford essential living costs like food or heating
• have a very low income and paying the fee would harm your child鈥檚 wellbeing

. You can only apply for a visa fee waiver if you鈥檙e filling in the .

Apply for a fee waiver online from inside the UK.

How long it takes

How long it takes to get a decision depends on whether you apply from outside or inside the UK.

You may be able to听pay for a faster decision.

If you apply outside the UK

You鈥檒l usually get a decision within 12 weeks.

If you apply inside the UK

You鈥檒l usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

It takes about 12 months to get a decision if your parent has leave to enter or remain in the UK on the 10-year route to settlement.听

Your parent鈥檚 decision letter will say if they鈥檙e on the 5-year or 10-year route to settlement.听

If you鈥檙e extending your family visa as a child, your previous decision letter will also say which route you鈥檙e both on.

Get help to apply online

You can get help with completing the online visa application form if you:

• do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device
• do not have internet access

You can only use this service if you鈥檙e applying in the UK.

You must need long-term care from a parent, grandchild, brother, sister, son or daughter who is living permanently in the UK.

You can only apply from outside the UK, unless you鈥檙e applying to extend your stay on this visa.

One of the following must also apply to the relative:

• they鈥檙e a British or Irish citizen
• they鈥檝e settled in the UK - for example, they have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence
• they鈥檙e 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
• they have protection status (leave to remain as a refugee, permission to stay as a refugee or a person with humanitarian protection) in the UK

What you鈥檒l need to prove

You must prove:

• you need long-term care to do everyday personal and household tasks because of illness, disability or your age
• you鈥檙e 18 or over
• the care you need is not available or affordable in the country you live in

You must also prove the relative you鈥檙e joining in the UK can accommodate and care for you for either:

• the whole time your relative has permission to stay in the UK
• 5 years, if your relative is a British citizen or settled in the UK

They must have enough money to support you without relying on public funds. The caseworker considers their income, housing costs and any care costs.

Check the information and evidence you鈥檒l need to prove your relative鈥檚 income.

How long you can stay for

How long you can stay depends on the status of your family member.

If your family member is British, Irish or settled in the UK

Your stay is unlimited. You will not need to apply to extend or settle.

If your family member has pre-settled status

They must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021. You can stay as long as your family member stays. You鈥檒l need to apply to extend or settle when they do.

If your family member has protection status (leave to remain as a refugee, permission to stay as a refugee or a person with humanitarian protection) in the UK

You can stay as long as your family member stays. You鈥檒l need to apply to extend or settle when they do.

How to apply

You鈥檒l need to prepare information and evidence to provide with your application.

You must and complete Appendix 1.

Apply to extend your stay

to extend your stay in the UK.

How long it takes

If you apply outside the UK you鈥檒l usually get a decision within 12 weeks.

If you apply inside the UK you鈥檒l usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

You can only apply on the basis of your private life if you鈥檙e already living in the UK.

You must be able to prove that you:

• are under 18 and you鈥檝e lived in the UK continuously for at least 7 years, and it would be unreasonable to expect you to leave the UK
• are between 18 and 24 and you鈥檝e lived continuously in the UK for more than half your life
• are 18 or over, have spent less than 20 years in the UK and would have very significant problems living in the country you鈥檇 have to go to
• have been in the UK continuously for 20 years
• were born in the UK to a person who has permission to stay in the UK on the basis of their private life, or is applying for it

Your family members can apply on the same application - you鈥檒l be considered separately.

How to apply

You must .

You鈥檒l need to prepare information and evidence to provide with your application.

If you cannot pay the application fee

if you cannot afford to pay the fee because you:

• do not have a place to live and you cannot afford one
• have a place to live but cannot afford your essential living costs like food or heating
• have a very low income and paying the fee would harm your child鈥檚 wellbeing

How long it takes

It currently takes about 12 months to get a decision.

You may be able to pay for a faster decision.

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK for 2 years and 6 months on this visa.

