FAMILY ROUTE

If you are looking to enter or remain in the UK with family members other than EEA nationals, you on the right page
EEA Family members need to check out the EEA Application section.

Applications will vary if you are married, unmarried, engaged, wanting to be looked after

The below tabs will cover 5 key areas that includes UK entry, UK Switching and UK Renewals

If your visa falls under one of these:

  • Civil Partnership
  • Fiancé, Fiancée or Proposed Civil Partner
  • Marriage
  • Same sex partner
  • Unmarried partner

Click learn more to view answers to questions relating to this visa route.

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ASK OUR LAWYER A QUESTION
Partner route

Click the options below to learn more about each visa route:
  • Civil Partnership

    Can I 

    HOW DO I DEMONSTRATE THIS?


    This is where our expertise comes in where we guide you how best to present your business. You will fill in our questionnaire form and from this we will explain the areas that need improving and those that are strong.


  • Fiancé, Fiancée or Proposed Civil Partner

    HOW BEST SHOULD I PRESENT THIS?


    A business plan can be done in many ways, it can also be done in the wrong way, the  wrong information and remember, a business plan is only as good as the information you put in it.


    Once you have all the content and images you wish to use, the difficult bit is making the document look good and understandable to the reader being the Home Office caseworker.


    Our in-house expertise can help you prepare such a document in a professional way.


  • Marriage

    If you were applying under Tier 1 Entrepreneur you would need to provide £200,000 if applying on the basis of having cash.


    Under the Turkish business person rules, there is no set guidelines on how much you have. The key is being able to demonstrate you:


    • have funds to cover business costs
    • can demonstrate how long funds could last you
    • know when business revenue will start coming in
    • can cover living costs for you and any family members
    • do not require access to public funds
    • do not need to take a job to cover costs
    • can demonstrate there is a genuine need for your services and investment

  • Same sex partner

    If you decide to join a UK business, you are able to pay your share of the costs of running that business.


    Note: In most cases you would have invested your money in that UK business, given equity (business shares) and based on your shares pay that part of the business running costs.


    Your share of the profits will be enough to support you and your family without you needing to have another job.


    If you want to join an existing partnership or company you must show:

    • you will have an active part in running the business

  • Unmarried partner

    If your visa application is approved, you can set your business up as a:

    • Sole Trader
    • Director of a Limited business
    • Partnership

    SOLE TRADER

    This is the simplest way to run a business. A sole trader owns the assets of the business, is responsible for all debts and liabilities and is not required to file annual returns with Companies House. The business accounts will be made up to the end of the financial year.


    DIRECTOR OF A LIMITED COMPANY

    A director is an employee of the company and all debts and liabilities are the responsibility of the company. The director’s level of financial investment must be proportional to their role in the business. Annual returns, often abbreviated so as not to alert competitors, must be filed with Companies House within 10 months of the year end after incorporation. Directors may take a dividend each quarter.


    PARTNERSHIP

    This is a legal entity with shared decision making. The profits are shared according to an agreed split between the partners. The applicant must have an equal or controlling interest in the company with a share of responsibility. A partnership agreement is a key document to cover all the ‘what ifs’.


Your Rights & Related Articles
1963 ANKARA Agreement
Investing in the UK
Turkish visa guidance
ECAA business guidance ECAA worker guidance Appendix ECAA ILR & LTR

Need a Question Answered?

Partner & Spouse

Can I apply for this visa type if I am a partner or spouse of
a UK settled person?

If you are a non-EEA or Switzerland and aged 18 or over, you can apply under this visa route if you are a non-EEA nationals and your partner or spouse is a UK settled person.

If your partner or spouse is in the UK as an EEA national, this is the wrong visa route, go to this link.

If the UK settled person has refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK, you can apply under this visa route.

Guidelines
  • You need to be in a civil partnership or are legally married and the marriage is recognised in the UK.
  • If unmarried couple, you’ve been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply. (Exceptional circumstances can apply under this rule).
  • If you are a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner and plan to enter the UK to marry, you must marry within 6 months of entering the UK.
  • Unless exempt, you must provide English to an A1 Level.
  • Unless exempt, you provide an tuberculosis certificate.
  • Unless exempt, meet the financial requirements.
  • If applicable Police report.
  • Provide evidence where you plan to live in the UK and the property must be appropriate to the amount of people living in the property.
  • Different rules will apply if you plan to enter the UK or switch into this visa route.
  • If applying from North Korea, you can not apply online and are required to submit a paper application form.
  • If you still on this visa type and you entered the UK before the rules changed on the 9 July 2012, you will fall under different rules.
    • Pre-9 July 2012 is the 2 year route
    • Post 9 July 2012 is the 5 year route
  • If you or your partner/spouse been previously married, evidence of your decree absolute or final order if in a civil partnership.
Many variances can impact this visa type, it all depends on you, your family and any exceptional circumstances you may have.

