Family Visa UK for Canadian Citizens
There are a number of routes under the United Kingdom Family Visas that authorize Canadian citizens to move to the UK to be with their families.
If you have any questions regarding UK Family visas or if you would like to discuss any concerns you may have, call us on +1 844 290 6312, or contact us online via our live chat.
Page Content:
- What are the eligibility criteria for a Family Visa?
- UK Spouse Visa
- Dependent Child Visa
- UK Ancestry Visa
- Dependent Adult Visa
- What are the documents needed for the family visa application?
- What are the fees for the different types of family visas?
- Costs in USD
- Family Visa Processing Times
- Path to ILR & Citizenship
- Comparing Family Visa Rights with Settled Status & Citizenship
- What to do if your visa is refused?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Do Canadians need a UK visa to join family members in the UK?
Canadians require a UK visa to join family members in the UK for a period longer than six months.
Under a UK visa, you may be eligible to join the following:
- A family member, spouse, or civil partner who is a British citizen
- A family member, spouse, or civil partner who has Indefinite Leave to Remain or Settled Status
- Another person who you have an eligible relationship within the UK that holds valid refugee status or humanitarian protection
UK Spouse Visa for Canadians: Eligibility and Application Process
The UK Partner Visa permits spouses, civil partners, and even fiancés to remain in the UK for up to 2.5 years. After this, people on the family visa can apply for a further extension for a total of 5 years in the UK.
In order to meet the strict eligibility criteria for the Spouse Visa, both partners must be at least 18-year-old. The partner or fiancé of the Canadian citizen must also meet the following requirements:
- Be a British or Irish citizen
- Be a settled person in the UK through the European Union settlement scheme, holding either Indefinite Leave to Remain, Settled Status, or permanent residence
- Be a citizen from the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein and hold pre-settled status. If this is your partner’s situation, they must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021
- Hold a Turkish Businessperson visa or Turkish Worker visa
- Have refugee status or humanitarian protection from the UK
- Meet the spouse visa financial requirement, which requires applicants to prove that they and their partner have a combined yearly income of a minimum of of at least £29,000.
- Able to demonstrate they have an appropriate place for the partner to come and live with them in the UK
- Pass a medical exam to prove good health without Tuberculosis
If you apply for a UK spousal Visa as a fiancée, the visa lasts 6 months during which you must marry your fiancé. Canadian applicants do not need to prove their English language requirements.
Lastly, you and your Canadian partner have to prove to the UK government you will stay in the UK permanently.
Visa requirements do vary on a case-by-case basis, so reach out to Total Law for the latest information and tailored advice.
UK Dependent Child Visa for Canadians: Application Steps and Requirements
As per the definitions of immigration rules, a “child” is defined as someone under the age of 18 at the time of the UK child visa application.
The Child Dependent Visa permits dependent children to join their parent(s) in the UK so long as one of the parents is a British citizen, a European Union (EU) national or they hold the right to live and work in the UK.
For a Child Visa application to be successful, there are a number of general requirements that need to be fulfilled. The UK Child Visa requirements include:
- The visa applicant, the child, must be under 18 years old
- The child must not be married or in a civil partnership and must not have an independent family unit
- The child must not be living an independent life (they should instead be completely reliant on their parents financially)
- The child has to be financially supported by their parents and not be receiving public funds or benefits
- Importantly, at least one of the parents has to be applying for a UK visa either as a partner joining the other parent (e.g. under the UK marriage visa or civil partnership category) or as a parent with sole responsibility.
This family visa application lasts as long as the visa their parents are on, and expires simultaneously. Applications made in the UK take 8 weeks and from outside the UK take around 8 – 12 weeks. The minimum income requirement no longer includes a separate child element, as of 2024. This eliminates the need for additional funds per child.
UK Ancestry Visa for Canadians: Requirements for Commonwealth Citizens
The Ancestry Visa is a potential option for Commonwealth citizens, which includes Canadians who have at least one grandparent who was born in the UK. This visa gives entry clearance to the United Kingdom to live, work and study for five years.
UK Adult Dependent Visa for Canadians: Eligibility and Long-Term Care Requirements
The Dependent Adult Visa has very specific requirements for Canadians that require long-term personal care to perform everyday tasks whether due to age, illness or disability, or practical and financial help which can only strictly be provided by the relative that is either a British citizen living in the UK or is settled in the UK. With this family visa, the holder is granted Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK.
The Adult Dependent Relative Visa offers entry clearance only to applicants outside the UK, it isn’t an option to switch to this visa from within the UK.
