Updated to reflect changes to the immigration rules to ensure the period of leave granted to a partner is aligned where the sponsor holds 30 months' protection leave, granted following an asylum application on or after 2 March 2026.
Updated to reflect changes to ensure the period of leave granted to a partner is aligned where the sponsor holds 30 months protection leave, granted following an asylum application on or after 2 March 2026.
Updated to clarify the approach for considering applications under Appendix FM and Appendix Private Life.
Updated to reflect the addition of Immigration Rules paragraph SUI 3.1. to Immigration Rules paragraphs D-ECP.1.2A., D-LTRP.1.2A., D-ECPT.1.2A. and D-LTRPT.1.2A.
Updated to: a) confirm when a person who has been recognised as stateless and has permission in that category can sponsor a partner or spouse to come to or
remain in the UK under Appendix FM, and b) reflect the change to the Immigration Rules Appendix FM to apply Part Suitability and further guidance on how to consider suitability in family cases.
Updated to reflect the change to the Immigration Rules under Appendix FM and a revision to ensure the definitions of ‘partner’ and ‘parent’ are accurately reflected.
Updated to provide further guidance on the duty under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009.
Updated to provide clarity on when a person in the UK with immigration status granted under Appendix EU can act as a sponsor to bring a partner to the UK, and to remove reference to Part 11 of the Immigration rules and update link to refer to Appendix Family Reunion (Protection).
Guidance updated to provide links to new financial requirement guidance.
Guidance updated to allow a person recognised as stateless to sponsor a partner and their children under Appendix FM; reflect the changes to the definition of a partner in paragraph 6.2 of the Immigration Rules.
Guidance updated to remove sections relating to allowing access to public funds, which is now covered in separate guidance (Access to public funds – family private life and Hong Kong BN(O) routes), and include a new section on how to assess access to public funds when making the initial decision.
Guidance updated to remove sections relating to family settlement applications, which is now covered in separate Family and private life settlement guidance.
PDF entitled 'Concession to the family Immigration Rules for granting longer periods of leave and early indefinite leave to remain' removed because it is no longer valid.
Updated guidance includes a change to the definition of sponsors; changes to the two-stage approach to Family Life claims; changes to the approach when an applicant has a partner but applies as a parent; clarification that written evidence is required to disclose a document to the Home Office. Information on how to deal with private life considerations has been moved to separate guidance.
Updated 'Concession for granting longer periods of leave and early indefinite leave to remain' guidance to clarify the qualification criteria for the concession.
Updated Family life (as a partner or parent), private life and exceptional circumstances guidance.
Added document: 'Concession for granting longer periods of leave and early indefinite leave to remain'.
Recourse to public funds section updated.
Updated PDF file.
Updated 'Coronavirus (COVID-19) concessions' section of guidance.
Updated information on EEA citizens in the UK with limited leave under Appendix EUSS and application of rules for Irish citizens.
Updated family life exceptional circumstances.
Updated guidance to reflect a change to the key dates.
Added information for users with a pending application for leave to remain.
Updated document to reflect family position on COVID-19.
Changes to the appeals section.
Updated guidance.
Updated guidance.
Updated guidance.
Updated family life (as a partner or parent), private life and exceptional circumstances guidance.
The words ‘(except where entry is being granted as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner)’ have been deleted from the end of the first paragraph in "Decision to grant entry clearance or leave to remain as a partner on a 5 or 10-year route".
Updated version of the guidance document published.
UK Visas and Immigration guidance on how staff decide applications or claims for leave to enter or remain on the basis of family life as a partner or parent or exceptional circumstances in compliance with Article 8 (right to family and private life of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)).
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