Family Visa (Appendix FM)

The UK Family Visa (governed by Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules) allows non-British citizens to live in the UK for more than six months to join a family member who is already settled in the country. This pathway is primarily designed for partners, parents, and children of British or Irish citizens, people with Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), or those with refugee status.

It is important to distinguish this from a Standard Visitor Visa. While a visitor visa allows you to see family for short trips, the Family Visa is a residency pathway that grants you the right to work and provides a clear route to permanent settlement. Following significant policy shifts in 2024 and 2025, this pathway now enforces a strict financial threshold that applicants must meet to prove they can be supported without relying on public funds.

The UK immigration landscape underwent a major overhaul between 2024 and 2026. The most significant change was the increase of the income threshold from £18,600 to £29,000. While higher increases were initially proposed, the government froze the requirement at £29,000 in late 2025 following a review by the Migration Advisory Committee.

Additionally, as of February 2026, all non-visa nationals (such as US, EU, or Australian citizens) who do not yet hold a visa must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before traveling to the UK. However, the ETA is only for entry; it does not grant the right to live or work like the Family Visa does.

Once your visa is granted, you are entitled to live in the UK with a specific set of rights and limitations:

• Work and Study: You have full rights to work in any profession and study any course in the UK without needing a separate sponsor.
• Duration of Stay: Initial visas from outside the UK are granted for 33 months; if applying from within the UK, they are granted for 30 months. You must apply to extend this before it expires.
• Path to Settlement: This visa is a direct route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Most people qualify for permanent residency after 5 years on this visa. If you were granted the visa based on "human rights" (exceptions to the standard rules), you may be placed on a 10-year route to settlement.
• Healthcare: You have access to the National Health Service (NHS), though you are required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of your application.
• Public Funds: You generally have No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF), meaning you cannot claim most welfare benefits or social housing until you achieve settled status.
• Travel: You can travel in and out of the UK as often as you like, provided your visa remains valid.