To be eligible, the applicant should be living outside of the UK and require long-term care from a parent, grandchild, brother, sister, adult child, son, or daughter. The person offering the care must:
- Be a British or Irish citizen
- Be a settled person in the UK with either Indefinite Leave to Remain, Settled Status, or proof of permanent residence
- Be from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein and have pre-settled status, meaning they must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021
- Have refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK
To be eligible for the Adult-Dependent Visa UK, you must prove the following:
- You require long-term care to do everyday personal and household tasks because of age, illness, or disability.
- The care you require isn’t available or affordable in Canada
- The person you’ll be joining in the UK have to be able to support, accommodate and care for you without claiming public funds for at least 5 years
- You’re 18 years of age or over
UK Family Visa Requirements for Canadian Citizens
Each family visitor visa type requires a little bit different documentation. For example, the Spouse Visa requires significant information for proof of relationship.
However, for the most part, the UK family visa documents needed for the application are:
- Full names and dates of birth of all applicants
- Valid passport with at least one blank page or other valid travel ID
- A copy of your biometric residence permit
- Details of any previous immigration applications
- Criminal convictions
- Your national insurance number
- Your parents’ date of birth and nationality if you’re applying from outside the UK
- a certified translation of any document that is not in English or Welsh
- You’ll need to have a blank page in your passport on which to put the visa if you’re applying outside the UK.
Most Canadians filling out application forms do not need to prove their English language proficiency. The documents needed can vary depending on the exact circumstances of the applicant, so you should consult an immigration lawyer for the latest information,
UK Family Visa Fees: Costs for Spouse, Child, and Adult Dependent Visa Applications
There are fees that will need to be paid when making the UK family visa application. For the spouse or dependent visa, it costs for applications made outside the UK and for inside the UK.
The fee for adding another family member to your application is for each person from outside the UK and for inside the UK, per person.
Finally, for the Adult-Dependent Visa, it costs £3,250 for applications made outside the UK and for inside the UK.
UK Visa & Settlement Fees (In USD)
Visa Type | Visa Application Fee (USD) |
Family of Settled People (Settlement) | |
Family Visas – Joining Partner, Parent, Proposed Civil Partner, or Child | $2490 |
Family Visas – Adult Dependant Relative | $4383 |
Indefinite Leave to Enter the UK as a Victim of Domestic Abuse (and Dependant Children) under Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse | $3891 |
Route to Settlement – Refugee Dependant Relative | $545 |
Dependent Children Under 21 Applying Under “Appendix ECAA Extension of Stay” | Free of Charge |
Parents of Children at School | |
Parent of a Student Child Visa (up to 12 months) (Tier 4 Isle of Man) | $859 |
Exemptions and Other Visas
Visa Type | Visa Application Fee (USD) |
Exempt | |
Diplomatic Posting to the UK (Dependant) | Free of Charge |
Members of Armed Forces and Their Families (Non-Settlement) | |
Dependants of Exempt International Forces Applying Under Part 10 of Appendix Armed Forces | $859 |
Family Members of EEA and Swiss Nationals | |
Joining a Family Member from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein with Status Under the EU Settlement Scheme | Free of Charge |
Living in an EU Country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein with a British Citizen | Free of Charge |
Joining a Person of Northern Ireland Resident in the UK by 31 December 2021 | Free of Charge |
Former Family Member of Someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein with ‘Retained Right of Residence’ | Free of Charge |
Family Visa UK processing times
Family Visas are typically processed in 12 weeks if applied outside the UK. However, most decisions (90%) are processed within 3 weeks. Switching visas or extending inside the UK, normally takes 8 weeks. If you do not meet the requirements, or your application needs further clarifications, it can take up to 12 months to receive a decision.
Some seasonal and bureaucratic delays may occur. You may be able to pay to process your application faster with Premium Processing, costing £500. You will get a decision in 5 working days. If you apply online, or if the visa centre you apply to accepts fast-tracking, you may also be able to get your application processed by the end of the next working day with Super Premium Processing, costing £1000. The priority fees are in addition to your visa and legal fees.
Path to ILR and Citizenship for Family Visa Holders
Planning your long-term immigration journey in the UK is essential to meeting your goals. Anyone planning to come to the UK with settlement in mind must do the following:
- Stay in the UK on an eligible visa for 5 years (this includes most family visas)
- Apply for ILR after five years of continuous residence on an eligible family visa
- Apply for British Citizenship after 12 months (or as soon as you receive settled status if you are a spouse or civil partner)
If you are on a UK Dependent Visa, supported by a UK work visa holder as your sponsor, rather than a British or Irish resident or someone with Indefinite Leave to Remain, you can also apply after 5 years. However, if you arrive after your sponsor, they must extend their current permission or gain settled status via ILR before your visa expires so you can remain in the UK. Once you have also completed 5 years of continuous residence you can then apply for ILR.
