Family Visitor Visa UK

The UK Family Visitor Visa is the same visa class as the country’s standard Visitor Visa: facilitating stays of up to six months in the UK for leisure purposes, and/or to visit family and friends.

This visa route is intended to allow short stays in the country, but restricts visa holders to specific ‘permitted activities’ while in the UK. Visitor Visa holders may be present in the UK to:

• Attend a tourist holiday
• Visit family members including children, parents and fiancee
• See friends who are in the UK
• Volunteer for a registered charity for up to 30 days
• Transit through the UK on their way to another country
• Attend a meeting or interview
• Take part in ‘permitted paid engagements’ for their job – such as to give a lecture or performance
• Take part in a school exchange programme
• Take part in a recreational course that lasts up to 30 days
• Study or take an exam
• Act as an academic, senior doctor or dentist
• Seek medical advice and/or treatment.
• Attend family events including weddings, christenings, funerals, birthdays and graduation ceremonies.
• Visiting to support family with new born baby
• Visiting a pregnant daughter/sister/relative

However, Visitor Visa holders cannot:

• Work paid or unpaid for a British company (outside of ‘permitted paid engagements’)
• Claim any public funds (benefits) from the British government
• De facto live in the UK through successive visits
• Give notice of a marriage or civil partnership
• Marry or register a civil partnership.

If you’re unsure of which type of visa would be most suitable for your short stay in the UK, call +44 (0) 333 305 9375 to speak to a specialist immigration lawyer in the Total Law office and ensure you apply for the correct visa route.

Page Contents

• Introduction to Family Visitor Visa UK
• Check if you need a UK Family Visitor Visa
• Eligibility Criteria for Family Visitor Visa UK
• Financial and Sponsor Requirements for Family Visitor Visa
• Required Documents for UK Family Visitor Visa
• Application Process for UK Family Visitor Visa
• Application Fees for UK Family Visitor Visa
• How long does it take to get Family Visitor Visa for UK?
• How can Total Law help
• Frequently Asked Questions

While many nationalities of traveller do require a UK Visitor Visa, this is not the case for all.

The following nationalities do not require a Standard Visitor Visa, and may enter the UK for up to six months with no visa at all:

• Citizens of the EU (European Union)
• Citizens of the EEA (European Economic Area)
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• Canada
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Japan
• Malta
• New Zealand
• Singapore
• South Korea
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• Switzerland
• United States of America
• Vanuatu.

The following nationalities do not require a Standard Visitor Visa and may enter the UK for up to six months; but will need to apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation):

• Bahrain
• Kuwait
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates.

An ETA can be applied for online and is considerably quicker and cheaper than the visa application process. It holds almost the exact same activity criteria as the UK Family Visitor Visa.

Reach out to the Total Law team for help in determining if you are eligible for a UK Family Visiting Visa.

Overseas nationals applying for Family Visitor Visas must meet set eligibility criteria to be successful in their application. This means that they must, and must be able to prove, that:

• They are a genuine visitor and are intending on leaving the UK within the six-month visa period
• They are able to financially support themselves and any dependents while in the country; or have a family member or friend willing to financially support their visit
• They hold a genuine relationship with a family member in the UK

Who is Considered as a Family Member for UK Family Visit Visa?

In order to gain entry clearance to the UK with a Family Visitor Visa, applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to support themselves and their dependents while in the UK, or that they have a sponsor (usually a UK based family member) will pay for them.

However, there is currently no set minimum amount of funds that Visitor Visa applicants must demonstrate – which can make the declaration of finances somewhat tricky. Instead, they must be able to prove that they can cover all expenses during their time in the UK. The costs include, but are by no means limited to:

• Travel to the UK and returning to their home country
• Food and drink throughout the stay
• Accommodation throughout the stay
• Any activities planned in the UK
• Dependents living while in the UK.

While the financial limits are not set, it is generally recommended that applicants have access to at least £100+ per day. This is based on an estimate of between £70-£100 for accommodation and £10-30 for food and drink.

