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Home > Blog > Family Member & Spouse Schengen Visa: What You Need to Know

Family Member & Spouse Schengen Visa: What You Need to Know

Uncategorized on 26 Dec, 2022

Are you travelling to the Schengen Area as the spouse or core family member of an EU citizen?

In that case, you might have lots of questions concerning the Schengen Visa requirements for spouses or family members. 

You might even ask yourself, “ Do I actually need a Visa to travel to Europe if I’m married to an EU citizen? ” or “ Do I really need a Visa if I’m a relative of an EU citizen? ” 

The short answer is, “it depends”. 

So bear with us for a few minutes and read this post all the way to the end. 

You’ll find out everything you need to know about the Schengen Visa requirements for spouses and relatives of EU nationals. 

Table of contents: 

• Does a spouse or relative of EU nationals need a Schengen Visa for Europe?
• Schengen Visa requirements for spouses and relatives of EU nationals

1. Does a Spouse or Relative of EU Nationals Need a Schengen Visa for Europe?

Under EU law, as the spouse or relative of an EU national, you may need or not a Schengen Visa to travel to Europe depending on your citizenship. 

For example, if you hold the passport of a state that has established a visa-free agreement with the Schengen countries, you do not need a Visa to Europe – although you may need to apply for an ETIAS Visa Waiver . 

ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorisation System. The ETIAS Visa Waiver is a travel permit that enables you to enter the Schengen Area.

However, there’s no need to worry about the ETIAS Visa Waiver – this travel authorisation is relatively easy to get, and the application process is automated.  

On the other hand, if you hold the passport of a state that has not established a visa-free agreement with the Schengen countries, you need a Schengen Visa to enter Europe .

You might be thinking, “ There’s too much confusion surrounding bureaucracy. How in the world can I know what countries need a Schengen Visa to enter Europe with all the misleading information spread online? ”. 

Just spare a few minutes to read this post and find out whether or not your country of citizenship has established a visa-free agreement with the Schengen States.  

If your country of citizenship isn’t on the list of countries that need a Schengen Visa to enter Europe, then all you need to do is check whether or not you are eligible for an ETIAS Visa Waiver. 

If your country of citizenship is on the list of countries that need a Schengen Visa to enter Europe, then you must apply for a Schengen Visa, even if you are married to an EU citizen (or you’re a close relative of an EU citizen). 

Now, let’s clear up what we mean by “relative of an EU citizen”. 

According to the official website of the European Commission , you can apply for a Schengen Visa as the relative of an EU citizen if you’re a core family member – meaning spouse, child, dependent parent, or dependent grandparent.

The European Commission outlines that these rules are also applicable to non-EU registered partners if the country they are travelling to recognises the status of registered partnerships. 

For more information about registered partnerships, click here .

As a general rule, other relatives of EU nationals who need a Schengen Visa – such as siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. – may have their entry to Europe facilitated under certain conditions. 

The Schengen Member States do not necessarily have to grant this right, but they consider these requests on a case-by-case basis.

For example, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain , other relatives of EU nationals may have their entry to Europe facilitated when serious health grounds or disabilities require an EU citizen to personally take care of them.

Now, we bet you’re asking yourself this question: “ Why does the spouse or relative of an EU citizen need a Visa to enter Europe ? After all, as the spouse or close family member of an EU citizen, I should have visa-free access to the Schengen Area. ”

That’s a great question. 

If you’re the spouse or core family member of an EU citizen, you still need a short-stay Visa (which has a duration of stay of maximum 90 days) because the EU authorities must ensure that you are legally entering the Schengen Area. 

However, if you are the spouse or relative of an EU citizen and want to join them in Europe, you have the right to apply for a type-D National Visa and a residence permit issued by an EU country (the country where your spouse or relative lives in). 

Once you have obtained your National Visa and/or EU residence permit, you no longer need a short-stay Schengen Visa to enter Europe . 

If you’re looking to stay in Europe for more than 90 days and get an EU National Visa/ residence permit as the spouse or core family member of an EU citizen, do note that each Member State has its own rules for issuing the national Visa or residence permit for non-EU citizens. 

For example, according to italianvisa.it , to stay in Italy for more than 90 days, you must apply for a National Visa for family reunification at the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence. 

Once you have entered Italy using your National Visa, you can apply for a residence permit as a family member.   

Or, according to the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees , you’ll receive a residence card within six months of registering in Germany as the spouse or core family member of an EU national. It is not necessary to separately apply for the residence card.

We hope you found this information useful. 

Now, let’s have a closer look at the Schengen Visa requirements for spouses and relatives of EU nationals. 

