Family Visitor Visa UK

What is a Family Visit Visa UK?

The Family Visitor visa is a subcategory of the Standard Visitor visa. It is intended for the purpose of visiting family in the UK for up to six months. If you are a visa national and want to travel to the UK to visit a UK-based family member, you will need a Family Visit visa. This visa is valid for up to six months.

UK Family Visitor visas have very strict requirements and are, therefore, difficult to obtain. To qualify, you must be able to detail your reasons and plans for visiting relatives, as well as demonstrate how your trip will be funded and that you will return home after your trip.

The Family Visitor visa does not allow you to work, claim public funds or bring dependents. This means each visiting family member must apply for a separate visa for their UK stay. 

Who Can Apply for a Family Visitor Visa?

Immediate family members are eligible to apply for a Family Visit visa. You can apply if one of your relatives is a British citizen, a settled person, or is on a valid UK visa. You must provide evidence of your connection to the relative. Eligible applicants include:

• Parents
• Children
• Siblings (including half-siblings and step-siblings);
• Grandparents
• Grandchildren.

As of July 2012, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, and cousins have been excluded from the definitions of the family members allowed Entry Clearance through the Family Visitor visa. They can still apply for a normal Visitor visa, however, they will not be able to appeal against a refusal.

Family Visitor Visa UK Requirements

Many Family Visitor visa UK requirements are the same as those for the Standard Visitor visa. To be eligible, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old (Under 18s must apply under the Child Visitor Visa category)
• Have intentions to leave the after you visit the UK;
• You must show evidence of financial support once in the UK (this can be from a family member) and have enough funds to pay for your journey to make a Family Visit UK visa application. It is possible to sponsor a family member to visit the UK temporarily.

Permitted & Prohibited Activities for a Family Visitor Visa

Family Events

• Attending family gatherings such as birthdays, anniversaries, funerals, or other personal events
• Attending ceremonial events like weddings, civil partnerships, christenings, baptisms, Aqiqah celebrations, bar mitzvahs, confirmations, or similar ceremonial occasions. 
• Attending any family event must be for personal reasons, not commercial. You cannot be paid for services you provide at any event. 

Tourism

• Tourism. E.g., visiting landmarks, museums, parks, and other tourist attractions.
• Taking part in recreational activities like guided tours, sports events, theatre, etc.
• You cannot be paid for visiting places on a Family Visitor visa. For example, paid influencer campaigns. You can be sponsored to visit a place or receive non-monetary services, such as free tickets, but you cannot do work in exchange. If you intend to do paid work, you must apply for a Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE) visa, a Business Mobility Scheme visa, or a longer term permission. 

Prohibited Activities

• Paid or unpaid work 
• Regular voluntary work that looks like employment
• Accessing public funds
• Long-term study 
• Staying in the UK or applying to stay in the UK while on a Family Visitor visa

Some situations may be more nuanced and require clarification. You should contact a qualified immigration lawyer to establish if the activities you plan to undertake are allowed under the immigration rules for a Family Visitor visa. For example, remote work for an overseas employer can be allowed in moderation. Volunteering and unpaid internships are another grey area. You should seek advice to minimise risk. 

Permitted & Prohibited Activities (Summary Table)

Family Visitor Visa UK Fees

The application fee for a UK family Visitor visa is £127, matching the visa costs for a Standard Visitor visa. For those requiring longer-term visits, the fees are higher: a 2-year visa costs £475, a 5-year visa is £848, and a 10-year visa costs £1059.

How to Apply for a Family Visitor Visa UK?

The UK Family Visitor visa application process starts with an online submission through the UK Home Office website. Applicants may also need to visit a visa application centre to provide biometric information and additional documentation, though this can be done online in many cases.

Family Visitor Visa Processing Times and Decision Making

Visitor visa processing times typically range from 8 to 12 weeks for a Family Visitor visa, with applications taking 8 weeks to be processed from within the UK and 12 weeks from outside the UK. It is essential to prepare your application in advance or consider priority processing for a faster review. 

Complex applications or incomplete documentation can result in delays to processing, and in some cases, refusals. If your visa is refused, your reason for refusal will be outlined in your decision letter. When your visa is accepted, you will be able to travel to the UK. 

You can apply up to three months before your trip. It is advisable to leave extra time. It is usually non-refundable, even if you do not receive your visa in time. Priority services are available if you have urgent visitation requirements. 

• Priority Service: Processes your visa in 5 working days for an additional fee of £500.
• Super Priority Service: Processes your visa in a single working day for an additional fee of £1000.

Ensuring all required documents are complete and accurate is crucial to avoid delays or refusals.