If a UK based family member is acting as a sponsor for a visitor, they will need to provide:

• Proof of regular income
• Bank statements demonstrating immediate access to sufficient funds for the trip
• A letter of support for the applicant’s visit to the UK
• A solvency certificate
• Papers proving ownership of fixed assets
• An affidavit declaring their intention for financial sponsorship.

Applicants for Family Visitor Visas demonstrate their eligibility by producing various documents alongside their visa application form.

The application may require the visiting family member and the UK-based relative to support documents to show the reason for the visit and that there is no intention to remain in the country after the visitor visa expires.

The applicant may need to submit:

• A valid passport
• 2x passport photos
• Proof of intention to return to their home country (usually a flight reservation or demonstration of reason to return – a job, studies, or family members)
• Proof of access to sufficient funds or a sponsor to financially support the visit to the UK
• Proof of an accommodation reservation or a letter from a family member or friend offering their residence as a place to stay
• Proof of the relationship between the applicant and the family member or friend already in the UK.

The UK-based family member/sponsor may need to provide:

• Evidence they are willing to support the visiting family member during their time in the UK
• Proof of an accommodation reservation or a letter showing they are offering their residence as a place to stay
• Proof of the relationship with the applicant

If documents are not in English or Welsh, they must be accompanied by a legally certified translation.

It is important to submit strong evidence otherwise the application may be rejected or refused. Submitting the wrong documents can also lead to delays if the Home Office need to request further information. For more details on the required paperwork, speak to Total Law on +44 (0) 333 305 9375.

What if My UK Family Visitor Visa Application is Refused?

If the Home Office refused your UK Family Visitor Visa application you will receive a letter explaining the reason(s) why your application has been unsuccessful.

Without a visitor visa you will not be able to come to the UK to see your family members and it could mean missing those special events with loved ones.

There are also other issues that may arise if you have your visa application refused as it could also make applying for another UK visa more difficult. In addition, you may find it harder to be granted access to other countries such as the US and Canada due to many governments sharing immigration data. This is very likely to be the case if you are found to have lied or mislead immigration officials on your application.

However, a refusal does not normally prevent you from applying again but in many cases it is advisable to make sure your first application is strong and follows all the requirements so it is approved without issue. It also means you do not need to pay the application fee again

Call us on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 now if you are considering re-applying, appeal the decision or making that first application.

Can I Appeal Visa Refusal?

It is not possible to appeal a Visitor Visa decision in the same way as other UK visas as it is a short-term visa. However, depending on the reasons for refusal, you may be able to:

• Submit a judicial review
• Reapply with updated or additional evidence
• Appeal based on human rights

If you wish to understand why you have been refused and what your options are then call us on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 to receive personalised advice.

Reasons for a Family Visitor Visa Refusal

There are various reasons why your application may be refused including:

Long-Term Visit Visa Options for the UK (2, 5 and 10 Years)

If you are planning to visit family in the UK on a regular basis then it may be more appropriate to apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa valid for 2, 5 or 10 years.

With a long-term visitor visa it means you can enter the UK more than once. However, it does not mean you can stay longer on each visit, you must not stay longer than 6 months and you must continue to meet the requirements for the visa.

The UK Family Visitor visa application fee is generally not refundable if the application is refused. However, if you withdraw/cancel the application before UKVI has started processing it, you may be eligible for a refund. If you have already provided your fingerprints and photograph, the application fee will usually not be refunded.

A refusal can mean losing the application fee and having to pay again for a new application. So, checking everything carefully before pressing “submit” can save both money and time.

On average is takes three weeks to receive a decision on a UK Family Visitor Visa application.

Priority services are available depend on from which country you apply. For an additional £500, a decision will be made within five working days. For an additional £1000, a decision will be made by the end of the next working day after application.

Applicants may apply for a Family Visitor Visa no sooner than three months before their intended departure date.