UK Family Reunification Visa

UK Family Reunification Visa Application Process

A family reunification visa is a type of visa that is obtained for the spouse or children of a person who is a permanent resident or a British citizen in the Republic of Turkey to go to the UK and live together. A family reunification visa grants the right to live in the UK for a period longer than 6 months. The family member living in the UK is considered the sponsor of the person applying for the family reunification visa, so they must have sufficient financial resources to cover all accommodation and living expenses in the UK.

Family visas accounted for 4% of UK visa applications in 2020 and 2021; when dependants of other UK visa holders are included, the proportion of family visas rises to approximately 24%.

rsscanadaimmigration.com is an accredited organization that provides consultancy services for the entire process of UK family reunification visa applications made from Turkey and has achieved the highest visa approval rate in the last 5 years with 93.6%.

Who can apply for a UK Family Reunification Visa?

Those who can apply for a UK family reunification visa are listed below.

  • Partner or spouse of a person with UK residence permit or a UK citizen
  • Parents of a UK citizen or person with UK residence permits
  • Children of a UK citizen or person with UK residence permit
  • Elderly, disabled or sick relatives of a UK citizen or UK resident who require long-term care

What are the requirements for family reunification in the UK?

The conditions for settling in the UK within the scope of family reunification are given below.

  • The applicant must prove that his/her relationship with the family members is real with sufficient evidence.
  • Unless there is an application for a child, the person travelling to the UK must be at least 18 years old.
  • After applying for a visa, the person coming to the UK must be willing to live with their relative or spouse in the UK.
  • A person coming to the UK must have suitable accommodation to live in.
  • The person coming to the UK must know English; there is no language requirement for dependent adults.
  • The family member must have adequate financial resources for himself and each of his or her other dependent children.

UK family visas vary in terms of visa fees, visa durations and assessment processes. Each visa type has different requirements depending on the applicant’s background, relationship to relatives and reasons for joining them in the UK. Most family visa applications require proof of relationship to the sponsor, who is a UK spouse or relative.

What are the UK Family Reunification Visa Application Requirements for Spouses?

Within the scope of the UK family reunification visa application requirements for spouses, the relationship with the spouse or partner must have been continuing by living together for at least 2 years or the couple must be engaged to get married or come together as legal partners.

What are the UK Family Reunification Visa Application Requirements for Children?

The requirements for a UK family reunification visa application for children include that the child to be brought to the UK on a family visa must be under the age of 18 and the child’s name must be stated in the application. Visa applications for children must be made separately.

Children who will apply for a family visa must be unmarried, not living separately, and able to cover their living and accommodation expenses without receiving government assistance.

What is the Minimum Income Requirement for a UK Family Reunion Visa?

The minimum income requirement for a UK family reunification visa is £18,600 per year, and if the applicant applies with a child other than themselves, the minimum income requirement increases to £22,400 per year. The minimum income requirement increases by £2,400 for each child after the first.

The table below shows the minimum income requirement for a UK family reunification visa.

Number of childrenAmount of income required
Only spouse£18,600
A spouse with a child£22,400
Wife with 2 children£24,800
Wife with 3 children£27,200

What is the English Language Requirement for Family Reunification in the UK?

English language proficiency for UK family reunification can be demonstrated by a degree or academic qualification from an institution where research is conducted or taught in English, or by a recognised English language exam result.

In the first UK visa application, it is necessary to prove that you have at least A1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, with the UK family reunification exam for English language proficiency.

How to Get a UK Family Reunion Visa?

To obtain a UK family reunification visa, you must first fill out the visa application form online on the UK government website Gov.Uk online application portal, pay the visa application fee and make a visa appointment. The visa documents required for the visa must be prepared by the visa appointment date and on the appointment date, you must go to the visa application center with the documents and complete the document submission and biometric procedures. In addition to submitting the documents in person on the visa appointment day, there is also the option to upload the documents online. Applicants who use the online upload option only need to go to TLS Contact, the intermediary institution, for passport submission and biometric procedures.

For UK family reunification visa applications to be made under the consultancy of rsscanadaimmigration.com, firstly the personal conditions of the applicant and the family member, the necessary visa documents and supporting documents are examined by expert country consultants; if the application is found suitable, the process is started with the document upload and visa appointment procedures.

