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UK Family Visa — Parent, Child & Dependant Routes, Fees & How to Apply in 2026

Complete guide to the UK Family visa for parents, children, and adult dependants. Learn about requirements, fees (£1,846), processing times, financial thresholds, and application steps.

Overview

The UK Family visa allows you to join close family members who are British citizens or have settled status (indefinite leave to remain) in the United Kingdom. While the spouse/partner route is covered separately, the Family visa encompasses several other important routes: the parent route, the child route, and the adult dependent relative route.

Each route has its own specific requirements, but they share the same application fee and general framework under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules.

Family visa routes

Parent of a British or settled child

This route is for parents who want to live in the UK to be close to their child. You may qualify if:

  • Your child is under 18 and is a British citizen or has settled status
  • You have sole parental responsibility for the child, or
  • You have a court order granting access rights to the child, or
  • The child normally lives with you and you play an active role in their upbringing

You must meet the financial requirement of £29,000 per year and the English language requirement at CEFR level A1. The initial visa is granted for 2 years and 9 months, with a path to settlement after 5 years.

Child of a British or settled parent

Children under 18 can apply to join their parent in the UK if:

  • At least one parent is a British citizen or has settled status, or has limited leave as a partner or parent
  • The child will be adequately maintained and accommodated without recourse to public funds
  • There are satisfactory arrangements for the child’s care and upbringing in the UK

For children applying to join a parent who holds a visa (rather than a British citizen), additional rules apply regarding the parent’s immigration status and the child’s relationship to them.

Adult dependent relative

This is the most restrictive family route. It allows elderly or incapacitated relatives to join family in the UK, but the requirements are extremely stringent:

  • The applicant must be a parent, grandparent, brother, or sister aged 18 or over
  • They must require long-term personal care to perform everyday tasks due to age, illness, or disability
  • The care they need must be unavailable or unaffordable in their country of residence
  • Their UK-based family member must be able to maintain and accommodate them without public funds

Unlike other family routes, a successful adult dependent relative application grants indefinite leave to remain immediately — there is no probationary period. However, approval rates are very low, and you should consider obtaining professional legal advice before applying.

Financial requirement

The minimum income threshold for family visas is £29,000 per year, consistent with the spouse visa route. This can be met through:

  • Employment income — demonstrated through payslips and an employer letter covering at least 6 months
  • Self-employment income — evidenced by tax returns for the most recent full financial year
  • Cash savings — savings above £16,000 held for at least 6 months, calculated using the formula: (savings - £16,000) ÷ 2.5 = annual income equivalent
  • Combination — you can combine income sources to meet the threshold

The adult dependent relative route does not have a set income threshold but requires evidence that the applicant can be maintained without public funds.

English language requirement

The English language requirement applies to the parent route only:

Application stageRequired level
Initial applicationCEFR A1 (basic)
ExtensionCEFR A2 (elementary)
Settlement (ILR)CEFR B1 (intermediate)

You are exempt if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country, hold a degree taught in English, or have a disability preventing you from meeting the requirement. Child applicants and adult dependent relatives are not required to meet the English language test.

Path to settlement

Family visa holders on the parent and child routes follow the same settlement timeline as the spouse route:

StageDuration
Initial visa2 years 9 months
Extension2 years 6 months
ILR applicationAfter 5 years total
British citizenship1 year after ILR

To qualify for indefinite leave to remain, you must demonstrate continuous lawful residence, meet the financial and English language requirements at the time of application, and pass the Life in the UK test.

Rights and restrictions

While on a Family visa, you can:

  • Work without restrictions (parent and child routes)
  • Study at any institution
  • Access the NHS (covered by your IHS payment)
  • Travel freely in and out of the UK

You cannot claim most public funds (welfare benefits) during your initial visa period. Access to certain benefits becomes available only after you are granted indefinite leave to remain.

How to Apply

  1. 1

    Determine your eligible route

    Identify which family visa category applies to you: parent of a British/settled child, child of a British/settled parent, or adult dependent relative. Each route has different requirements.

  2. 2

    Check you meet the requirements

    Confirm you meet the financial requirement (£29,000 income for parent route), English language requirement, and accommodation requirement. For the adult dependent relative route, gather medical evidence.