2. Schengen Visa Requirements for Spouses and Relatives of EU Nationals

Before we examine the Schengen Visa requirements for spouses and relatives of EU nationals, we need to clear up one possible misunderstanding.

The Spouse or Family Member Schengen Visa is not a special type of Visa. 

As the spouse or relative of an EU national, you need to apply for a type-C Schengen Visa that enables a traveller to spend up to 90 days within the Schengen Zone over six months (the 90/180 days rule ). 

However, the type-C Schengen Visa varies according to the travel purpose. 

For example, you can request a type-C Schengen Visa for tourism, business, medical reasons, study, or to visit your friends and family. 

However, as a family member of an EU national, your Schengen Visa is free of charge. You will also enjoy preferential treatment, as outlined on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy . 

This means that your Schengen Visa application is likely to be processed faster than ordinary applications.  

When applying for a Spouse or Family Member Schengen Visa, you need to submit the following documents: 

Do note that the requirement list above is not exhaustive.

The documents you must submit depend on the Embassy you apply to and your personal situation. 

For example, if you are the minor son/daughter of an EU national and your parents are divorced, you must submit a divorce certificate and custody decree. 

Or, if you’re a minor and want to travel alone to visit one of your parents who is an EU citizen, you must submit a travel parental authorisation from both parents.

If you have any questions concerning the Family Member or Spouse Schengen Visa application process, please feel free to contact us . 

If you need our team to provide you with the exact list of documents you must submit based on your personal situation, do not hesitate to request your Schengen Embassy Requirements Report (SERR) .  

We would be more than happy to help you make your application process faster, smoother, and stress-free.  

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IMPORTANT UPDATE! UK Spouse and Family Visa Income Thresholds are rising in 2024. Learn More

Stay Outside the UK on a Spouse Visa: Rules and Regulation

Stay Outside the UK on a Spouse Visa: Rules and Regulations are crucial aspects that anyone holding this visa must understand in order to maintain their legal status and enjoy extended periods abroad with their loved ones.

Table of Contents

Life can present a multitude of reasons to travel abroad, from family emergencies to professional obligations or simply the desire to explore. Understanding the effect of long absences from the UK on your spouse visa can play a critical role in planning your life and future applications. 

Knowing the UK immigration laws well and out will not only enable you to make wiser decisions but will also help you stay clear of any pitfalls that might negatively affect your status. In this extensive guide, we’ll go into the detailed aspects of the UK Spouse Visa, summarise the rules for living abroad, and discuss the issues you should be aware of.

Understanding the UK Spouse Visa

A UK spouse visa allows a non-EEA national to live in the UK for up to 30 months if they are either wedded to or in a civil partnership with a person who is a British national or has indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the UK Spouse Visa , including essential information about how to stay outside the UK on a spouse visa.

The primary duration of this visa is typically 30 months (around two and a half years). After that, the spouse visa holder can apply for a visa extension, effectively expanding their stay by another 30 months, totaling 60 months or 5 years.

After 5 years, it is possible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (IL) by fulfilling various criteria such as your time in the UK, your ability to satisfy English language requirements, and your commitment to the ‘absence rule’.

It is crucial for any prospective applicant to understand the rules behind this visa, including the possibility for extension and ILR which ultimately leads to British citizenship. Understanding the laws governing time spent outside of the UK is also crucial, which we will discuss in more depth in the next sections.

The rigorous immigration laws in the UK are enforced to ensure applicants truly want to live together permanently there. Time spent abroad, especially for extended periods, may put this purpose into doubt and may have an impact on the applicant’s visa status and prospects for future immigration.

Our expert immigration lawyers always recommend maintaining accurate records of any absences from the UK, including reasons and evidence supporting these absences, to provide the best chance of a successful visa extension or ILR application.

How Long Can You Stay Outside the UK on a Spouse Visa?

If you’re a holder of a UK spouse visa, you’ve probably asked yourself, “How long am I allowed to stay outside the UK on a spouse visa?” This question is important and is significant for your future immigration plans. Unlike many UK visas, which require that the holder not stay 180 days outside the UK within any 12 months, the UK spouse visa doesn’t set a definite limit for time spent abroad.

Nevertheless, this shouldn’t be mistaken as the freedom to spend the majority of your time abroad. The rules regarding absences for spouse visas are different. Although there isn’t a precise ‘count of days’ specified for your time spent outside the UK, the amount of time you spend abroad should align with your stated purpose of living permanently in the UK with your spouse.

