Family routes
Family reunification describes the outcome you want: being together. The route to that outcome depends on the people involved and the permission or status each person holds.
See how a household plan fits together ↓Start with the people
Partners, children and other relatives may not follow identical routes. A family member's UK citizenship or visa can be important without automatically covering the whole household.
Make a row for every person travelling. Record their citizenship, any UK permission and expiry date, their relationship to the others, and the question that still needs answering.
Fictional household · a planning example
Alex, Sam and their eight-year-old child Nia live in South Africa and hope to move together. These invented facts show what to investigate; they do not establish anyone’s eligibility.
Parent · spouse
Citizenship is Alex’s starting point. It does not give Sam or Nia the same status.
Parent · married to Alex
Being married identifies a relationship to assess. It is not the full visa test.
Child of Alex and Sam · age 8
Gather birth and parent-status records before assuming a child visa is needed.
Read the map person by person, then coordinate the evidence, budget and dates as one household.
The route question changes. A partner or child joining a temporary work-visa holder generally needs the relevant dependant route rather than the partner family-visa route. Skilled Worker dependant rules include job-category restrictions and exceptions: check the occupation and permission history before assuming dependants are allowed.
Check Skilled Worker dependant guidanceA British citizen can live in the UK without immigration permission. Nia’s task would focus on documenting that status and arranging appropriate travel documents. Sam’s partner-route assessment would still need its own evidence.
Check British citizenship guidanceKeep these questions separate
Birthplace, birth date and parents’ status can matter. A British parent does not automatically settle every child’s citizenship question. Confirm the facts before choosing a visa.
British citizenship: where to startA partner joining a British or settled person is a different enquiry from a child joining a parent. Each has its own requirements; “our family qualifies” is too broad a conclusion.
Compare the official family routesWork and study routes have their own dependant conditions. Check that exact route and its restrictions rather than carrying over the family-visa rules.
Family visas versus dependantsChildren’s care arrangements, another parent’s involvement, previous refusals or uncertain status deserve individual review. Other relatives and protection-related situations can involve different rules. This map is an orientation, not a complete route list or an eligibility decision.
Turn the map into next steps
The move may involve different application stages, costs and practical timing for each person. An initial grant is also different from an extension or settlement later on. Understanding those distinctions helps you make realistic plans together.
List passports, citizenship records, current permissions, expiry dates and previous immigration decisions. Mark unknowns instead of guessing.
Record who is joining whom. Bring birth and relationship records, care arrangements, and the sponsor’s status to the route discussion.
Separate application charges from evidence funds and relocation costs. Coordinate document readiness and appointments before committing to a move date.
Track each person’s actual grant and expiry. Extensions and settlement need their own checks; one family member’s next stage does not settle everyone else’s.
Bring to the first conversation: your household list, the intended move window, and the two or three questions you cannot yet answer. You do not need to invent an application strategy before asking for help.
Your next conversation
Describe the family future you are working towards. We can help explain the individual questions and coordinate the next steps around that shared goal.
Talk to Move Up ↗Related articles in their original publication context.
Family routes
A child-dependant application was unexpectedly refused despite extensive supporting evidence. The successful reapplication reinforced an important lesson: evidence about a child should not overlook the child’s own experience.
Published 2026-08-17
Family routes
New UK Immigration Rules clarify when a child may qualify for settlement where one parent is British or settled and the other has temporary permission.
Published 2026-07-22
Family routes
The UK spouse visa financial requirement has increased sharply since 2012. We examine why the rule exists, how it affects British families, and why many are calling for a review.
Published 2026-03-16
These GOV.UK references support the guidance on this page.
Guidance checked on 14 October 2026. The applicable route and rules still need to be checked against each person’s facts and application date.
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