Family Visa UK from Philippines
The UK is a destination which offers many appealing benefits, such as a strong economy, rich culture, and stable environment in which to raise a family. As such, many Filipino citizens living in the UK choose to have their family members join them.
If you are a Filipino citizen living in the UK and you wish for your family members to join you, they are likely to require Family visas. Contact Total Law today on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or message us online to learn more.
UK Family Visa: Join Your Family in UK from Philippines
If you are a citizen of the Philippines living in the UK, it may be possible for your close family members to join you via a UK Family visa.
You may be able to be joined by your spouse, fiance, child, parent, or a relative to whom you will provide necessary and long-term care. It may also be possible for your family member to switch to a Family visa if they originally entered the UK on a different visa type.
Note that your family member will not generally be eligible for a Family visa in the following circumstances:
- You are in the UK on a Work or Student visa. In this situation, your family member may be able to apply as a dependent instead
- You are in the UK on a Visitor visa, or another visa type which only authorizes you to stay for 6 months or less
If your family member plans to stay in the UK for six months or less, they may instead want to consider a Standard Family Visitor visa.
Types of UK Family Visas & Eligibility Requirements
There are a number of visa types for which the family of Filipino citizens living in the UK might apply. The details of the main different options are outlined in this section:
Partner or Spouse visa UK
In order for your spouse or partner to be eligible to join you under Spouse visa route, you must satisfy the following conditions:
- Be a British or an Irish citizen
- Have permanently settled in the UK (e.g. indefinite leave to remain, settled status, or permanent residence). You will need to be able to prove your status
- Be a citizen of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, and have pre-settled status. Note that you will need to have lived in the UK since before 1st January 2021
- Have protection status (i.e. refugee status or humanitarian protection)
- Have permission to stay in the UK due to being stateless
- Intend to live permanently with your partner upon their arrival in the UK
Upon successfully receiving the visa, the applicant will generally be able to live, work, and study in the UK. However, if the marriage or civil partnership has not yet taken place, they will not be able to work or study in the UK until the service has occurred. They will then need to apply for permission to extend their stay. Once this is granted, they will then be able to work and study in the UK.
You will also generally need to prove your relationship status and that you were living together previously. If there were reasons why it was not possible for you to live together, for example cultural considerations, you will need to provide alternative evidence of your relationship status.
In the case of marriage or civil partnership, successful applicants can stay in the UK for up to 2 years and 9 months. In the case of engagement to be married or a proposed civil partner, successful applicants can stay for up to 6 months, and can apply to extend their stay once the wedding or civil partnership has taken place.
After living in the UK for at least 5 years, the applicant will be able to apply for permanent residence. Note that time spent in the UK under any other visa type does not count towards this 5 years.
Parent Visa UK
If you wish for your parent to join you in the UK, the following eligibility criteria must be satisfied:
- You are either under 18 when you submit your application or were under 18 at the point when you were granted leave to remain in the UK
- Your parent lives with you (except if you are receiving full-time education which is away from home, e.g. boarding school or university)
- You are not married or in a civil partnership
- The applicant has sole or shared parental responsibility for you. In the case of shared parental responsibility, the other parent must not be the applicant’s partner
- One of the following applies
- You are a British or Irish citizen
- You have permanently settled in the UK (e.g. indefinite leave to remain, settled status, or permanent residence). You will need to provide evidence of your status
- You are a citizen of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, and have pre-settled status. Note that you must have been living in the UK since before 1st January 2021
- If your parent is applying from within the UK, they must have been living with you continuously for at least 7 years
If the applicant has other dependent children, they can also be added to the application. However, they must generally also be under 18, living with the applicant, and not married or in a civil partnership.
If successful, the applicant will be able to stay in the UK for up to 2 years and 9 months. They will then be able to apply to extend.
After 5 years, the applicant can apply for permanent settlement. Note that time spent in the UK under any other visa will not count towards this 5 years.
Child Visa UK
If you wish for your child to join you in the UK, they will generally need to satisfy the following criteria:
- They must live with you in the UK, unless they live away to receive a full-time education (e.g. boarding school or university)
- They must not be married or be in a civil partnership
They can either be included as a dependent in your next application or apply separately in their own right.
Generally, one of the following will need to apply to you (the parent):
- You have British or Irish citizenship
- You have permanently settled in the UK (e.g. indefinite leave to remain, settled status, or permanent residence). You will need to provide evidence of your status
- You are a citizen of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, and have pre-settled status. Note that you will need to have lived in the UK since before 1st January 2021
- You have protection status (i.e. refugee status or humanitarian protection)
- You have permission to stay due to being stateless
Adult Dependent Visa UK
If you are a Filipino citizen living in the UK and wish to provide care to a family member, this is likely to be the best visa option. In order for your family member to receive this visa, the following eligibility criteria must be met:
- Your family member requires long-term care and cannot complete everyday tasks themselves, without this care
- Your family member is 18 or over
- The care which you would be providing cannot be provided in your home country, whether due to availability or cost
- You must have the resources to care for your relative for the duration of their stay
- You have permanently settled in the UK (e.g. indefinite leave to remain, settled status, or permanent residence). You will need to provide evidence of your status
- You are a citizen of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, and have pre-settled status. Note that you will need to have lived in the UK since before 1st January 2021
- You have protection status (i.e. refugee status or humanitarian protection)
How to Apply for a Family Visa UK from Philippines: Step-by-Step Guide
Whilst the exact application process differs depending on the family relationship in question, the application steps will generally be as follows:
First, the applicant will need to check their eligibility and to gather the necessary documents. This includes completing the relevant Appendix form, which will depend on the particular nature of the family relationship. Then, they will need to submit their application online, via the UK government website. They will also need to pay the relevant application fee, although it may be possible to receive a fee waiver in certain circumstances.
