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UK Family Visa
UK Spouse Visa
You need a “family of a settled person” visa if you want to stay (“remain”) with a family member or partner (eg. spouse) who’s living in the UK permanently and you’re:
- Already in the UK
- From outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
You can apply if you’re eligible and you need to:
- Extend your existing “family of a settled person” visa
- Switch to a “family of a settled person” visa
Your family member or spouse can:
- Be a British citizen
- Have settled in the UK
- Be your partner who has asylum or humanitarian protection in the UK
- You may also be able to apply to remain with your child if they have lived in the UK for at least 7 years.
- You may need to apply in a different way if:
- You’re outside the UK
- Your partner’s from the EEA or Switzerland
- Your partner originally had a temporary visa as a worker
- You’re the victim of domestic violence or your partner has died
- You applied for a ‘family of a settled person’ visa before 9 July 2012
- You want to reunite with a partner or parent who has asylum or humanitarian protection in the UK
How long it will take to get your UK partner visa?
- A decision will be made on your application within 8 weeks.
- You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, eg:
- If your supporting documents need to be verified
- If you need to attend an interview
– because of your personal circumstances (eg if you have a criminal conviction)
How long you can stay?
- You can stay for 2 and a half years. You’ll be able to apply to extend again towards the end of that
- You can also apply to settle permanently in the UK once you’re eligible for the UK partner Visa.
You can use your "family of a settled person" visa to:
- Work (you can’t work if you’re extending a visa to get married or to become civil partners)
- Study
- Bring some family members (“dependants”)
- You can’t usually get benefits or other public funds