If you have family members in the UK and wish to join them, applying for a UK family visa from India is the appropriate step. This visa allows you to live with your spouse, partner, child, parent, or other close family members who are settled in the UK.
This guide will briefly explain the general requirements that must be met to apply for a family visa.
Written by Beryl Gao
Types of UK Family Visas
Depending on your relationship with your family member in the UK, you can apply for one of the following types of family visas:
1. Spouse or Partner Visa: For married couples, civil partners, or those in a long-term relationship.
2. Fiancé(e) Visa: For those planning to marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within six months.
3. Parent Visa: For parents of children who are British citizens or settled in the UK.
4. Child Visa: For children whose parent(s) are British citizens or have settled status.
5. Adult Dependent Relative Visa: For adults who need long-term care from a family member in the UK.
General Requirements
To qualify for a UK family visa, you need to meet several basic criteria:
- Relationship Proof: Provide evidence of your relationship with the UK-based family member, such as a marriage or birth certificate.
- Intent to Live Together: Demonstrate your intention to live together in the UK on a permanent basis.
- Adequate Accommodation: Show that suitable accommodation is arranged for you and your family in the UK.
- Genuine Relationship: Prove that your relationship with the UK-based family member is genuine and subsisting.
- Good Character: You should not have a history of criminal activities or breaches of UK immigration laws.
Financial Requirements
One of the key requirements for a UK family visa is demonstrating that you and your sponsoring family member can financially support yourselves without relying on public funds. Here are the financial thresholds you need to meet:
Applications after 11 April 2024
If you first apply for a family visa as a spouse or partner after 11 April 2024, you need to meet one of the following criteria:
- Have a minimum income: Applicants must meet a minimum income requirement of at least £29,000.
- Have cash savings: Applicants must have a minimum cash savings requirement of at least £88,500.
- Use a combination of both: Applicants can use a combination of both income and cash savings to meet the requirements. The formula to calculate the amount of cash savings needed for a UK family visa is Cash Savings Required = (Annual Shortfall x 2.5) + £16,000
Applications before 11 April 2024
If you applied as a spouse before 11 April 2024 and are extending your visa with the same partner, you need to meet one of the following criteria:
- Have a minimum income: Applicants must meet a minimum income requirement of at least 18,600.
- Have cash savings: Applicants must have a minimum cash savings requirement of at least £62,500.
- Use a combination of both: Applicants can use a combination of both income and cash savings to meet the requirements. The formula to calculate the amount of cash savings needed for a UK family visa is Cash Savings Required = (Annual Shortfall x 2.5) + £16,000
If you have children, you must prove you have extra income unless the children:
- Are British or Irish citizens
- Have pre-settled status
- Are permanently settled in the UK
For other children, the additional income required is:
- £3,800 a year for the first child
- £2,400 a year for each additional child
The maximum income requirement is capped at £29,000, regardless of the number of children.
Exemptions: Some applicants may be exempt from the financial requirement if the UK sponsor is receiving specific disability benefits or carer’s allowance.
What counts as income?
- Income from employment before tax and National Insurance
- Income earned from self-employment or as a director of a limited company in the UK
- Cash savings
- Money from a pension
- Non-work income, for example from property rentals or dividends
Knowledge of English
Indian nationals aged 18 to 65 are required to demonstrate knowledge of the English language. You can meet this requirement in one of the following ways:
- English Language Test: Pass an approved English language test at A1 level or higher in speaking and listening. Tests are usually conducted by recognized providers such as IELTS or Pearson. If you pass level B1, you can use your test result again when you apply for settlement after 5 years.
- Academic Qualification: Hold an academic qualification (such as a degree) that was taught or researched in English and is recognized by UK NARIC as equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree or higher.
Some applicants are exempt from the English language requirement if they are applying as an adult coming to be cared for by a relative or have a physical or mental condition that prevents them from meeting the requirement.
Application Process
Once your application has been submitted, you will need to schedule an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) in India for your biometrics. You will need to provide your fingerprints and photograph. You will not be able to submit further documents after your biometrics have been submitted and your application will be under consideration.
The standard processing time for a UK family visa application submitted from outside the UK is 12 weeks. However, you can choose the ‘priority service’ to get a faster decision which usually get a decision within 30 working days for Family visa applications from outside the UK.
Upon approval, you will receive a vignette(sticker) in your passport, allowing you to travel to the UK. You must collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) before your vignette expires or within 10 days of arriving in the UK, whichever is the later.
All BRPs now expire on or before 31 December 2024. You do not need to tell the Home Office if your BRP expires on 31 December 2024 and you will be able to use an eVisa to travel to the UK in the future. Please contact Lisa’s Law Solicitors if you need any assistance with eVisa.
UK Application Visa Centres in India
In India, there are multiple Visa Application Centres where you can submit your biometrics and collect your entry clearance vignette. There are 29 UK Visa Application Centres in India, and some key locations include:
- New Delhi
- Mumbai
- Chennai
- Bangalore
- Hyderabad
- Kolkata
- Pune
- Ahmedabad
These centres are managed by VFS Global, the official partner for UK visa services in India. You can find your nearest location, opening hours and centre information on the VFS website. The link is https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/gbr/attend-centre
How many Indian migrants come to the UK?
Of the 1,218,000 who came to the UK in 2023, 10% (126,000) were EU nationals. This is similar to the 2022 total of 116,000. (BBC News)
About 85% (1,031,000) came from outside the EU. The top five non-EU nationalities were:
- Indian – 250,000
- Nigerian – 141,000
- Chinese – 90,000
- Pakistani – 83,000
- Zimbabwean – 36,000
Home Office statistics show that nearly 80,000 family-related visas were granted, in the year ending March 2024, an increase of 22% on the previous year.
Common Reasons for Refusal
To avoid delays or rejection, be aware of common reasons for family visa refusals:
- Incomplete or inaccurate information in the application.
- Insufficient evidence of a genuine relationship.
- Failing to meet the financial or English language requirements.
- Missing or expired supporting documents.
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