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Schengen Visa Ltd | Schengen Travel

UK Family Visas

UK family visas let you come to, or stay in, the UK with a close family member who is a British citizen or settled in the UK. The main routes are the partner and spouse visa, the fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner visa, the parent of a British child route, the adult dependent relative route, and dependent child applications.

Who the family routes are for

The right route depends on your relationship and your sponsor’s status in the UK:

  • Partner or spouse — for married couples, civil partners, or unmarried partners who have been living together in a relationship for at least two years, where your partner is British or settled.
  • Fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner — a six-month visa to come to the UK to marry, after which you switch into the partner route.
  • Parent of a child in the UK — for a parent who does not qualify as a partner but has access to, and takes an active role in, a child living in the UK.
  • Adult dependent relative — for a parent, grandparent or other relative who needs long-term personal care that can only be provided in the UK. This route is deliberately narrow and evidence-heavy.
  • Dependent child — for children applying with, or to join, a parent.

The main requirements

Most partner applications turn on four things: a genuine and subsisting relationship, the financial requirement (currently £29,000 a year or the savings equivalent), an English language qualification, and adequate accommodation without recourse to public funds. You’ll also pay the application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, which gives access to the NHS.

The relationship evidence is where applications most often succeed or fail. Consulates and caseworkers look for a consistent, documented history — joint finances, cohabitation, communication and time spent together — rather than a single certificate.

How we help

We check your eligibility against the current rules, build the relationship and financial evidence packs in the format caseworkers expect, and manage the application, switch or extension end to end. Where a case is finely balanced — an income shortfall, a complex care need, a child’s best interests — we set out the realistic options before you spend money on a fee.

Get advice

Book a 10-minute eligibility call and we’ll tell you which route fits and what it will take.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum income for a UK spouse or partner visa?
The financial requirement is currently £29,000 a year (raised from £18,600 in April 2024). You can meet it through employment income, self-employment, savings of £88,500 held for six months, pension income, or a combination. If you receive certain disability or carer benefits, an ‘adequate maintenance’ test applies instead. Figures change — we check your exact position against the current rules before you apply.
Is there an English language requirement?
Yes. For an initial partner visa you must show English at CEFR level A1, rising to A2 at extension and B1 for settlement. You meet it with an approved SELT test, a degree taught in English, or by being a national of a majority English-speaking country. Some applicants are exempt on age or medical grounds.
How long does the partner route to settlement take?
The partner route to Indefinite Leave to Remain normally takes five years — an initial grant of 33 months (or 30 months if applying inside the UK), one extension, then settlement. A fiancé(e) visa is granted for six months to allow the marriage, after which you switch into the partner route.
Can I include my children in the application?
Yes. Dependent children can usually be included with a parent’s application or apply to join a parent already in the UK, provided the relationship and care arrangements are evidenced. Each child’s circumstances are assessed individually, so we build the evidence for each one.
What if I don't meet the income requirement?
There may still be a route. Cash savings can substitute for income, both partners’ income can sometimes be combined, and exceptional circumstances (including the best interests of a child) can be raised. This is exactly the kind of situation to discuss on a call before you apply.
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