What are the Required Documents for the UK Family Reunification Visa?

The documents required for the UK family reunification visa are listed below.

  • Passport: A passport that is not older than 10 years, has at least 1 blank page, is valid for 3 months after the return trip, and the photo page and photocopies of previous visas, if any, are required.
  • Biometric photo: 2 biometric photos are required, 35 mm wide, 45 mm long, not older than 6 months, with a clear view of the entire face and a white background.
  • UK family reunification visa application form: The visa application form must be completed online at Gov.Uk, in English, with complete and accurate information.
  • Documents proving the relationship/kinship: Documents proving the genuine relationship between the applicant and the person residing in the UK; marriage certificate for spouses, birth certificate for children, tenancy agreement or joint utility bills for those who are not married.
  • Population registration copy: A fully-certified population registration copy containing information about all family members must be obtained via e-government with a barcode.
  • UK sponsorship form: The family member residing in the UK must complete the SU07 sponsorship form in full.
  • Proof of financial situation: The applicant or family member residing in the UK must provide documentation proving that they can support themselves in the UK, such as bank statements, pay slips or a letter from their employer for the last 6 months.
  • Proof of accommodation: A tenancy agreement, title deed or landlord declaration must be submitted showing where you will be staying in the UK.
  • English language proficiency certificate: Language proficiency at least at A1 level must be proven with an academic education certificate or a language exam result approved by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
  • Criminal record: The applicant must obtain the criminal record via e-government.
  • Documents belonging to the sponsor: A photocopy of the residence permit and passport of the sponsor family member residing in the UK must be prepared.
  • UK visa application fee: The visa application fee must be paid by credit card during the online visa application.

Depending on the relationship and special circumstances between the applicant and the family member residing in the UK, additional documents may be requested in addition to the standard visa documents for visa applications. All documents required for the visa must be fully prepared, contain accurate information, be up-to-date and in English.

The applicant’s ability to provide as much detail as possible about why they want to live in the UK and their relationship with their family member residing in the UK reduces the likelihood of a visa refusal.

What is the Sponsorship Form for Family Reunification in the UK?

The sponsorship form for family reunification in the UK is a form that states that the family member residing in the UK is responsible for the applicant’s livelihood, accommodation and care. The family reunification sponsorship form includes information such as the sponsor’s address, first and last name, date of birth, details of employment, nationality and place of birth.

The image of the UK family reunification sponsorship form is given below.

What are the sponsorship documents required for a UK family visa?

The sponsor documents required for a UK family visa are documents that prove that the sponsor, who is resident in the UK, can meet the needs and care of the applicants for a family visa. The sponsor documents required for UK family reunification include; bank statement, proof of regular income, proof that the sponsor is a British citizen or permanent resident, birth certificates, passport and relevant immigration documents.

How to Get a Population Registration Copy for Family Reunification in the UK?

In the UK, a population registration copy for family reunification is obtained via e-government to provide evidence of kinship between the sponsor and the sponsoring person. The population registration copy must be barcoded or wet-signed, stamped and must be obtained in full document form.

How Much Is the UK Family Visa Application Fee?

The UK family visa application fee is £1,538 and payment is made by credit card during the online visa application.

The cost of a UK family reunification visa for 2024 is an average of 2,120 EUR, including visa application fee, document control, sworn translation service, online document upload and consultancy fee.

How to Get a UK Family Reunification Visa Appointment?

UK family reunification visa appointments can be made for the nearest visa application centre on the UK government website Gov.Uk visa application page. Even if a visa application has been made on behalf of another family member, it is not possible to attend the visa application centre appointment on behalf of another person; applicants must attend the visa application centre appointment in person.

If a visa application is being made for the whole family, the whole family must attend the visa appointment together; however, each applicant must attend separate interviews.

How Long Does It Take to Get a UK Family Reunification Visa?

A UK family reunification visa is issued within an average of 12 weeks after the visa application is made.

How to Track Your UK Family Reunification Visa?

