UK Visas

When applying for a Family Visa, you should consider the most appropriate visa for your individual circumstances.

Adult Visas: You may be eligible to apply for an Adult Visa if you are over 18 years old and meet the eligibility criteria. You should be able to demonstrate your relationship to a British citizen (or person with settled status). This relationship could be that of a sibling, parent, grandparent, or child

Child Visas: If a parent coming to the UK with a visa intends to bring a dependent child, this child must also hold a valid visa. Dependent children must be below a certain age to qualify.

Dependent Relative Visas: An adult in need of care may apply for the Dependent Relative Visa. They must be seeking care from a UK national or person with settled status in the UK. There are additional financial requirements in order to be granted this UK visa

Ancestry Visas: In some circumstances, eligible Commonwealth citizens or those with British ancestry may apply for an Ancestry Visa

It is also possible for family members to apply for the EEA Family Permit. This is an immigration permission that enables family members of an EU, EEA, Swiss, or Northern Irish person resident in the UK. The two permits: the EU Settlement Scheme family permit and the EEA family permit.

All UK visas are issued under strict conditions. The visa holder must meet eligibility criteria and abide by any restrictions outlined with the visa.

Further, visa applications can be costly and complex. We recommend engaging the services of a qualified immigration lawyer to maximise your chances of application success.

There are three main UK visas within the Partner and Spouse Visa categories: Spouse, Unmarried Partner and Fiancé(e).

If you wish to apply for a visa to come to the UK and live with your spouse or proposed civil partner, your partner must be a British citizen or have a recognised settled status. Both partners must intend to live permanently together in the UK in order to be eligible for these visa categories.

One of the following visa categories may apply to your situation:

Spouse Visa: If you are legally married to a British citizen and wish to join them in the UK

Unmarried Partner Visa: If you have a ‘de facto’ relationship with a British citizen and meet certain eligibility visa requirements and wish to join your partner in the UK

Fiancé(e) Visa: If you and your partner plan to be married or enter into a civil partnership within 6 months of coming to the UK

As with all visa categories, there are eligibility rules in place outlining who may apply for a Spouse or Partner Visa.

It is required that the visa applicants demonstrate that their relationship is ‘genuine and subsisting,’ that they have only one partner, that they intend to live together permanently in the United Kingdom, and that they can provide evidence of financial independence.

Applying for a Partner or Spouse Visa can be a lengthy visa process, requiring significant amounts of documentation to be provided. It is recommended that an experienced immigration lawyer assists with an immigration case and provide expert advice to increase the chances of a successful visa application.

The business visas are for highly skilled or sought-after business leaders. Below are the business visa categories:

Start-Up/ Innovator route (formerly Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa)

This is suitable for entrepreneurs bringing a scalable business to the UK. Applicants with a first-time business idea should apply for the Start-Up visa. People with industry expertise, a solid business plan, and funding of £50,000 should apply for the Innovator route.

Investor Visa

The Investor route is open to high-net-worth individuals who have the ability to invest a minimum of £2 million into the UK. There are eligibility requirements related to this visa.  Eligible candidates may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years of residence (or sooner, depending on the value of their investment).

Global Talent route (formerly Tier 1 Exceptional Talent)

For EU and non-EU citizens, the Global Talent route was created to welcome recognised leaders in the fields of science, humanities, arts, engineering, and digital technology to the UK. Applicants should be endorsed by a UK industry representative body.

The UK work visas have been designed for people who are skilled workers seeking to work on a long-term basis in the UK.

Skilled worker route (formerly Tier 2 General)

The Skilled Worker route is open to EU or non-EU citizens. An applicant should have an official job offer from an approved sponsor. This organisation must hold a valid sponsor licence. The job should be at the appropriate skill level for the person’s expertise and background. They must have English language abilities of B1 level or higher. Under the points-based visa system, an applicant must obtain 70 points to be eligible.

Intra-Company Transfer route (formerly Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer)

The Intra-Company Transfer route has been designed for workers within multinational organisations seeking to transfer workers across subsidiary branches in the UK. The applicant should be employed by the business for a minimum of 12 months. For Intra-Company Graduate Trainees, they should be employed by the business for a minimum of three months before the intended transfer.

Minister of Religion Visa

The Minister of Religion route is available for eligible applicants who have been offered a position within a faith community and by a licensed sponsor within the UK.

Sportsperson Visa

A person may apply for a Sportsperson Visa if they are an elite sportsperson or qualified coach with a recognised level of achievement. As well as other eligibility criteria, applicants must show that the governing body of the sport endorses the application and the role will result in the development of the sport in the UK.

Graduate route

The Graduate route is suitable for international students who are in possession of a valid Student Visa or is a student who has completed an undergraduate degree or higher at a UK institution. The route was launched in the summer of 2021.

The study visas have been designed for people who wish to study in the UK. The main routes are for students over the age of 17 and a Child Student Visa for children aged between 4-17 years old.

Student Visa (formerly Tier 4 General)

The UK Student visa is a point-based route for eligible students. In order to be granted this status, applicants should provide evidence of acceptance on a valid course of study, minimum financial requirements and minimum English language level requirements.

A successful applicant to the Student Visa will need to submit the following:

• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies document issued by the licensed sponsor (approved educational institute)
• Evidence of the ability to live independently without recourse to public funds
• Fees for the application and the immigration health surcharge

Child Student Visa

A child aged between 4-17 years who is from an EU, EEA or non-EEA country may apply for a Child Study Visa if they have been accepted to a full-time course of study at a valid independent school in the UK.