Simply put, your overseas stays shouldn’t be so prolonged or regular that the visa authority grows suspicions about your commitment to establish a permanent residence in the UK. Hence, while the rules seem tolerant, it’s vital to consider the essence behind the rules, which is to ensure you and your spouse plan to make the UK your permanent home.

Why You Should Be Careful About Spending Too Long Outside the UK

The UK spouse visa, while allowing some flexibility, is not a carte blanche to spend long periods outside the UK. This flexibility should not be mistaken for flexible rules as it exists within the framework of the ‘intention to live together permanently in the UK’ requirement.

This requirement is paramount to a spouse visa and its future extensions. Essentially, it means that the couple must intend to live together in the UK and that their life is predominantly based in the UK. Spending long periods outside can raise questions about whether you and your partner permanently live together in the UK or plan to do so.

Consider the scenario where your spouse or you spend the majority of their time abroad. In such a situation, it may be grounds to suspect that you genuinely intend to live together eternally in the UK. This can potentially influence your qualification for visa extensions or an application for ILR.

Furthermore, if you’re on a spouse visa and are preparing to apply for an extension or ILR, you must be able to provide evidence that you’ve stayed jointly with your spouse in the UK. If you haven’t lived together continuously, it becomes important to show a good reason for any time spent apart, and this reason needs to be consistent with an ongoing intention to live together permanently in the UK.

Also Read: When to Apply for Spouse Visa Extension

Our professional immigration lawyers suggest that you keep evidence supporting your reasons for time spent outside the UK. For instance, if you’ve been abroad due to an ailing family member, ensure that you maintain records to substantiate this. These records will prove invaluable during the extension of visa or ILR application.

Remember, every case must be judged on its merits. If you have a proper reason for the duration spent abroad, apart from your spouse, you may still have a chance of getting indefinite leave to remain or successfully expanding your spouse visa. It’s always wise to discuss with an immigration lawyer to ensure you obey UK immigration rules and protect your immigration status.

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) through the Spouse Visa

The UK spouse visa performs not only as a visa but can also be a route towards securing Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and, eventually, British citizenship. ILR, also known as settlement, allows you to live in the UK without any time limitations. However, the trip from having a spouse visa to acquiring ILR requires careful planning and commitment to the immigration rules.

To apply for ILR after five years of holding a spouse visa, you must show that you have been living with your spouse constantly in the UK. In other words, you must verify your co-residence with your partner permanently in the UK. The Home Office will seek evidence that your life is mostly based in the UK. Absences from the UK should be small, and they should ideally be for a good reason, such as business trips, holidays, or caring for a sick relative.

If you haven’t lived together with your spouse continuously due to reasons like work responsibilities or family emergencies, you should be prepared to demonstrate this in detail in your application form for ILR. The reason should be in line with an ongoing preference to live jointly in the UK. For instance, if you’ve spent time apart because you were caring for a sick relative abroad, you’ll have to provide evidence like medical records.

Remember, too many days spent outside the UK could raise doubts about whether you and your partner intend to live together in the UK permanently. Therefore, it’s vital to keep track of the time spent outside the UK and be organised to explain any extended absences during the ILR application process.

Potential Issues of Spending Too Much Time Outside the UK

While holding a spouse visa and spending considerable time outside the UK might not lead to an immediate refusal of a visa extension or ILR , it could potentially raise issues. The Home Office could question whether the couple intends to live with their spouse permanently in the UK. If the majority of the visa holder’s time is spent abroad, it might give the impression that the UK is not their main home, which contradicts the fundamental requirement of the spouse visa.

Also Read: How Long Does a Spouse Visa Take in the UK?

Consequently, such a situation might result in an adverse impact on future applications, such as an extension of the spouse visa or application for ILR. Therefore, it’s of utmost importance that the spouse visa holders plan their time spent outside the UK carefully. Keeping a detailed record of the absences, including the reasons, can prove beneficial while facing any immigration-related queries or issues.

Also Read: How Much is a Spouse Visa UK in 2023? [ Guide ]

How Spouse Visa Lawyers UK Can Help

Navigating the world of UK immigration law and understanding the implications of the time spent outside the UK while on a spouse visa can be challenging. Our experts at Spouse Visa Lawyers can provide comprehensive guidance tailored to your circumstances.

With our knowledge and expertise, we offer advice on different aspects of the spouse visa – from the initial application to possible extensions and, ultimately, applying for ILR and British citizenship. 

If you’re holding a spouse visa and want to understand more about spending time overseas, or if you plan to apply for one, don’t hesitate to reach out. Call us, email us, or fill in our Contact Form for an initial free discussion.

You Ask, We Answer

Faqs about uk spouse visas.