You can apply to stay for 5 years instead if you鈥檙e:

• under 18 and have lived in the UK continuously for at least 7 years
• aged between 18 and 24 and have spent half your life in the UK

When you can settle

You can settle after 5 years if you鈥檙e either:

• under 18 and have lived in the UK continuously for at least 7 years
• aged between 18 and 24 and have spent half your life in the UK

You can settle after 10 years if you鈥檙e either:

• 18 or over, have spent less than 20 years in the UK and would have very significant problems living in the country you鈥檇 have to go to
• born in the UK to a person who has permission to stay in the UK on the basis of their private life, or is applying for it

If you鈥檙e extending your visa

You can extend for 2 years and 6 months.

Get help using a computer to apply online

You can get help with completing the online visa application form if you:

• do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device
• do not have internet access

You can only use this service if you鈥檙e applying in the UK.

You鈥檒l need to have information and some evidence ready when you make your application. Include information for you and any dependants applying at the same time.

You鈥檒l need to provide:

• all your names
• your date of birth
• your current passport or other valid travel ID
• copies of the photo page and any visa or entry stamps in your previous passports
• details of any previous immigration applications you鈥檝e made
• details of any criminal convictions
• your national insurance number, if you have one
• your parents鈥� date of birth and nationality if you鈥檙e applying from outside the UK
• your tuberculosis test results if you鈥檙e from a country where you have to take the test
• a certified translation of any document that is not in English or Welsh

You鈥檒l also need to provide either:

• your biometric residence permit (BRP) - you can use it for 18 months after the expiry date printed on the card
• online proof of your immigration status if you have an eVisa -听 you鈥檒l need to get a share code

You鈥檒l need to have a blank page in your passport on which to put the visa if you鈥檙e applying outside the UK.

You鈥檒l also need to:

• prove your knowledge of English
• give proof of your finances, if you鈥檙e not applying on the basis of your private life

You may need to provide other additional documents depending on your circumstances - for example a sponsorship form from your family member in the UK.

You鈥檒l be told how to provide your documents when you apply.

Your finances

You鈥檒l need to show you can meet the financial requirements for the type of family visa you鈥檙e applying for.

This is based on your income or the income of the family member you鈥檙e joining in the UK, or both.听

For example, you鈥檒l need to prove your own and your partner鈥檚 combined UK income in your application if you鈥檙e applying as a partner. If you鈥檙e applying as a child, you鈥檒l need to prove the income of the parent (or parents) you鈥檙e joining.

What counts as income

The following things can count as income:听

• income from employment before tax and National Insurance (from P60 or payslips) - you can only use income earned in the UK
• income earned from self-employment or as a director of a limited company in the UK - this will be on a Self Assessment tax return
• cash savings above 拢16,000
• money from a pension
• non-work income, for example from property rentals or dividends

If you or your family member are self-employed, you need to base your income on how much you earned in the last 6 months or more, counting back from the day you apply.

Proof of your finances

You鈥檒l need to provide proof of the income with your application.听

If you or your family member are employed, you could include:

• bank statements showing your or their income
• 6 months of payslips, counting back from the day you apply
• a letter from an employer, dated and on headed paper

The employer鈥檚 letter should confirm:

• you or your family member are employed there
• the job title or position you or your family member hold
• how long you or your family member have worked there
• the type of contract (for example, permanent, fixed term)
• what you or your family member earn before tax and National Insurance
• how long you or your family member have been paid your current salary
• the payslips are genuine

You鈥檒l be told exactly what documents to provide when you apply online.

You鈥檒l need to follow extra guidance if:

• you or your family member鈥檚 income is not from employment, for example it鈥檚 from running a limited company, savings, or a pension
• you or your family member have taken maternity or paternity leave in the last 6 months
• you want to combine different income sources

Check the guidance in:

• Appendix FM and Appendix HM armed forces: minimum income requirement if you鈥檙e applying as a partner

• Appendix FM and adult dependent relatives: maintenance and accommodation if you鈥檙e applying as a parent or an adult coming to be cared for by a relative

The detailed guidance also explains the evidence you need to provide for each of the types of income you鈥檙e relying on.

