Visit Family & Friends

Step-by-Step Guide: Family Visitor Visa UK

The United Kingdom introduced a new rule called Electronic Travel Authorization. It’s for travellers who can travel to the UK without a visa. The UK ETA is affordable and easier to apply for than a Family Visitor Visa UK. The new system replaces the EVW program.

An ETA is a digital permit for travellers. You don’t need a traditional visa. Using this process, you can stay in the UK for up to 6 months. You can use it for vacation, to visit family or friends, or for short-term study and business. Applying for an ETA from our website is very simple and easy.

What is an ETA? When do I need it?

The UK ETA is a digital travel authorization. You can submit your application online without going to visit an embassy. You don’t need to carry paper copies because it will link to your passports. It started with Qataris, then others in the Gulf Cooperation Council.

If you’re going to the UK for business, tourism or visiting family, you’ll have to get an ETA before you travel. The new ETA rule will apply to visitors worldwide. This includes those from the EU, the US, Canada, and Australia.

Travelers from Qatar needed UK ETA from Nov 15, 2023. From Feb 22, 2024, citizens of UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan also need it. All visa-exempt nationalities, including EU citizens, need it by 2024. Exceptions are British and Irish citizens, UK residents with permits and Irish residents.

UK ETA Requirements

To apply for the UK ETA, travellers need:

  • Valid Passport: Must have at least six months’ validity.
  • Bank Card: A valid credit or debit card for paying fees online.
  • Email Address: Required for communication with the UK Home Office.

Duration of Stay and Validity

The UK ETA allows short visits for tourism and business. You can also use it for visiting family and short-term study (up to 6 months). It also covers creative work (up to 3 months for specific talents). It also covers transit. But it doesn’t allow long-term work, study and live in the UK. You’ll need a different visa for that. The ETA will be valid for two years. It will expire when the traveler’s passport expires. Travelers with ETA approval can visit the UK multiple times within two years.

UK ETA Application Steps

All travellers who don’t need a visa, including kids and babies, must get a UK ETA before visiting. You can easily apply for a UK ETA from our website.

Steps:

  1. Fill out the form.
  2. Submit a recent photo.
  3. Pay the fee online.
  4. Await a decision via email.

What should you do if your ETA gets rejected?

Usually, an ETA takes to process applications in 3 working days. Sometimes, the UK authorities might need extra time for checks and verifications. If immigration denies your ETA application, don’t worry. You can apply for a Family Visitor Visa in the UK. Contact our customer support for any assistance.

Visitor Visa for Family and Friends

The Family Visitor Visa UK is like the Standard Visitor Visa. It lets people from other countries visit family in the UK for up to 6 months. If your parents live overseas, they can apply for a family visitor visa to visit you in the UK. You can apply for this UK visa up to 3 months before your trip.

People living outside EEA and Switzerland need this visa. The applicant must be visiting a British citizen. Or, they could visit someone settled in the UK. They could also visit someone with Humanitarian Protection Status. Or, they could visit someone granted asylum in the UK. You can’t get married on a Family Visitor Visa UK. You’ll need a different visa if you plan to marry during your stay. You might need a marriage visitor visa to stay in the UK after marriage. Or, you could need a fiancé visa if you’ll live in the UK after marriage.

Family Visitor Visa UK Requirements

To get a Family Visitor Visa UK, you need to meet these requirements:

  • Valid passport for entire UK stay.
  • Intent to leave UK after visit.
  • Adequate funds for self-support.
  • Ability to cover return travel costs.
  • No intent to live in the UK through frequent visits.
 
If you don’t have enough money to support yourself and your dependents in the UK, you can ask your family for help. Your family can also pay for your trip to your next destination.

Family Visitor Visa UK Required Documents

UK authorities may ask you for specific information and documents to apply for this visa. Documents include:

  • Employer contact details
  • UK family members’ contact information
  • Disclosure of any criminal, civil, or immigration offenses
  • Details of family members funding trip
  • Parental information (names and birthdates)
  • Planned UK travel dates
  • Estimated trip costs
  • Passport
  • Proof of adequate funds (bank statements)
  • TB test certificate, if needed
  • 10-year travel history
  • Accommodation details
  • Annual income
  • Home address and length of residence
  • Onward/return travel ticket
  • Partner’s information (name, birthdate, passport number)

Family Visitor Visa UK Sponsor Requirements

If someone is sponsoring your visit to the UK, you may need to show:

  • Specify support (accommodation, funds, onward travel)
  • Method of support (bank statement or accommodation details)
  • Relationship with sponsor
  • Sponsor’s British passport or house document

How to apply for a UK Family Visitor Visa

The process includes these steps:

  • Complete the online application process.
  • Answer a series of questions and submit.
  • Register with the local visa application center.
  • Submit supporting documents and biometrics.
  • Upload or submit evidence/documents.
  • Book an appointment for biometrics at VAC.

UK family visitor visas usually take around three weeks to process. You can get them faster with two options. The priority service costs £500 and gives a decision in 5 working days. The super-priority service costs £800 and provides a decision in 1 working day.

Extending your UK Family Visitor Visa

If you are legally in the UK for less than six months, you can apply to extend your stay for up to 6 months. You may need a longer extension for medical reasons. These include academics or retaking exams like the PLAB test. You must apply while still in the UK before your current visa ends.

Extending your stay costs £1,000 per visa extension. There are extra fees for faster processing. You’ll also need to provide biometric data and documents to show you qualify. While waiting for a decision, stay in the UK to prevent the cancellation of your application.

Apply for Family Visitor Visa UK Online

To apply for a Family Visitor Visa UK, you must apply online. It would help if you had your biometric information taken. This includes fingerprints and photos. You must go to a Visa Application Centre near you. Contact our customer support. They will help you with every step.

If you’re helping your visitor apply for a visitor visa

If you help someone apply for a visitor visa, they must apply online. Tell them to fill out the form with their details. After that, they need to go to a visa application center. They will get their fingerprints and photos taken there. Find out where the closest visa application center is before you begin. The form will ask questions to determine the correct visa for the visitor.

FAQs About Family Visitor Visa UK

To apply for a UK family visitor visa, complete the online form. Pay the fee. Then, attend a biometrics appointment at the nearest visa center.

You can apply for a family visa to join a relative if you’re outside the UK. This relative can be your spouse, partner, fiancé, fiancée, or proposed civil partner. They can also be your child and parent.

If you apply with family members, each person must complete their application and pay the fee. Going to a visa application center for your appointment would be best. You can also apply for your partner and child if they can’t apply themselves.

You can invite your family to the UK for visits or special events like graduations. Your family can apply for the Family Visitor Visa online. They can stay for a specified duration. Submit supporting documents, like an invitation letter, if needed.

To sponsor a visitor from the UK, you must give an invitation letter and papers. Your friend or family member is the one applying for the visa.

There is no specific amount of money required. Applicants must prove their sponsor has enough money to support them and their family.

After your UK visa expires, you can stay in the UK for only 30 days. If you do not leave within 30 days, authorities may ban you from returning for one to 10 years.

You must apply for an extension of the spouse visa, so your spouse can stay with you in the country.