VisaBuddy › UK routes › Family visa (partner or spouse) (United Kingdom)
Family visa (partner or spouse) (United Kingdom)
✓ Checked against GOV.UK on 2026-07-13
According to the official guidance, a family visa is needed to live with a family member in the UK for more than 6 months. The published criteria state that this visa covers people joining a spouse or partner, fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner, child, parent, or a relative who will provide long-term care. The official guidance states that people visiting the UK for 6 months or less should check whether a Standard Visitor visa or Marriage Visitor visa applies instead.
Key requirements, as officially published
You can apply for a family visa to live with your: spouse or partner; fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner; child; parent; relative who’ll provide long-term care for you.Source: https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa You cannot apply for a family visa if your family member is in the UK temporarily on a work visa or student visa. You can apply to stay with them as a dependant instead.Source: https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa You’ll usually need to leave the UK to apply for a family visa if either: you have permission to be in the UK as a visitor; your visa is for 6 months or less.Source: https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa However, you might be able to switch to a family visa in the UK if you have either: a 6-month family visa as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner; permission to stay in the UK for the outcome of a family court case or divorce.Source: https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa For adults needing care by a relative where the relative has temporary protection status, the fee is £452 when applying from outside the UK.Source: https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa For adults needing care by a relative where the relative has temporary protection status, the fee is £1,407 when applying from inside the UK.Source: https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa If you came to the UK on a different visa, you might be able to switch to a family visa to stay with your: spouse or partner; child; parent. You can switch at any time before your current permission to stay in the UK expires.Source: https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa You can apply to extend your stay with your family member if you’re already in the UK on a family visa. You can extend at any time before your current permission to stay in the UK expires.Source: https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa Official sources
Information checked against the official pages linked above on 2026-07-13. Requirements can change. Check the official links for the current version.
Common questions
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