Your partner鈥檚 details

If you have a partner, you鈥檒l be asked about their:

• name
• date of birth
• nationality
• passport
• right to be in the UK, for example they鈥檙e a British citizen

You鈥檒l also need to give details of:

• any people your partner was previously married to, in a civil partnership with or had children with
• evidence of marriages ending, for example a divorce certificate
• anyone your partner supports with money, for example their parents

Proof of relationship

If you鈥檙e applying as a spouse or partner, you鈥檒l be asked about:

• your relationship with your partner, for example how you met and how often you see each other
• how long you鈥檝e lived together - you鈥檒l need to provide proof like council tax bills
• things you pay for together
• whether you鈥檙e your partner鈥檚 carer

Your previous partners

You鈥檒l need to include details of anyone you previously married or had children with. Include evidence of marriages ending, for example a divorce certificate.

Children

You鈥檒l need to give details of your children (and your partner鈥檚 children if you have one). You鈥檒l be asked about all children, even if they鈥檙e not applying.

You鈥檒l need to give details of:

• their name
• their nationality
• their date of birth
• their passport details
• who the child normally lives with
• any other people with parental responsibility for your child, for example your step children鈥檚 other parents
• how you鈥檙e involved in their day to day life
• arrangements you have to see the child - for example the courts have granted you access
• the child鈥檚 extended family
• any countries your child has visited or lived in

Your life outside the UK

You鈥檒l need to give details of:

• countries outside the UK you鈥檝e lived in and visited
• family and friends in the countries where you were born or have nationality

You may need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply.

When you do not need to prove it

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English or take a test if one of the following is true:

• you鈥檙e applying as a child
• you鈥檙e applying as an adult coming to be cared for by a relative
• you鈥檝e been in the UK on a family visa for 5 years and you鈥檙e extending it as a partner or parent
• you鈥檙e over 65
• you have a physical or mental condition that prevents you from meeting the requirement

You also will not need to prove your knowledge of English if you鈥檙e a national of one of the following countries or territories:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• the Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• the British overseas territories
• Canada
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Jamaica
• Malta
• New Zealand
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• USA

How to prove your knowledge of English

You can prove it with an academic qualification, or by taking a test.

Academic qualifications

You can prove your knowledge of English if you have a degree or academic qualification that was taught or researched in English.

If your qualification is from a UK university or college, you only need your degree certificate.

If your qualification is from a university or college outside the UK

You鈥檒l need to provide a certificate from to show that your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor鈥檚 degree or higher and that it was taught in English.

There are 2 kinds of certificate:

• a statement of comparability
• a visa and nationality statement

You need a if you got your qualification from a university or college in one of these countries:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• the Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• Malta
• New Zealand
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• USA

If you got your qualification from a university or college in any other country, you need a .

Take an approved English language test

You can prove your knowledge of English by passing an approved English language test.

You must pass at least level A1 on the for your first visa application. You can choose to take a higher level test.

If you pass level B1 or higher, you can use your test result again when you apply for settlement after 5 years. Your test still needs to be on the approved list of qualifications and your test certificate must not have been withdrawn by the test provider.

Applying to extend your visa after 2.5 years

You may have to pass a higher CEFR level if you want to stay in the UK after 2.5 years. What you need to do depends on what CEFR level you passed for your first visa.

If you passed:

• level A1, you鈥檒l need to pass at least level A2 in speaking and listening
• level A2, B1, B2, C1 or C2, you can use the test result again for your application as long as your test certificate has not been withdrawn by the test provider

If you were given an exemption, you鈥檒l need to pass a test at level A1.

Read the English language requirement: family members guidance.

You鈥檒l need to attend an appointment to provide your fingerprints and a photo (biometric information). You鈥檒l be told how to make an appointment when you apply.

Getting your documents back

You can ask for your passport and other documents to be returned if you鈥檝e provided them with your application but need them urgently.

You might have to cancel your application to get your documents back.

If your application is approved

You鈥檒l get an eVisa (an online record of your immigration status).

Your decision email or letter will tell you how to get access to your eVisa. You鈥檒l need to create a UKVI account.

You can:

• work
• study

You cannot:

• usually get benefits or other public funds for you or your dependants
• apply to settle in the UK until you鈥檙e eligible

If you applied as a fianc茅, fianc茅e or proposed civil partner

You cannot work or study in the UK.

You鈥檒l need to apply for permission to extend your stay in the UK when you marry or enter into a civil partnership. If your application is approved, you will have the right to work or study in the UK.