Visa tracking for UK family reunification can be done via TLScontact website after logging in to Gov.Uk address. In order to track the visa, firstly the verification email from Gov.Uk should be opened, ”Sign in to Your Application” option should be clicked and the password should be entered to the system. After logging in to the system, ”Provide Documents and Biometrics” tab should be clicked and the continue option should be selected. Then the system directs the applicant to his/her account and visa tracking can be done from the ‘Track’ software section in this section.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Family Reunification Visa for the UK?

The family reunification visa is granted for 2 years and 9 months for the UK. When the application for the family reunification visa is made as a fiancé, the visa is valid for 6 months. The UK child visa is generally granted for the same period as the accompanying parent’s visa and has the same extension rights.

How to Extend UK Family Reunification Visa?

UK family reunification visa extensions can be made online at Gov.Uk. When applying for a visa extension, the applicant must make an appointment at the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Centre to complete biometrics and submit documents. Visa documents can be uploaded online or submitted in person at the visa appointment.

If a family member requests a visa extension, the application will take at least 8 weeks to be processed. Premium applicants’ visa extension applications are approved on the same day. If the situation is complicated in the visa extension application, the applicant will be informed and may be asked to provide supporting documents and attend an interview for personal reasons.

What are the Reasons for UK Family Visa Rejection?

Reasons for UK family visa refusal are listed below.

  • The applicant fails to provide evidence that he or she meets the requirements for a visa.
  • Failure to submit sufficient supporting documents for visa
  • The applicant poses a risk to the public health and welfare of the United Kingdom.
  • The applicant provides false or misleading information in the visa application.

How to Appeal a UK Family Reunification Visa Refusal?

The UK family reunification visa refusal is appealed based on the information provided in the visa email sent to the applicant. The appeal against the visa refusal can be made by applying for an administrative review, taking into account the information provided to the applicant and following the relevant procedures.

Applicants have 28 days to lodge an appeal against a visa refusal. The UK Visas and Immigration Agency recommends seeking advice from a solicitor or advice centre if you are unclear about your UK visa appeal rights and the UK visa appeal process.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most frequently asked questions to our experts regarding UK family reunification procedures and the rights granted to visa holders are answered below.

Is It Difficult to Get a UK Family Visa?

Obtaining a UK family visa can be difficult as the application may be rejected if the required documents are not provided during the application process. Visa documents must be submitted with complete and accurate information and false or misleading information must be avoided.

When applying for a visa, meticulous preparation of the required documents makes it easier to obtain a visa. When applying for a UK visa, providing as much detail as possible in all documents reduces the possibility of a visa rejection.

What are the rights granted to those who settle in the UK through family reunification?

Those who settle in the UK through family reunification are given the right to study and work in the UK; however, if they are engaged, they are not given the right to work.

If you move to the UK through family reunification, you will not be eligible for most state benefits, such as unemployment benefits, but you will have access to UK healthcare services under the national healthcare system.

Can UK Family Sponsorship be Offered to Second Degree Relatives?

No, UK family sponsorship is not available for second degree relatives such as uncles, aunts and cousins; however, if the person in question is in need of care and can prove that they are not receiving support from someone other than the person residing in the UK, they can apply. The visa application process for sponsoring second degree relatives is much more complex and difficult, which is why visa approval rates are low.

Can Family Members of a Person Seeking Asylum in the UK Get a Family Reunion Visa?

In order for family members of a person seeking asylum in the UK to receive a family reunification visa, their asylum application must be approved and justified.

In order for asylum seekers to receive a family reunification visa, they must benefit from certain statuses or situations. People with refugee status and humanitarian protection in the UK can apply for a family reunification visa through the UK asylum route.

Is There an Interview for a UK Family Visa?

Interviews for UK family visas can be held in cases where sufficient documentation regarding the spouse or relative relationship between the sponsor and the sponsored person cannot be submitted.

If the relationship between the UK family reunification visa applicant and the person residing in the UK cannot be proven, the UK Visas and Immigration Department may invite applicants to a video conference interview for a UK visa interview at the visa application centre .

Are There Companies in the UK That Provide Services to Find Sponsors?

There are no companies in the UK that offer a sponsorship service; websites and requests for fees prepared with malicious intentions should not be trusted.

Where to Get Document Checking and Uploading Support for UK Family Visa?

Document control and upload support for the UK family visa can be received within the scope of the UK visa application consultancy service provided by rsscanadaimmigration.com for people Around the world.