Family Visa Refusal & Reapplication
It can be difficult to receive a visa refusal and to know where to start when you receive one. When you receive a decision on your application, the Home Office will notify you by letter or email, and they will state if you were successful or unsuccessful. If you are unsuccessful, you will receive a visa refusal letter, which will state the reason for your refusal and whether you have grounds to appeal.
- You can appeal If you have grounds to appeal. You can submit your appeal within 14 days of receiving the refusal letter if you’re in the UK, or 28 days if outside the UK. The letter will state how long you have exactly to appeal. Appeals are typically submitted to the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) and can take several months to process.
- Judicial Review is another option if you believe the decision was made unlawfully or there was a procedural error. However, this process is more complex and requires legal expertise. You can typically ask for a judicial review up to 3 months after the decision.
- Reapplication is another option instead of appealing. You must address the reasons for the initial refusal in your new application. This can strengthen your case and improve your chances of approval. You can do this straight away, but it’s essential to address all the reasons for rejection, and make the changes necessary.
For support in navigating these processes, whether for appeals, judicial reviews, or reapplications, contact our experienced immigration lawyers at Total Law. We can provide tailored guidance and assistance to help you achieve the best possible results.
Comparing the Rights of Family Visa Holders, and those with ILR settled status and British Citizens
Rights | Family Visa Holders | ILR Holders | British Citizens |
Right to Work and Study | Yes, but cannot work as a trainee dentist or international sportsperson/coach | Yes, unrestricted | Yes, unrestricted |
Access to Public Funds | No | Yes | Yes, full access to public funds |
Right to Vote in UK Elections | No, unless you are a qualifying Commonwealth citizen | No, unless you are a qualifying Commonwealth citizen | Yes, full voting rights |
Do you need to pay Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)? | Yes, for the full visa duration | No | No |
Access to NHS Healthcare | Yes, with IHS fees | Yes, no fees | Yes, no fees |
Eligibility for Citizenship | Eligible after 5 years if meeting ILR and residency requirements | Eligible after 1 year with ILR or immediately if spouse/civil partner of a British citizen | N/A – already a citizen |
Travel & Residency Restrictions | You cannot spend over 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period. This may impact visa status and ILR residency requirement | Allowed up to 180 days a year. Must be present in UK at time of application for British Citizenship. You cannot have been outside the UK for more than 90 days in 12 months directly before a British Citizenship application. | No restrictions |
Ability to Sponsor Family Members | Not exactly. Sponsorship requirements must be met. You can’t sponsor someone if you are being sponsored to stay in the UK, but you can add dependent children or adults to your sponsor’s application. You may also sponsor dependents yourself if you switch to a Skilled Worker Visa or similar. | Yes, you may sponsor close family members to come to the UK | Yes, can sponsor family members |
Requirement to Renew Visa/Status | Yes, you must always renew or switch your visa permissions before expiry. | No, ILR is indefinite, though a BRP card may need renewal every 10 years | No, citizenship is permanent |
Eligibility for State Pension | Limited eligibility depends on National Insurance contributions | Yes, based on National Insurance contributions | Yes, full eligibility |
Education Rights for Children | Yes, children of school age (5-15) can typically access state education on a family visa | Yes, unrestricted access to state education | Yes, unrestricted access |
Passport Eligibility | No, you can only hold a passport from the country of origin | No, but eligible for UK citizenship after 1 year, enabling UK passport application | Yes, eligible for a UK passport |
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is possible to appeal the decision in the event that your UK Family Visa is refused.
Reach out to Total Law for advice on how to appeal a visa rejection or submit a updated application.
It depends on which visa you are holding. Spouse visa holders can work. Dependants can work as long as their parent is in the UK with valid entry clearance. There are, however, a few restrictions and you should always seek legal advice before taking up employment.
This is only possible in certain circumstances, such as if they need long-term care for a disability or illness that only you can provide, in which case they can apply for an Adult Dependent Relative Visa.
It depends. You can apply for a visa as a family by using the dependent visa options. So, the parent would need a visa and then the children and spouse or civil partner would be able to join as a dependent for the duration of your stay in the UK.