The initial UK spouse visa allows you to stay in the UK for a period of 33 months. This may be prolonged for an additional 30 months.

You can apply for ILR after you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years on a spouse visa, given that you meet the other requirements, such as proving that you’ve been living with your spouse and not spent too long outside the UK.

While the spouse visa doesn’t explicitly limit the number of days you can stay outside the UK, extended absences could raise doubts about your intention to live permanently in the UK.

The processing time for a UK spouse visa can vary, but it typically takes around 2–12 weeks from the date the application is submitted.

Obtaining a UK spouse visa can be hard due to the inflexible prerequisites set out by the Home Office, including financial requirements, proof of an authentic relationship, and English language requirements. It’s suggested to pursue the assistance of an expert immigration lawyer for direction.

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The information provided in our articles is intended solely for guidance and should not be considered legal advice. We do not assume responsibility for any liabilities arising from the information in written articles and recommend that all readers seek professional advice before taking any action. For those wishing to discuss their case with a professional, please feel free to  contact us directly .

Dr Bernard Andonian has over four decades of experience as a London-based UK Immigration Solicitor and was also a former immigration Judge. He has been awarded a PhD in Law from the University of West London for his in-depth knowledge of UK immigration and nationality law. He has served on the Law Society Immigration Law Panel, achieved numerous groundbreaking decisions in higher courts whilst representing clients in the UK, and is featured in the Legal 500’s Hall of Fame . 

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D-visa: joining my eu / eea spouse or registered partner.

This visa enables you to travel to Germany and apply to the local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) for a residence permit in order to join your spouse or registered partner.

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General information, how to apply for your visa:, where to book your appointment/ apply for your visa:, additional information.

British citizens may apply to the local immigration office ( Ausländerbehörde ) for their residence permits after arrival in Germany and without having obtained a visa prior to travelling to Germany. Please note that you need to register your new residence ( Anmeldung ) with the authorities ( Meldebehörde ) within 2 weeks of having moved in and apply to the local immigration office ( Ausländerbehörde ) for your residence permit within the first 90 days of your stay in Germany. This privilege is also extended to citizens of Andorra, Australia, Brazil, Canada, El Salvador, Honduras, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Korea (Republic), Monaco, San Marino and the United States of America. We strongly recommend contacting the local immigration office as soon as possible after your arrival in Germany in order to secure a timely appointment.

Please note that you may only take up employment once you have been issued a residence permit explicitly authorising such employment. You may also choose to apply for a visa prior to travel, effectively permitting employment from the first day of visa validity.

All other nationalities require a visa prior to travelling to Germany.

This visa category applies to spouses/ registered partners of EU and EEA as well as Swiss citizens. It also applies to spouses/ registered partners of British citizens already resident in Germany and covered by Part Two of the EU -UK Withdrawal Agreement (i.e. having been resident in Germany at the end of the Brexit transition phase).

It makes no difference if the person you are joining is already in Germany or if you will be moving together.

German law recognises both mixed-sex and same sex marriages as well as civil or registered partnerships between same-sex partners. Mixed-sex civil or registered partnerships and de facto relationships are not recognised under German law. Freedom of movement rules provide for limited exceptions; contact us for details.

Under German law, all residents must have sufficient health insurance cover. Please read our additional information on health insurance requirements .

1. Complete the VIDEX online application form , print one copy of the form including the barcode page (page 7) and sign the form on pages 5 and 6. Separate application forms are required for each applicant; all children also require separate forms.

2. Compile your supporting documentation to bring to your appointment:

• Printout of the online application form including barcodes (as under #1)
• Valid passport signed by the holder , issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least six months. The passport needs to have at least 2 consecutive blank pages (i.e. a blank double page spread). Plus 1 photocopy of the passport biodata page
• Current UK residence permit (BRP)/ visa (non-British applicants only). Plus 1 photocopy of the permit/ visa
• 2 fully biometric passport photos, size 35 x 45 mm. Consult our FAQs for detailed requirements.
• Original marriage/ civil /registered partnership certificate Any original will be returned to you during your appointment. Any document in a language other than German, English or French needs to be translated into one of these languages by a certified or sworn translator. If issued outside Germany, the EU or the UK, documents need to be legalized or apostilled as applicable. Plus 1 photocopy of the certificate and (if applicable) the translation
• Original or certified copy of EU / EEA/ Swiss or British passport or National ID card of spouse/ partner (passport: biodata page only) Plus 1 photocopy of the passport biodata page or ID card
• In the case of British citizens covered by Part two of the EU -UK Withdrawal Agreement : copy of Aufenthaltsdokument-GB or evidence that one has been applied for. Plus 1 photocopy of the document or other evidence.
• If spouse/ partner is already resident in Germany: confirmation of spouse’s/ partner’s registration ( Anmeldebestätigung or Meldebescheinigung )
• Prepaid, self-addressed Royal Mail Special Delivery return envelope (up to 500g) in order to return your passport after processing processing (not applicable for applications submitted to a Visa Application Centre run by our external service provider, TLScontact).
• Visa issued free of charge.