UK Family Visitor Visa Documents Required for Application

As the Family Visitor visa UK is part of the Standard Visitor visa route, you must provide relevant documents to support your application, including:

• A passport valid for three months or more beyond your return date from the UK. You’ll need to submit your passport number on the online application form.
• You must submit biometric information online or at a visa application centre. This will require fingerprints and digital photographs.
• You must show where you will stay in the UK. This could be hotel reservation details or contact details for the UK family member supporting or sponsoring your application.
• You need to show you can afford travel to and from the UK. Recent bank statements are the most common proof of funds.
• The UK Home Office requires evidence you will return to your home country after your UK stay. Documents that can show commitments back home may be: employment, property, or family ties.
• You must provide proof of your relationship with the UK family member you are visiting.
• You need to provide evidence of the purpose of your visit. This could include an invitation to a graduation ceremony, a wedding, or a civil partnership. 

General visiting is allowed, in which case you might need to provide extra information such as:

• Invitation Letters from family members, stating the purpose of your visit and the duration.
• A trip itinerary featuring a detailed plan of your activities in the UK, including places you intend to visit and dates.
• Any additional supporting documents, such as tickets for events, or proof of booked tours or excursions.

Common Reasons for Visa Refusal

• Insufficient financial evidence can be a reason for refusal. If you can’t show that you can fund your trip adequately via income, sponsorship, or other means, you could be refused.
• Unclear travel intentions can result in refusal if you fail to show your intention to return home after your visit. Return flights and a job to go back to, for example, can show you are a “genuine visitor”
• Incomplete or inaccurate documentation can be grounds for refusal. You should ensure that you double-check and do not attempt to deceive the Home Office.
• Previous immigration violations can also result in refusal. Violations include if you have previously overstayed a visa or breached the rules of your visa.

How to Appeal a Visa Refusal

The first step to appealing a visa refusal is understanding the reason or the grounds for refusal. Your decision letter should state the reason. It is not possible to appeal the decision in the same way as other UK visas because the Visitor visa is a short-term permission. However, you may challenge the decision by:

• Submitting a judicial review
• Reapplying for the Visitor visa with corrected or additional evidence
• Making a human rights appeal

Our experts can help you understand the reasons for your refusal and guide you through the next steps most applicable to your situation, to help you obtain the Family Visitor visa you need.

Tips for a Successful Application

A successful Family Visitor visa application relies on accuracy and a clear demonstration of your intentions, plans and finances. 

• Ensure all required documents are completed accurately and submitted. Don’t miss out on providing evidence that has been asked for.
• Clearly state the purpose of the visit and intent to return. Prove it with your itinerary, home commitments and onward flights. 
• Provide sufficient financial information that shows you have enough money to support yourself during your stay, or that your sponsor can fund your trip. 

Some countries have high refusal statistics for the UK Family Visitor visa, with some nations in Africa and Asia as high as 70% refusals. This is often due to insufficient evidence to show your intention to “visit” is genuine. The reason for high refusal statistics is usually because the Home Office believes there is a chance you may stay and try to settle in the UK. Countries with high refusal statistics often have high rates of refugees in the UK, so this is a consideration. The onus is on you to prove to the Home Office that you have no intention to stay in the UK long-term. 

For this reason, it is highly recommended to seek the services of an expert immigration lawyer, especially if your home country has high refusal rates. 

Special Considerations for Applicants Under 18

All applicants under 18 who may be visiting family in the UK must obtain parental consent if they are travelling on their own or with one parent. They must also provide additional documentation proving their relationship with their UK-based relative. This could include:

• Proof of guardianship or custody
• Permission to travel for unaccompanied minor travelling to the UK. Airlines have different policies on what is permitted and at what age a child under 18 is allowed to travel alone. It is important to check the individual airline rules, and also provide permission from the parents and the guardians in the UK.
• Proof of relationship (to UK relatives, and to parents providing consent)
• Parental permission

Impact of Frequent Visits on Future Applications

Frequent visits to the UK should always have a clear intention, and must not show a pattern that appears like you are attempting to (de facto) live or stay in the UK long-term. It is essential to demonstrate that there is no pattern of regular short visits in your travel history in the UK. 

• For example, coming to the UK for a few months, then returning after being away for a week. 

While this is technically allowed if you are on a Multiple-Entry Visitor visa, the Home Office scrutinise any potential abuse of this system. If this is a common pattern in your behaviour, you could be refused entry at the border or may be denied future UK visas.

You should always provide evidence of your intention to return home after your visit. If you intend to make multiple short visits within a short period, you must have a clear reason with supporting evidence, or consider a visa category that permits longer-term stays.  

How can IAS help with a UK family visitor visa application?

Our team of highly qualified lawyers can assist you with your application for a Family Visit Visa. One of our lawyers will work with you to assess your eligibility and complete your Family Visit Visa application to the highest standard.

Your appointed immigration solicitor can perform a full document check and prepare a Letter of Representation to support your application. This letter will detail your case and its merits, as well as reference any relevant UK and immigration rules and laws supporting your application for family visas or other UK visas.

Contact us using our online enquiry form or by calling +44 (0)333 414 9244 to arrange your first meeting with an immigration lawyer today.