Family Visit Visa: Bring Your Family to the UK
We guide you through the UK’s Family Visit Visa route, so reunions with your loved ones stay on track
A Family Visit Visa lets an overseas relative — a spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, in-law, aunt, uncle, cousin or child — travel to the UK to see you for up to six months. It is issued under the UK’s single Standard Visitor visa route (Appendix V of the Immigration Rules), costs £135 for a standard six-month visit, and is refused most often for weak evidence of genuine ties, insufficient funds, or an unclear intention to leave the UK. Our London immigration solicitors prepare Family Visit Visa applications and reapplications for clients across the UK and overseas, from our High Holborn and Upton Park offices.
Who Can You Visit on a Family Visit Visa?
There is no longer a restricted list of “eligible relatives.” Since the Family Visitor category was absorbed into the general Standard Visitor visa, you can apply to visit any genuine family member, including:
| Relationship | Eligible? |
|---|---|
| Spouse or civil partner | Yes |
| Parents, step-parents, parents-in-law | Yes |
| Grandparents, grandchildren | Yes |
| Children (including adult children), stepchildren | Yes |
| Siblings, step-siblings, half-siblings | Yes |
| Aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins | Yes |
| Close friends (no family relationship required) | Yes, under the same route |
Note: if you plan to marry or register a civil partnership during your visit, you need a Marriage Visitor visa instead, not a Family Visit Visa. If you’re joining a partner or spouse to live in the UK long-term rather than visit, see our Spouse/Partner Visa page. If your child is joining a parent already settled in the UK rather than visiting temporarily, see Child Visa to Join Parents.
Family Visit Visa Eligibility Requirements
To qualify, you must show:
- You are a genuine visitor who intends to leave the UK at the end of your stay and will not try to live here through repeated visits
- You can financially support yourself (and any dependants) for the whole trip without working or claiming public funds
- You have enough money for return or onward travel
- You have a genuine relationship with the family member you’re visiting, evidenced by documentation (see below)
You must be able to show ties to your home country — employment, property, or family there — that support your intention to return.
Documents and Evidence You'll Need
From you (the applicant):
- A valid passport or travel document covering your intended stay
- Bank statements or payslips (typically the last 3–6 months) showing sufficient funds
- Evidence of your relationship to your UK-based family member — birth or marriage certificates, photos, call/message history, past visits
- Evidence of ties to your home country (employment letter, property documents, dependants remaining behind)
- Return or onward travel booking, or evidence you can afford one
From your UK-based sponsor (recommended, not always mandatory):
- An invitation letter confirming the relationship, purpose and dates of your visit, and their address in the UK
- Their own bank statements or payslips if they’re contributing to your costs
- A copy of their passport, visa, or residence permit confirming their status in the UK
Any documents not in English or Welsh must be professionally translated before submission.
Family Visit Visa Fees and Duration (2026)
| Visa type | Fee | Maximum stay |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Visitor visa (family visit) | £135 | Up to 6 months |
| Visiting for medical treatment | £234 | Up to 11 months |
| Long-term multiple-entry visa — 2 years | £506 | 6 months per visit |
| Long-term multiple-entry visa — 5 years | £903 | 6 months per visit |
| Long-term multiple-entry visa — 10 years | £1,128 | 6 months per visit |
You can apply up to 3 months before you travel, and a decision is typically given within 3 weeks of your biometric appointment (priority and super-priority services are available for an extra fee where offered in your country). If you visit family regularly, a 2, 5 or 10-year visa can save you reapplying every trip — see our Visit Visa UK guide for a full breakdown of the Standard Visitor route.
How to Apply for a Family Visit Visa
- Gather your documents — passport, financial evidence, relationship evidence, invitation letter
- Complete the online application on the GOV.UK visa service and pay the fee
- Book and attend a biometric appointment at your local visa application centre
- Wait for a decision — usually within 3 weeks
- Travel once your visa is issued, keeping evidence of your onward/return travel to hand for UK Border Force
Our solicitors review your application and evidence bundle before submission to catch the gaps that most commonly trigger a refusal.
Common Reasons a Family Visit Visa Is Refused
- Insufficient or unexplained bank funds
- Weak or inconsistent evidence of the family relationship
- No clear evidence of an intention to leave the UK
- Inconsistent information across the application and supporting documents
- Previous UK immigration breaches or overstays
If your visa is refused: a Standard Visitor visa refusal carries no general right of appeal (removed for this category since the Crime and Courts Act 2013, s.52). Your options are usually to reapply with stronger evidence, or, in narrow cases, to argue the decision breaches your human rights (Article 8) or to seek a judicial review if the decision itself was unlawful. Our solicitors advise on which route gives you the best chance of a successful outcome — see our Immigration Appeals and Judicial Review pages for more detail.
Why Choose Adam Bernard Solicitors for Your Family Visit Visa
Adam Bernard Solicitors has advised over 15,000 clients across 15 years, from offices in High Holborn (Central London) and Upton Park (East London). Our SRA-regulated immigration solicitors:
- Offer a free initial consultation to review your circumstances before you commit
- Are available 24/7 by phone, with video consultations via Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp or Skype
- Prepare tailored evidence bundles rather than generic applications
- Advise on reapplication and appeal strategy if you’ve already been refused
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I visit family in the UK without an invitation letter?
How much money do I need for a Family Visit Visa?
Can I work while visiting family on this visa?
How long can I stay on a Family Visit Visa?
What if I want to visit my partner rather than a parent or sibling?
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Our Clients Share Their Success Stories.
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