Processing time: For some visa categories, we will require approval from other German government agencies, such as the Federal Employment Agency ( Bundesagentur für Arbeit ) or the local immigration office ( Ausländerbehörde ). If you have previously lived in Germany this will add to processing times, as the immigration office may need to look into your previous immigration record. Once a decision has been made on your application, we will contact you.

In this visa category, most applications are typically processed within 2 weeks.

Although we will provide you with a file number, please understand that we cannot respond to questions regarding the status of your visa application. Should we have any questions or should we require additional documentation to process your application, we will contact you.

3. Book an appointment to apply for your visa.

Please apply directly to the German Mission having jurisdiction for your place of residence.

If your application is successful, you will be issued a limited-validity entry visa - similar to a UK entry clearance. Once you have arrived in Germany please register your new residence with the local authorities ( Meldebehörde ) within 2 weeks of having moved in and apply to your local immigration office ( Ausländerbehörde ) for your Electronic Residence Permit. We strongly recommend contacting the local immigration office as soon as possible after your arrival in Germany in order to secure a timely appointment.

Further information on living and working in Germany is available here .

Where can I apply for my visa?

The German Missions in the UK operate from both London and Edinburgh with two distinct jurisdictions and your place of residence determines which German Mission or Visa Application Centre you will need to contact to apply for a visa.

FAQ and other important information

Please read the information on our website carefully. We do appreciate that it might be easier for you to ask questions. However, we do not have sufficient staff capacity to respond to every query.

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How long can I stay outside of the UK on a Spouse Visa?

Many UK visas are subject to an absence rule if you intend to use them to settle in the UK, find out more about the absence rules for those with a Spouse Visa.

If you need help with an immigration issue, get in touch with our expert immigration lawyers today on 020 4502 8582 they can speak to you in person, online or over the phone.

Request a call back from our immigration experts

How long can i spend outside the uk on a spouse visa.

Many UK visa types act as a route towards Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), but if you intend to apply for ILR in the UK you usually need to meet the absence rules. The absence rule for most UK visas is that in order to qualify for ILR after 5 years you must not have spend more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months during the qualifying period.

However, there is no absence limit for Spouse Visa holders. Those in the UK on a family visa are exempt from the 180 day absence period rule, this includes the spouse, fiance or proposed civil partner of a British citizen as well other types of family members that qualify for this category.

It’s worth noting however that absences are still taken into account when a family visa holder is applying for British citizenship.

Although there is no written rule that states how long a Spouse Visa holder can spend outside the UK if applying for ILR, this does not mean that you will be able to obtain a Spouse Visa, spend little time in the UK and then be able to successfully apply for settlement here.

Intention to live together permanently in the UK

When making an initial application for a Spouse Visa, you must provide evidence that you and your partner intent to live together permanently in the UK. A Spouse Visa is only granted for an initial period of 33 months, but to be eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain the applicant must have been living in the UK for at least 5 years.

This means that before qualifying for ILR, Spouse Visa holders will need to extend their visa so that they can meet the 5 year residency requirement. To be able to extend a Spouse Visa, the applicant must once again prove to the Home Office that they intend to live with their partner permanently in the UK.

This means that although the UK immigration rules on periods of absence don’t apply to Spouse Visa holders, you must still prove to the Home Office several times that you intend to make the UK your permanent home before you can be eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK.

Whilst normal periods of absences such as holidays or overseas visits to family and friends won’t be counted against you, substantial periods of absence could result in the Home Office questioning whether you meet the intentional permanent residency requirement and this could prevent you from being able to hold a Spouse Visa long enough to apply for ILR.

Other Indefinite Leave to Remain requirements for Spouse Visa holders

As well as having lived in the UK for at least 5 years, there are a number of other requirements that Spouse Visa holders must meet in order to qualify for ILR, they include:

• Passing the Life in the UK Test – this tests your knowledge of British culture and customs
• Demonstrating a knowledge of the English language – you must prove that you meet the B1 level of English as set out by the Common European Framework of Languages, unless you are from a country that is exempt from this requirement
• Proving that you have not breached UK immigration rules or have any criminal convictions

In some cases Spouse Visa holders may need to wait for 10 years until they can apply for ILR, this will depend on the circumstances of your initial Spouse Visa application.

