Family: customer service standards
Updated 8 September 2025
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/family-customer-service-standards/family-customer-service-standards
Information on our customer service standards for family visas.
| Category | Inside the UK | Outside the UK |
|---|---|---|
| Adult coming to be cared for by a relative | 8 weeks | 12 weeks |
| Child | 8 weeks | 12 weeks |
| Parent | No service standard | 12 weeks |
| Partner or spouse (meeting minimum income and English language requirements) | 8 weeks | 12 weeks |
| Partner or spouse - private life (minimum income and English language not required) | No service standard | No service standard |
See our current average processing times for visa applications including information on when the processing time starts from inside and outside the UK.