Search all content on GOV.UK

Compare visas to visit, work, study or join a family member already in the UK. How to apply and what the decision on your application means.

• Choose a visa

  You may need a visa to come to the UK to study, work, visit or join…

• Prepare your application

  You can apply and pay for most visas online. If you have dependants who…

• Prove your identity

  When you apply, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide documents…

• Getting a decision on your application

  You’ll get a letter or an email telling you the Home Office has made a…

What to do if you're visiting the UK for a holiday or to see family or friends: check if you’re eligible, if you need a visa, and what to do before you visit.

This page provides information about some of the actions you may need to take if you are a UK national living abroad and you are returning to the UK permanently.

• Updated: 29 March 2021

You may need a visa to come to the UK to visit, study or work.

Get a family visa for the UK, live with your spouse or relative - eligibility, proof, renewing, financial and English language requirements.

Apply for a UK Ancestry visa if you're a Commonwealth citizen and can prove that one of your grandparents was born in the UK - eligibility, fees, documents, how to apply, how long it takes and how to settle

Get a free permit to join family from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein in the UK - check if you’re eligible, documents you need to apply.

Partner, spouse, dependant and family member visas and permits

• Updated: 26 February 2025

Apply as a child to join or stay with a close relative in the UK who has protection status - eligibility, fees, documents, applying for settlement.

You can apply for a Parent of a Child Student visa if your child attends an independent school in the UK.