Family in the UK

Apply as a child to join or stay with a close relative in the UK

You must be under 18 with no family members who can support or care for you (other than your close relative in the UK).

Your relative must be a close relative but not your parent. They must have protection status (permission to stay as a refugee or person with humanitarian protection) but must not be settled in the UK or a British citizen.

Apply for a Ukraine Family Scheme visa

If you have been given permission to be in the UK under one of the Ukraine schemes, you may be able to apply for a further 18 months permission to stay in the UK under the new Ukraine Permission Extension scheme. The scheme opened to applications on 4 February 2025.

Apply for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit to join family in the UK

You may be able to get an EU Settlement Scheme family permit to come to the UK if you’re either:

  • the family member of someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
  • the family member of an eligible person of Northern Ireland

You must be outside the UK to apply.

Family visas: apply, extend or switch

You can apply for a family visa to live with your:

  • spouse or partner
  • fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner
  • child
  • parent
  • relative who’ll provide long-term care for you