Do you need help applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain? Our lawyers can assist you. Get in touch

How long can I stay in the UK on a Spouse Visa?

The Spouse Visa is granted for an initial period of 33 months if you have applied from outside the UK or 30 months if you have applied to switch to this visa from inside the UK. You can also apply for an extension of your Spouse Visa if you wish to stay in the UK after this time.

A Spouse Visa extension allows you to stay in the UK for another 30 months. To be eligible for an extension you must meet the original Spouse Visa requirements again. You should apply for you extension before your entry clearance expires.

After living in the UK for 5 years under a Spouse Visa you can apply for ILR if eligible. ILR is a form of settlement that will grant you permanent residence in the UK.

If you do not want to apply for ILR but wish to stay in the UK, you can apply for another extension.

How can IAS help?

If you have questions about the Spouse Visa, or need assistance with any other immigration issue, our lawyers are here to help. Understanding UK visas and the rules that come with them can be difficult, that’s why we offer professional legal advice sessions where you can ask one of our lawyers any questions you may have about an immigration related issue, such as how long you can spend outside the UK without risking your immigration status.

If you would like to make an application for permanent residence, our lawyers can also assist you with that. We can assess your eligibility for ILR and inform you of all the requirements you are expected to meet to be able to apply successfully. Our lawyers can also assist you with the application form, help you to gather all of your supporting documents and can write you a letter of representation to support your application.

For more information about any of our services book a free consultation today by calling 020 4502 8582 .

You may be interested in reading about.

British citizenship, spouse visa application, indefinite leave to remain, spouse visa extension, skilled worker visa, sponsor licence application.

We can help you if you need help with your Spouse Visa application. Call us now

Last modified on August 20th, 2021 at 1:21 pm

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FAQs about EU Spouse Schengen Visa

If you are the husband or wife of a European Union citizen, you may be wondering, “Does an EU spouse need Schengen visa in order to visit the Schengen area?” Today’s blog will therefore answer this question, in the context of EU-citizen’s spouse travel to the Schengen area. In addition, it will cover several frequently asked questions, including, “Is a marriage certificate required for a Schengen tourist visa?”, and “Can I stay without holding a visa in the Schengen area?” And finally, “Will I need to apply for ETIAS visa waiver when launched?” Read on for the answers to these questions, in addition to other FAQs.

As a spouse to EU citizen, do I need a Schengen visa?

• An extremely fundamental question; if you are the husband or wife of an EU citizen, you need to know whether you enjoy visa-free access to the Schengen area. 
• The answer to this question depends on whether you have residency in the EU. If you are the husband or wife of an EU citizen, and you possess an EU residency ID card (i.e. you have residency in one of the 27 states of the EU, either in the same country as your spouse, or from a different EU country), then you do not need a Schengen visa in order to visit the Schengen area. 
• However, if you are the wife or husband of an EU citizen and you do not yet possess a residency card from an EU country, you will need to apply for a Schengen visa in order to enter and travel throughout the zone. 

How do I apply for a visa?

If you do end up needing a visa to the Schengen area, you should follow the below steps to apply:

• Processing times for Schengen visas tend to be three weeks, which means you should apply a minimum of three weeks prior to when you intend to travel to the Schengen area.
• As a family member of an EU national, you should apply for the “Visiting Friends and Family” Schengen visa type. 
• Schengen visas are available in single, double, or multiple entry categories. The category you select will determine the number of times you can enter, exit, and re-enter the Schengen area. 
• If you only wish to enter the Schengen area a single time, then you should apply for a single-entry Schengen visa. If you intend to exit the Schengen area but ultimately return to it during your visa validity period, you should apply for, at minimum, a double entry Schengen visa. 
• If you want to be unrestricted in the number of times you can enter, exit, and re-enter the Schengen area, then you should apply for a multiple-entry Schengen visa. 
• You should apply for your Visiting Family and Friends visa from the Schengen country you intend to spend the most time in on your trip. 
• If you intend to travel to multiple countries in the Schengen area, then you should apply to the one that stands as your first entry to the zone. 
• Schengen visa applications are lodged at the embassy, consulate, or visa application center affiliated with the Schengen country you are applying to. 
• For example, if you are applying for a Schengen visa from France, you will likely apply through the French Embassy or Consulate located in the capital city of the country you are applying from. 
• Passport. 
• Marriage certificate (as evidence of your relationship to your EU spouse). 
• Evidence that your spouse lives in the EU country you are planning to visit. 
• Evidence that you will make your journey with your EU spouse (if you are in fact, making the journey as a couple). 
• You will likely be able to apply through the basic Schengen visa application, available here . 
• If you are applying through certain countries, you may have to apply through a country specific visa application portal (as is the case for most applicants for French and German Schengen visas). 
• Most applicants will need to schedule their Schengen visa appointment in advance of attending. You can do this either by contacting the embassy/consulate directly, or, if you are applying through a country portal, making an appointment online.   
• Officially hand in your visa application
• Pay your visa fee (80 EUR for most applicants) 
• Have your biometric data collected (biometric data include fingerprints and photos for identity and security purposes) 
• Have an interview regarding your trip 
• Most applicants receive a decision in under three weeks
• If your Visiting Family or Friends visa is denied, you may appeal. 
• For more information on appealing a rejected Schengen visa, contact us .

