Family Visit Visa
A family visit visa, also known as a standard visitor visa, allows you to visit your family in the UK for up to 6 months.
To apply, you must meet specific eligibility criteria and provide supporting documentation.
What documents do I need to submit with my Family Visit Visa application?
Can I include my family members in my Family Visit Visa application?
Can I travel to other countries while my Family Visit Visa application is being processed?
What should I expect during the Family Visit Visa application process?
What should I do if I have urgent travel plans and need a Family Visit Visa quickly?
How can a solicitor help with a Family Visit Visa application?
At Lawhive, our network of experienced immigration lawyers is on hand to help you through each step of the process, increasing your chances of success.
Contact us today for a free case evaluation and quote for the services of a specialist immigration lawyer.
What is a family visit visa?
If you're visiting the UK to see family, there is no specific family visit visa.
Instead, you must apply for a standard visitor visa.
To do this, you must be able to prove:
You’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit;
You’re able to support yourself and your dependants during your trip (or have funding from someone else to support you);
You’re able to pay for your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else to pay for the journey);
You’ll not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home.
Permitted activities include:
Tourism;
Visiting family or friends;
Volunteering for up to 30 days with a registered charity;
Passing through the UK to another country (‘in transit);
Certain business activities, for example, attending a meeting or interview
Certain paid engagements or events (a ‘permitted paid engagement’) as an expert in your profession, for example, to give lectures or perform;
Taking part in a school exchange programme;
Undertaking a recreational course of up to 30 days, for example, a dance course.
The visa typically allows for a stay of up to six months, but it does not permit the holder to work, study, live in the UK for long periods through frequent visits, marry, or access public funds during their visit.
How to apply for a family visit visa
To apply for a Family Visit Visa, you must complete an online application on the UK government website.
In this application, you will need to provide personal details, the purpose of your visit, and information about your family in the UK.
You must also submit supporting documents, including proof of your relationship with the family member, evidence of sufficient funds, and your travel plans. Additionally, you will need to attend a biometric appointment to provide your fingerprints and photograph.
Preparing a strong Family Visit Visa application
For a successful family visit visa application, you will need to provide:
A valid passport with at least one blank page;
The dates you’re planning to travel to the UK;
Proof of relationship to the UK sponsor, such as birth or marriage certificates;
Financial evidence showing sufficient funds for the trip, like bank statements or pay slips;
Accommodation details for where you will be staying in the UK;
Travel history for the past 10 years;
Details of any criminal, civil, or immigration offences.
When you submit your application, you will need to book an appointment at a visa application centre which could be in another country, so allow good time to do this.
At this appointment, you will need to be able to prove your identity with your passport, or travel document, have your fingerprints and photograph taken (biometric information), and provide the documents discussed earlier.
The centre might keep your passport and documents while they process your application, so plan for this to happen. You will then normally get a decision within 3 weeks.
Remember, submitting an accurate and complete application is vital. Incomplete or inaccurate information can lead to delays or refusals.
So, make sure all sections of the application are filled out correctly and all required documents are included. Plus, certified translations should be provided for any documents not in English or Welsh.
Family Visit Visa refusals and appeals
Visa refusals often happen because of insufficient evidence of financial stability, unclear travel intentions, or lack of proof of genuine relationship ties. Incomplete or inaccurate applications and failure to demonstrate strong ties to the home country can also lead to rejections.
If your application is refused, you will get a letter or email telling you why it was refused, and your passport will be sent back to you. In the letter, it will explain whether you have the right to:
Administrative review
Immigration decision appeal
If you can appeal, you have 28 days to do so after getting your decision. If you apply after the deadline, you will need to say why, and a tribunal will decide if they can still hear your appeal.
You should review the refusal notice before applying and gather as many additional supporting documents to address the highlighted issues.
You should clarify any financial capabilities, strengthen relationship evidence, and provide detailed plans showing your intent to return home.
You will have to use the online service to do this, as well as ask for a hearing and get the decision on your appeal.
You can apply for post, fax, or email by using either a form IAFT-5, an IAFT-6, or an IAFT-7.
Here at Lawhive, our network of immigration solicitors offers expert assistance in challenging visa refusals.
Our team will help review the refusal reasons, gather additional evidence, and prepare strong appeal cases.
We represent clients in appeal proceedings, ensuring professional support and higher chances of success.