Immigrating to the UK with Family: How you can bring relatives. Part I.
We explain how family members can relocate.
Wanting to live with loved ones in the UK for more than six months requires a family visa. This process involves applying, the option to extend, and transitioning to another visa type for living with partners, children,
or relatives.
or relatives.
To live with a family member in the UK for more than 6 months, you will need a family visa.
Applying from outside the UK
You can apply for a family visa to live with your:
Extending your family visa
You can apply to extend your stay with your family member if you're already in the UK on a family visa.
You can apply for an extension at any time before your current permission to stay in the UK expires.
If you extend to stay with the same family member, you will only receive up to 28 remaining days of your current stay added to your new visa.
Before you apply to extend your visa, make sure you know how much time you need to qualify for indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
You might be able to apply based on your private life if you have been living in the UK for many years already.
Switching to a family visa
If you came to the UK on another type of visa, you may be able to switch to a family visa to live with your:
Fees
The cost of the visa depends on who you are joining and how you apply (from inside or outside the UK).
Super priority service
If you apply from within the UK, you can pay an additional £1,000 for the super priority service to receive a faster decision.
Once your application is approved, your biometric residence permit for indefinite leave to remain will be delivered within 10 working days.
Applying from outside the UK
You can apply for a family visa to live with your:
- spouse or fiancé/partner
- child
- parent
- relative who will provide long-term care for you
Extending your family visa
You can apply to extend your stay with your family member if you're already in the UK on a family visa.
You can apply for an extension at any time before your current permission to stay in the UK expires.
If you extend to stay with the same family member, you will only receive up to 28 remaining days of your current stay added to your new visa.
Before you apply to extend your visa, make sure you know how much time you need to qualify for indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
You might be able to apply based on your private life if you have been living in the UK for many years already.
Switching to a family visa
If you came to the UK on another type of visa, you may be able to switch to a family visa to live with your:
- spouse or partner
- child
- parent
Fees
The cost of the visa depends on who you are joining and how you apply (from inside or outside the UK).
Super priority service
If you apply from within the UK, you can pay an additional £1,000 for the super priority service to receive a faster decision.
Once your application is approved, your biometric residence permit for indefinite leave to remain will be delivered within 10 working days.
Would you like to learn more about relocating family members?
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