An application to the Child Student Visa should evidence the following:

• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies document issued by an approved independent school
• Proof of parental consent
• Evidence of paid course fees and maintenance ability

This visa type has been designed for temporary workers. There are a number of different temporary worker visas included in the Temporary Worker Visa category.

Temporary Worker – Charity Worker Visa

This UK visa type is for eligible applicants who want to do unpaid, voluntary work on behalf of a charity

Temporary Worker – Creative and Sporting Visa

If you have been offered employment as a sportsperson or creative worker and meet specific eligibility criteria, you may apply for this visa

Temporary Worker – Government Authorised Exchange Visa

Applicants to this visa may apply if they wish to come to the United Kingdom on a temporary basis for work experience, training, an Overseas Government Language Programme, research or an approved fellowship.

Temporary Worker – International Agreement Worker Visa

This visa category has been designed for eligible individuals coming to the UK to undertake work that is permitted under international law or treaty. This includes some work on behalf of a foreign government, a worker in a diplomatic household or a contracted service supplier.

Temporary Worker – Religious Worker Visa

If you wish to come to the UK to undertake religious work in a non-pastoral role or religious order. There are other eligibility requirements that you must meet.

Temporary Worker – Seasonal Worker Visa

This category of visa is for those who wish to come to the UK for the purposes of farm work. An applicant is required to have an approved sponsor and meet all eligibility requirements.

Youth Mobility Scheme (formerly Tier 5 Youth Mobility)

The Youth Mobility Scheme is a temporary visa designed for young people (aged between 18-30) who live in an eligible exchange country. It has been designed to facilitate cultural exchange, as well as work and travel opportunities for up to two years.

The rules surrounding visitors to the UK are generally broad and allow for a number of permitted activities. In general, visitors are allowed to stay for up to six months and are allowed to leave and re-enter during that time.

Visitors are not permitted to work, access public funds, or study in the UK for more than 30 days. Any person may apply for a Visitor Visa. You should be able to evidence the following:

• Proof that you plan to leave the UK after your trip
• Enough money to support yourself financially during the trip

Standard Visitor Visa: You may apply for this visa if you plan to visit the UK for the purposes of tourism, some business activities, a short study course, a research or exchange programme, or for medical purposes.

Visitors in Transit Visa: If you plan to change flights in the United Kingdom while in transit to another country, you may need a Visitor in Transit Visa. If you need to pass through UK border control for a connecting flight or have a stopover of 48 hours, you may need to apply for this visa.

Permitted Paid Engagement Visa (PPE): This visa applies to people who have been invited to the UK by a UK-based organisation, meet specific eligibility requirements, or wish to come to the UK to do a specific form of paid work. PPE UK visas lasts for up to one month.

Depending on your individual circumstances, there are a number of other categories of Visitor Visa that may be applicable to your needs. Below are some other forms of Visitor Visas.

Business Visitor Visa: It is possible to enter the UK if you intend to undertake some business activities (for example, attending a meeting or signing a contract). Working or engaging in running a business while in the UK on this visa is not permitted.

Marriage Visitor Visa: Unlike the Spouse, Unmarried Partner or Fiancé(e) Visas, this visa is solely for the purposes of marrying your partner during your visit. You must provide evidence that you intend to leave the UK after your visit.

Short-Term Study Visa: This visa is intended for people who wish to come to the United Kingdom on a short-term English language course lasting between six and eleven months. There are course and eligibility requirements that must be met in order to successfully apply for this visa.

For some people who successfully obtain a UK visa, they may wish to extend the length of their stay with a visa extension. There are requirements and eligibility criteria for who is allowed to extend their stay and it depends on a number of circumstances.

Family Visas: In most cases, if you hold a visa within the Family Visa category, you are likely to be able to extend it past its expiry date. The majority of Family Visas last for at least two and a half years.

Points-based Visas: Holders of a Skilled Worker Visa will need to submit a new application if they wish to continue working in the UK under the following circumstances:

• Change of employer
• Changing employment
• Extending their stay

Visitor Visas: It may be possible to extend your visit to the UK up to a maximum of six months in total. You should apply while still in the United Kingdom. If you entered the UK without the need for a Visitor Visa, you should apply for a visa in order to extend your stay.

For most people who wish to live permanently in the UK, the route will be through the process of indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

This means that holders will be on the path towards settled status and potentially will be eligible for British citizenship. Also, they will not be subject to immigration restrictions; they can work and study in the UK, and travel abroad and re-enter the UK without the need to apply for a visa.

Indefinite Leave to Remain

In general, these are the requirements for indefinite leave to remain:

• Residence in the UK with no criminal record for the qualifying period
• No absences from the UK of over 180 days in the 12 months of the qualifying period
• Life in the UK test certification
• English language abilities of B1 level or higher
• Continuous residence in the UK for five years

If you are granted ILR, you will not need a specific visa in order to work, study, or launch a business. If you qualify, you can apply for British citizenship after one year of holding ILR. If approved, you will hold the same rights as British citizens.

British Citizenship Requirements

For most people, these will be the main criteria for applying for British citizenship:

• Aged over 18 years
• Held ILR for at least 12 months
• Life in the UK test certification
• Record of abiding by all UK immigration rules
• English language abilities of B1 level or higher
• Continuous residence in the UK for a minimum of five years, with no more than 450 days of absence in the qualifying period
• Holds good character