  3. 3

    Gather your documents

    Collect all supporting evidence including relationship proof (birth certificates, court orders), financial documents, accommodation evidence, and any medical or care needs documentation.

  4. 4

    Apply online and pay fees

    Complete the online application on gov.uk. Pay the application fee (£1,846) and Immigration Health Surcharge (£1,035 per year). Priority processing is available for an additional £1,000.

  5. 5

    Attend your biometrics appointment

    Book and attend an appointment at a visa application centre to provide your fingerprints and photograph. Bring your passport and all original documents.

  6. 6

    Submit supporting documents

    Upload supporting documents through the online portal or submit them at your visa application centre. Ensure all non-English documents have certified translations.

  7. 7

    Wait for a decision

    Standard processing takes around 12 weeks from the date of your biometrics appointment. Priority processing delivers a decision in approximately 5 working days for an additional £1,000.

  8. 8

    Receive your visa and travel to the UK

    If approved, you'll receive a vignette in your passport valid for 90 days. After arriving in the UK, collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) from a specified Post Office within 10 days.

Fees

Fee type Amount
Application fee £1,846
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) £1,035
Priority processing £1,000
Total £3,881

Eligibility Requirements

  • You must be applying to join a family member who is a British citizen or has settled status (indefinite leave to remain) in the UK
  • You must fall into an eligible category: parent of a British/settled child, child of a British/settled parent, or adult dependent relative
  • You must meet the minimum income requirement of £29,000 per year (for parent and child routes)
  • You must meet the English language requirement at CEFR level A1 for initial applications (parent route)
  • You must demonstrate that you will be adequately accommodated in the UK without recourse to public funds
  • You must not have any unspent criminal convictions or be a threat to public safety
  • For the adult dependent relative route, you must demonstrate that you require long-term personal care due to illness, disability, or age

Required Documents

  • Valid passport or travel document
  • Evidence of your relationship to your family member in the UK (birth certificates, adoption papers, or court orders)
  • Evidence of the financial requirement (payslips, bank statements, tax returns for the last 6 months or more)
  • Proof of English language ability (test certificate or exempt nationality) — parent route only
  • Proof of adequate accommodation in the UK
  • Evidence of sole parental responsibility or access rights (for parent of a child route)
  • Medical evidence of care needs (for adult dependent relative route)
  • Tuberculosis (TB) test results (if applying from a listed country)
  • Two passport-sized photographs
  • Any previous immigration documents or correspondence with the Home Office

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a UK Family visa cost in 2026?
The Family visa application fee is £1,846. You also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per year. For an initial 2.5-year visa, the total IHS cost is £2,587.50, bringing the minimum total cost to approximately £4,433.50. Priority processing adds £1,000. The adult dependent relative route has the same application fee but different IHS rules.
What is the financial requirement for a Family visa?
For the parent route, the sponsoring family member must show a minimum income of £29,000 per year. This can be met through employment, self-employment, cash savings above £16,000, or a combination. The adult dependent relative route does not have a minimum income requirement but must show the applicant can be maintained without public funds.
Can I apply as the parent of a British child?
Yes, if you are the parent of a child who is a British citizen or has settled status in the UK, and you have either sole parental responsibility or access rights to the child, you may be eligible for the family visa parent route. You must also meet the financial requirement, English language requirement, and other conditions.
What is the adult dependent relative route?
This route allows elderly parents or grandparents to join family in the UK if they require long-term personal care due to age, illness, or disability that cannot be adequately provided in their home country. It is one of the most difficult visa categories to obtain, with a very high refusal rate, as applicants must demonstrate that care is unavailable or unaffordable in their country of residence.
Can I work on a Family visa?
Yes, Family visa holders on the parent and child routes have full work rights in the UK. You can take any job, be self-employed, or start a business. There are no restrictions on the type of employment or working hours.
How long does a Family visa last and can I get settlement?
The initial Family visa is typically granted for 2 years and 9 months. You can then apply for an extension of 2.5 years. After 5 years of continuous lawful residence on the family route, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain (settlement). The adult dependent relative route grants indefinite leave to remain immediately upon approval.