Is marriage certificate required for Schengen tourist visa?

• If you are applying for a Visiting Family and Friends visa as the spouse of an EU citizen, you will have to provide your marriage certificate. If you are applying for a tourist visa, you will likely not be required to submit your marriage certificate, although you may want to, for identity purposes. 

For how long can an EU citizen and his/her accompanied non-EU Spouse stay in Schengen?

• If you are wondering how long can an EU citizen stay in Schengen area, the answer is—indefinitely.
• Spouses of EU citizens who lack residency typically are limited to 90-day stays in the Schengen area. 

Where do I apply for a Schengen visa?

• If you are the husband or wife of an EU citizen, you may be wondering, “Where do you apply for a Schengen visa?” 
• All applicants for Schengen visas, regardless of Schengen visa “type” or “category’ should apply for their visa through the embassy, consulate, or visa application center relevant to the Schengen country they are spending the most time in on their trip. 
• For example, if you are applying for a French Schengen visa, you will submit your application through the French Embassy, Consulate, or visa application center in the country that you are applying from (which is usually found in the capital city (or largest city) in your country of residence). 

Can I stay without holding a visa in the Schengen area?

• As the husband or wife of an EU citizen, you cannot legally stay in the Schengen area without applying for a visa, unless you have some form of residency in the zone. 

As a non-EU spouse of EU citizen, will I need to apply for EU’s upcoming ETIAS visa waiver?

• The upcoming ETIAS —European Travel Information Authorization System—(i.e. the visa waiver) will apply to all of the 26 Schengen states. However, because the visa waiver is only required from citizens of countries that currently enjoy visa-free access to the Schengen area, as the non-EU spouse of an EU citizen, you will only need an ETIAS if you are a national of one of those countries.
• If you are the national of a country who has visa-free access to the Schengen area, and you are also the non-resident spouse of an EU national, then you will ultimately need to apply for an ETIAS, rather than a Schengen visa, in order to travel to the zone. 

What are the visa photo requirements for the Schengen visa?

• If you are pursuing a visa to the Schengen area as the spouse of an EU citizen, you may have heard about the photo requirements for applicants, in which case you are likely wondering, “What are the visa photo requirements for spouses of EU citizen?”
• All Schengen visa applicants—be they spouses or non-spouses of EU citizens, must submit two passport size photos as part of their requirements for the Schengen visa. 

How can I collect my passport?

• When you submit your Schengen visa application, you will also submit your passport as part of your required application documents. 
• After you have submitted all of your documents and officially lodged your Schengen visa application, you may be wondering, “How can I collect my passport after submitting it as part of my application?”
• Applicants can collect their passports after receiving a decision on their application. After you receive a decision on your Schengen visa, you will receive instructions on how to proceed. If your visa application has been accepted, you will receive a visa, which will be pasted within your passport. As a successful applicant, you should receive a notification from the embassy or consulate you applied through, informing you of the process through which you can collect your passport (and visa). 
• If you are rejected for a Schengen visa, you will receive an email informing you of how to pick up your passport—sans visa. 

Visa Traveler

Exploring the world one country at a time

43 countries you can travel VISA-FREE with UK visa [2024 edition]

Updated: March 21, 2024 533 Comments

One of the frequent questions I get is which countries can I visit with a UK visa. The short answer is the UK. The long answer is you can travel to 40 countries and territories VISA-FREE with UK visa.

I encourage you all to get a US visa or at least a Canada visa first. Both these visas are long-term visas. These visas offer VISA-FREE travel to quite a few countries. But if you happen to have a UK visa or applying for one, then it is still better than not having any visas at all. There are about 40 countries and territories you can visit with a UK visa.

UK tourist visas are mostly short-term (C-Type) visas valid for 6 months. The UK does issue long-term visas for 5/10 years but it would cost an arm and a leg.