Next, the applicant will be asked to attend an appointment at a UK visa application center, in order to submit their biometric information (their photo and fingerprints). In the Philippines, these centers can be found in Cebu and Manila.
Once all of the necessary steps have been completed, the application will then be processed. If the application is successful, the applicant will then be granted a UK visa, which can be used to legally enter the UK.
What Documents Are Required for UK Family Visa for Filipino Applicants
The exact documents which are required for a UK Family visa will depend on the family relation in question. Generally, however, you will require a combination of the following evidence:
- Valid Philippines passport
- Any other relevant travel documents
- Copies of the photo page(s) and entry stamps/visas in any previous passports
- A copy of the applicant’s current UK biometric residence permit, if applicable
- Evidence of the relationship, e.g. marriage certificate, proof of intention to marry within 6 months of the partner’s arrival in the UK, birth certificate, family records, as applicable
- Details of any previous immigration applications
- A copy of the applicant’s criminal record
- National insurance number, if applicable
- Proof of the date of birth and nationality of the applicant’s parents
- A negative tuberculosis test result
- Proof of sufficient English language proficiency
- Proof of finances/income. In the case of partner/spouse applications, your combined annual income will generally need to be at least £29,000. This figure will generally increase if you are also applying for your children to join you, unless your children are British or Irish citizens, have pre-settled status, or are permanently settled in the UK
Note that all documents will need to be translated into either English or Welsh. The translation must be completed by an authorized translation service.
UK Family Visa Processing Time: How long does it take?
The current processing time for a UK Family visa is 24 weeks. If the applicant is already in the UK, this processing time reduces to around 12 weeks.
However, note that the exact processing time is subject to change based on a number of factors, such as how many other applications are currently being processed and whether the application is submitted correctly.
In order to minimize waiting time, applicants should make sure to submit all of the necessary documentation at the time of application and to promptly provide any additional information which is requested.
UK Family Visa Fees for Filipino Applicants: How much does it cost?
The exact cost of a Family visa will depend on the specific visa in question. Generally, it costs £1,938 for a partner, parent, or child visa, if the applicant is outside of the UK or in Philippines.
If they are applying from within the UK, it will instead cost £1,321. The same cost will be added per every dependent included in the application.
If the application is for an adult relative who you will be caring for, the cost depends on whether or not the applicant has ‘protections status’ (i.e. is a refugee or has humanitarian protection). If so, the cost will be £424 for applicants from outside the UK and £3,413 for applicants applying from within the UK.
It is also likely that the applicant will need to pay an annual health surcharge. The exact cost varies based on whether or not the applicant is an adult and how long they intend to stay in the UK.
In some cases, it will also be necessary to pay for the application documents to be translated into either English or Welsh. The exact cost will depend on the specific translation provider. Some applicants also choose to pay for legal assistance with the application. Contact Total Law +44 (0)333 305 9375 to learn more about how we can help you with this.
How Can Total Law Help with Your UK Family Visa Application from Philippines?
The UK is a popular choice for Filipino nationals, offering a strong economy, numerous work opportunities, and a safe and diverse environment in which to raise a family. As such, many Filipino citizens who are living in the UK choose to pursue Family visas for their immediate family.
However, the immigration rules surrounding UK Family visas are often complicated and change depending on the exact family relationship in question. At Total Law, we have many years of experience in providing assistance on cases just like this.
Our immigration experts are able to provide you with bespoke legal advice based on your specific circumstances. Contact Total Law today on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or message us online, to learn more about how we can help you secure a UK family visa.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
The exact validity period of a UK Family visa will depend on the family relationship in question. In many cases, visas can also be extended once they expire. It may also be possible for the holder to apply for permanent residence after living in the UK for a sufficient amount of time to be eligible.
If your family member plans to stay in the UK for under 6 months, it is likely that a Standard Visitor visa is a better fit. This will allow them to live with you for up to 6 months. However, if they plan to stay in the UK for longer than this, they will need to apply for a long-term Family visa.
Yes, UK Family visas do generally allow you to work in the UK. However, note that if you are in the UK as a fiance or a proposed civil partner, you will not be able to work in the UK until the ceremony has taken place. You will then need to apply to extend your stay. Once this has been granted, you will then be able to legally work in the UK on your UK Family visa.