Tip: If unsure obtain legal advice. Call us for your 30 minutes free consultation.

When you make this application, you are applying In accordance with paragraph 34 of the Immigration Rules.

If your visa is approved, it is approved for 30 months.

Applying as a Child

What are 

If one parent is settled in the UK you might be able to apply under this route as a child.

The child needed to have been born in the UK to qualify.

The child visa permission to remain in the UK if approved will be when the parent visa permission expires or apply independently.

Visa Type
The visa form you need to complete will depend on that permission the parent has to be in the UK.
If the child parent has limited leave to remain in the UK the visa form should be completed is FLR (M).
The application will fall under:
  • as a partner settling in 2 years
  • as a partner settling in 5 years
You might have to complete FLR (FP) if the parent has limited leave to remain in the UK.
Under FLR (FP) visa route, you could fall under one of these:
  • as a partner settling in 10 years
  • as a parent settling in 5 years
  • as a parent settling in 10 years
  • on the basis of their private life (10 year route).
What are the guidelines for this visa?
Applying outside of the UK:
  • You must be single which means you have not married or in a civil partnership or
  • living an independent live and
  • have a person to financially support you without applying for UK public funds.
The other conditions is one of your parents is either joining you as your parent or have applied for a visa to extend their stay as a:
  • partner and the partner is joining you and they are your other parent
  • parent and they have sole parental responsibility for you.
Over 18:
Your parent can add you in their visa application as a dependant but if you prefer you can apply separately to your parent.

You can only apply if you already have leave to remain in the UK on a family visa when you were aged under 18 and you do not have an independent life. Note: Exceptional circumstances can apply if the child is no longer living at home with their parent or parents.

Applying for this visa type
If you are already in the UK, you need to apply under form FLR (FP).
If you in a position because you cannot afford the fee you need to also fill in FLR (O) form and you have to demonstrate the following:
  • You are homeless (nowhere to live)
  • Cannot afford somewhere to love
  • Do have a place to live but cannot afford essential living costs such as food, utility bills. Note: If you can afford broadband, satelite television or other nice to have then you may struggle to get the application free of charge.
  • Have a very low income and you can demonstrate that paying the visa fee would harm your child's wellbeing.
If you apply for this visa, you must provide evidence of meeting the English requirements and able to financially support yourself and your child.

Private Life 10 Year Route
If the child parent cannot apply under the above visa route then the 10 year private route may be possible.

If you apply under FLR (M), you are applying In accordance with paragraph 34 of the Immigration Rules.

Apply based on Refugee Leave or Humanitarian Protection

Can I extend this visa type of switch into it?

If your UK partner or spouse has either Refugee Leave or approved under Humanitarian Protection, you are permitted to extend your visa and switch into this visa category if you have valid leave in the UK and your current visa permits you to switch.

If you are a child who has limited leave to remain, you can also switch and extend your visa if your parent has Refugee Leave or approved under Humanitarian Protection.

Types of visa applications:
  • First period of leave to remain (following an initial period of entry clearance as a partner of a settled person, or person who is in the UK with refugee leave or humanitarian protection, or as a child of a person who has limited leave as the partner of settled person, or following an initial period of entry clearance as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner of a settled person - 6 months).
  • You are making a first application from within the UK but have not previously had leave to enter/remain as a partner of a settled person, or person who is in the UK with refugee leave or humanitarian protection or a child of a person who has limited leave as the partner of a settled person or person who is in the UK with refugee leave or humanitarian protection.
  • Second period of leave to remain (following initial grant of leave to remain as a partner of a settled person or person who is in the UK with refugee leave or humanitarian protection, or as a child of a person who has limited leave as the partner of a settled person). 
  • Further period of leave following a previous grant of leave to remain as a partner of a settled person or person who is in the UK with refugee leave or humanitarian protection, as a child of a person who has limited leave as the partner of settled person, or following an initial period of entry clearance as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner of a settled person - 6 months).
The family member applying needs to complete 5 years before they can apply for settlement as long as they complied to the rules of that visa for the qualifying period.

If the person holding Refugee Leave or approved under Humanitarian Protection visa is invalid, curtailed or expires without an in-time application being made, your application made not be valid.

When you make this application, you are applying In accordance with paragraph 34 of the Immigration Rules.

You should obtain legal advice before your submitting your visa application.

Learn how to settle in the UK and become British

Settlement

You can settle in the UK, also known as indefinite leave to remain once you meet the qualifying period
LEARN MORE

Naturalisation

You can apply for naturalisation that leads to British passport normally after 1 year on your settlement visa.
LEARN MORE

British Passport

Once you obtained your ceremony certificate once naturalised, learn how to obtain your first British passport.
LEARN MORE