UK Family Visa for Nigerians

Overview of the UK Family Visa from Nigeria

The UK Family Visa is for individuals and families who are not able to live together in the UK but have strong reasons to do so.

The main purpose of a UK Family Visa is to reunite families who have been separated due to immigration, travel, or other life circumstances.

A Family Visa UK allows people to work and study in the country once they arrive. The visas are issued for 5 years and can be renewed when they expire.

Who Is Eligible for a UK Family Visa?

To determine eligibility for a UK Family Visa, the following are some of the criteria to assess whether or not an individual is eligible.

• Resident family members of British citizens or settled status in the UK
• Family members of non-EEA nationals who are legal residents in the UK
• Family members of EEA nationals

To be eligible for a UK Family Visa, it is necessary that you:

• Reside in the country from which you are applying
• Be related to the sponsor through marriage (husband, wife, or civil partner), blood relationship (parent, child, grandparent, grandchild), or adoption, and must be able to prove this through birth certificates or adoption papers
• Carry out your main source of financial support in your own country

If you are related to a British citizen or that person’s spouse and do not meet all the eligibility requirements, you may still be able to come to the UK with another type of visa.

What Are the Types of UK Family Visas?

The UK government offers many immigration visa options for families of British citizens and permanent residents.

The first step to obtaining a Family Visa UK is applying. Once your application has been approved, you will receive a letter of approval with instructions.

For most visas, you must apply from outside the UK and show that you meet the Family Visa requirements for the visa type you apply for. Each category has rules about who can be able to apply for it and how old applicants must be.

Spouse Visa

If you are married to a British citizen or someone who has been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK, you can apply for this visa.

You must be able to prove that the marriage is genuine. A UK Spouse Visa may lead to citizenship in some cases.

This type of visa allows the holder to work, and holders can apply to bring their children over on Dependent Visas.

The Spouse Visa application process has four stages:

• Submit documents needed to apply for a visa along with your passport
• Make an appointment at the British Embassy or Consulate in Nigeria to submit your application and pay your fees
• Attend an interview where you will be asked questions regarding your relationship with your sponsor in the UK
• Collect your visa and other required documents that allow you to enter the UK

Parent Visa

The UK Parent Visa is designed to allow parents to come to the UK to be with their families.

This visa will also allow a parent of a British citizen or a person who is settled in the UK to live in the country.

To be issued a Parent Visa, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have an eligible child living in the UK
• Provide proof of your relationship with that child
• Meet the English language requirements
• Meet other requirements related to your status, such as having enough money to support yourself and other dependents

Child Dependent Visa

To obtain a UK Child Dependent Visa, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be born outside the UK or have been adopted by a UK citizen or settled person
• Be able to prove your relationship with the child, who must be under 18 years old
• Show proof of your child’s citizenship
• Demonstrate that you have adequate financial resources to support yourself and your child without depending on public funds

Adult Dependent Visa

The main rule for qualifying for an Adult-Dependent Relative Visa is having a sponsor living in the UK who has made an offer of support.

This person will be your legal sponsor, providing you with temporary accommodation and financial aid while living in the UK.

To be eligible for an Adult-Dependent Visa, you must:

• Be sponsored by a British citizen
• Have your main place of residence in the UK
• Be financially dependent on your sponsor
• Do not have another person who is sponsoring you

To apply for a UK Adult Dependent Visa, you must pass a points-based assessment that evaluates your eligibility.

Contact us to speak to an immigration specialist who can advise you on your suitability for this visa.

UK Ancestry Visa

The UK has a special visa category for people with a UK-born grandparent or UK-born parent.  The Ancestry Visa is a UK immigration category that enables Nigerians to live and work in the UK.

If you hold citizenship in the Commonwealth, British overseas, or British national (overseas) territories or are a citizen of Zimbabwe, you are eligible to apply for a UK Ancestry Visa.

To qualify for this visa, you must also:

• Have at least one UK-born grandparent or a UK-born parent
• You must be 18 or older at the time of application.
• Be able to prove this through original birth or adoption certificates and parentage tests if available (see application process below)
• Hold an indefinite leave to remain in your country of residence (or have already been granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK)
• Intend to visit the UK within three months of applying for this visa

UK PBS Dependent Visa

The UK PBS Dependent Visa is for the spouse or partner of a person living and working legally in the UK.

It allows the spouse or proposed civil partner to live and work in the UK for up to five years.

The UK PBS Dependent Visa is only open to those who are not European Economic Area (EEA) nationals and who are married to or in a civil partnership with an EEA national under the EU settlement scheme.

The basic requirements for obtaining a UK PBS Dependent Visa include:

• Being married to or in a civil partnership with an EEA national living and working legally in the UK
• Be a child of a parent with UK permanent residency or citizenship
• Providing evidence of this relationship, such as a marriage certificate or birth certificate
• Providing proof that the main applicant has sufficient means to support themselves, as well as their dependents

Financial Requirements for UK Family Visas

The financial requirements for UK Family Visas depend on the type of visa you are applying for.

