A UK Family Visa lets non-UK nationals join or remain with qualifying family in the UK for longer than 6 months. The umbrella category covers multiple routes (partner, fiancé(e), child, parent/ADR, ancestry, and PBS dependants) with different rules, evidence, and timelines.
Family Visa UK in 2025: what it is, who it’s for, and how it fits your family’s route
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Families are like branches on a tree; we grow in different directions yet our roots remain as one.
Core eligibility across family routes: sponsor status, genuine relationship, and switching rules
Your UK-based family member typically must be British/Irish or settled (or hold refugee/humanitarian protection); you must prove a qualifying relationship and meet suitability, financial, English, and accommodation rules (vary by route).
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Spouse and partner route under Appendix FM: timeline, requirements, and settlement pathway
Partners can obtain 2.5 years’ leave, extend to 5 years, then apply for ILR, if relationship and other rules remain met; fiancé(e) visas grant 6 months to marry and then switch to spouse.
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Child Dependant visa: joining or remaining with a parent while maintaining dependency
Children under 18 may join/extend with a qualifying parent if they are not living independently and meet dependency and care arrangements; evidence varies if both or one parent is in the UK.
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UK Ancestry visa: a work-friendly route for those with a UK-born grandparent
Applicants with a UK-born grandparent can live and work in the UK, usually gaining eligibility for settlement after 5 years, separate from Appendix FM partner rules.
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Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa: exceptional route for long-term care needs
Reserved for close adult relatives who require long-term personal care that is unavailable or unaffordable in their home country; one of the most stringent family routes.
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Refugee Family Reunion: reuniting close family where the sponsor has protection
Eligible partners and children of a refugee or person with humanitarian protection may join them under dedicated family reunion rules.
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PBS (Skilled Worker) Dependant route: living in line with a worker’s permission
Family of Skilled Workers can live, work (with limited role restrictions), and study in the UK, with leave tied to the main applicant’s visa length.
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Fees, maintenance, and health surcharge: budgeting for a complete application
Family routes involve Home Office fees, Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), and evidence of income/savings (requirements vary by route and location of application).
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Appeals, reviews, and re-applications: options after a refusal
Refusals commonly stem from weak evidence or unmet requirements; remedies include administrative review, First-tier Tribunal appeal (where rights exist), or a fresh, stronger application.
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Common reasons for family visa refusals and how to avoid them from the start
Most issues trace to insufficient relationship evidence, financial misformatting, inconsistent forms, or poor document quality.
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