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
• See family and/or 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.

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.

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; either as
  • Spouse or civil partner
  • Father, mother, child or sibling
  • Grandparent or grandchild
  • The father, mother or sibling of a spouse or civil partner
  • The spouse or civil partner of a child
  • Stepparent or step-sibling
  • An unmarried partner with they have been living with in a genuine and subsisting relationship, like marriage or civil partnership, for at least a two year period prior to the application.

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. These include:

• 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.

If documents are not in English or Welsh, they must be accompanied by a legally certified translation. For more details on accredited translation facilities, speak to Total Law on +44 (0) 333 305 9375.

The Family Visitor Visa application fee is £127 per applicant, to be paid at the time of the filing of the online application form.

This cost is non-refundable in the event of a visa refusal.

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

Priority services are available. 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.