The UK’s Home Office has published guidelines explaining the sources of income and minimum income thresholds required for different Family Visa categories.

The guidelines explain how applicants can prove their ability to maintain themselves financially in the UK.

As a single applicant, the minimal salary threshold is set at £29,000 if applying for a new permission. There is no additional proof of funds required for additional dependents. You may use cash savings to offset the income requirements. You will need savings of above £16,000 to begin offsetting the amount, and £88,500 to rely on cash savings alone.

If you initially applied before April 2024 and are renewing a permission, you will be eligible for the lower amount of £18,600. However, under the old system, this amount increases by £3,800 for a child dependent. Any additional children require an extra £2,400 each. It is possible to use savings rather than income to meet the financial criteria.

For expert legal advice on financial requirements for the UK Family Visa for Nigerians, call us today on +2342013438882 or +44 (0)333 414 9244 or contact us online.

English Language Requirements for UK Family Visa

Overview

Generally, it is a requirement that you have at least basic English language skills when applying for a Family visa.

An exemption from taking the test is available for those over 65 or those with a physical condition that prevents them from meeting the requirements.

Nationals of the majority of English-speaking countries are also exempt.

You will need to provide proof of your English language skills by taking an academic qualification or passing an approved test if you do not fall into any of these categories.

Academic Qualifications and Proof of English Proficiency

To meet these requirements, applicants will usually need one of the following:

• Proof of English Proficiency – A qualification at Level A1 in the English language on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
• Academic Qualifications  – An academic qualification taught in English, a qualification at a higher standard than GCSE (or equivalent), or evidence that they have completed an extended period of study in an English-speaking country

Accommodation Requirements for Family Visa UK

The applicant is required to demonstrate that accommodation is available for them and any dependents for the entire duration of their visa.

This means that if you are applying as a spouse or proposed civil partner, your sponsor must be able to provide proper housing or have proof of a lease agreement on suitable housing.

If you are a parent or child seeking residence in the UK, your sponsor should be able to provide proof of tenancy agreement or ownership.

Applying for UK Family Visa from Nigeria

People applying for a visa from Nigeria must present specific documents as part of their application.

To get started, prepare the following documents:

• Passport. Original and valid for at least six months beyond your travel date
• Two color passport-size photographs. Affix one photograph on the application form and attach the other to your passport
• Visa application form. Make sure to sign your application form and write it in black ink.

Below is an outline of what to do:

• Check your eligibility
• Collect your documents
• Gather evidence of your relationship with the sponsor
• Write up an application letter to accompany your application form
• Apply and attend an appointment at the visa application centre in Abuja or Lagos

UK Visa Fees and Processing Times from Nigeria

Family Visa Cost

The UK family visa cost varies based on the type of application you submit and if any additional documents require payment.

The Home Office sets fees for Family Visas that may change over time.

For now, the application costs for Spouse, Child, and Parent Visa categories are £1,938 for outside the UK application and £1,321 if you apply in the UK.

Your dependents will pay the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge as part of their application. For adult applicants, this will be equivalent to £1035 a year. For those under 18 years old, it is £776.

UK Family Visa Processing Time

The visa Processing times can vary according to the type of visa you apply for, the applicant’s country of origin, and other factors.

However, it is vital to understand that many factors determine how long an application will take.

A Family application can take up to 24 weeks if it is submitted from Nigeria.

It usually takes about 8 weeks for a visa to be processed if you apply from inside the UK.

To get expedited visa processing, you can use the priority or super-priority service. This will cost extra.

Reasons Why a UK Family Visa Might Be Rejected

When applying for a Family Visa, it is essential to ensure that you fill out the application with the utmost detail and attention to factual accuracy.

The main reason for an application being rejected is insufficient evidence or documentation to prove the case.

Some common reasons for a visa being rejected include:

• The applicant does not meet the minimum income requirements for the Family Visa category they apply for
• The applicants do not provide documentation that proves their relationship is genuine and subsisting (e.g. marriage certificate)
• Applicants do not provide accurate information about the reason for their visit
• You did not support the application with your sponsor’s original documents

Appealing a UK Family Visa Decision

In case your Family Visa application is rejected, you have the option to appeal the decision.

If possible, you will need to be able to show that there is new evidence available before submitting the appeal application.

The appeal process is more involved than the initial application so you may wish to seek legal advice to help ensure you have a successful outcome.

How Can IAS Help?

A Family Visa is granted to family members of British citizens or permanent residents of the UK.

If your family member is a British citizen or permanent resident and you’re applying for one of the Family Visas available, it’s critical to have proper legal representation and advice.

The immigration lawyers at IAS are experts in all areas of immigration law and can assist with preparing your Family Visa application.

Our legal advice team have the experience working with Nigerians and can ensure that your application is submitted correctly and that you can provide all the necessary supporting evidence and documentation required for entry clearance.

If you want to learn more about the immigration services we provide and how we can help you, contact us today. Call our office in Nigeria on +2342013438882 or our UK office on +44 (0)333 414 9244. You can also fill out our online form.