The UK visa application is not the most difficult, but it can be stressful due to its lengthy processing times and lack of customer service.

Table of Contents

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER Visa requirements change constantly but we make every effort to keep the information accurate and up to date. We provide links to official sources wherever necessary, so you can conduct your own due diligence to verify the visa requirements before planning your trip. We shall not be held liable for any damages incurred as a result of using the information in this article. Refer to our full disclaimer for more information.

Which UK Visas are eligible?

Depending on the country, any of the below UK visas can be used.

• UK Visitor Visa (Standard visitor and Short-term study)
• UK Student Visa (Tier 4)
• UK Work Visa (Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 5)
• UK Transit Visa (DATV and Visitor in Transit)
• UK Family Visa (Spouse)
• UK Residence Permit (ILR and BRP)

Refer to each country below for permitted UK visa types. Some countries require the UK visa to be multiple-entry and have been used at least once to travel to the UK.

So, without further ado, let’s get started.

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North America

• Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
• Permitted visas: All used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
• Permitted resident permits: All valid ILRs (permanent resident cards)
• Entry granted: Up to 180 days
• UK visa or residence permit must be valid during the entire stay in Mexico
• Passport must be valid during the entire stay in Mexico
• Official source: National Institute of Migration, Mexico

WARNING UK BRP cards are NOT ACCEPTED to enter Mexico. Only valid/unexpired UK visas (visa sticker in the passport) or UK ILR cards (permanent residency) are accepted. Also, if you are from the African continent (ex: Nigeria, Ghana, etc.), please check with Mexican authorities before planning your travel. I’m hearing a lot of stories of entry refusals and deportations at Mexican airports.

RELATED: 53 countries you can travel VISA-FREE with a US visa in 2024

Central America

02. Costa Rica

• Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Tier 1, 2, 4 or 5 visas (student and work only)
• Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
• Entry granted: 30 days
• IMPORTANT: UK standard visitor visas are NOT accepted
• UK Tier 1, 2, 4, 5 visas or BRPs must be valid for at least 3 months from the day of arrival
• Official source: Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington DC, USA
• Permitted visas: All valid used multiple-entry UK visas
• UK visa or residence permit must have been used at least once to enter the UK before
• UK visa or residence permit must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
• Must show proof of economic solvency for a minimum of 500 USD
• Original sources: Embassy of Panama in the USA

RELATED: 38 countries you can travel VISA-FREE with Canada visa in 2024

04. Anguilla (British Territory)

• Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
• Entry granted: 90 days
• Official source: The Government of Anguilla

05. Antigua and Barbuda

• Permitted residence permits: A valid ILR (permanent resident permit)
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL (VOA)
• VOA fee is 100 USD, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
• UK Visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
• Official source: Department of Immigration, Antigua and Barbuda
• Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs (applies to all nationalities)
• Official source: Netherlands Worldwide

07. Bahamas

• Permitted residence permits: A valid ILR (permanent resident card)
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Bahamas

08. Bermuda (British Territory)

• UK visa or residence permit must be valid for a minimum of 45 days beyond the date of departure from Bermuda
• Passport must be valid for a minimum of 45 days beyond the date of departure from Bermuda
• Official source: Government of Bermuda

09. Bonaire (Dutch Territory)

10. british virgin islands (british territory).

• Permitted residence permits: None
• Entry granted: 180 days
• Entry rule: UK visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
• Official source: Government of the Virgin Islands (British)

11. Cayman Islands (British Territory)

• Entry rule: Must arrive in the Cayman Islands directly from the UK. Arriving from a third country is not permitted.
• Official source: Cayman Islands Customs and Border Controls

12. Curaçao

13. dominican republic.

• Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas, except transit
• Entry rule: If arriving by land or sea, must pay a departure tax of 20 USD before departing. If arriving by air, the departure tax is included in the airfare.
• Official source: Embassy of the Dominican Republic in the UK

14. Jamaica

• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Dominican Republic
• Entry rules: UK visa must be valid for at least 30 days from the day of arrival
• Official source: Immigration Department of Jamaica

15. Sint Maarten

16. turks and caicos (british territory).

• Official source: Ministry of Border Control of Turks and Caicos

RELATED: 53 countries you can travel VISA-FREE with Schengen visa in 2024

South America

• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru

RELATED: 18 countries you can visit VISA-FREE with an Australian visa or PR in 2024

18. Albania

• Permitted visas: All valid USED multiple-entry UK visas
• Entry rule: UK visa must have been used at least once to enter the UK
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania

19. Armenia

• Marshall Islands
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saudi Arabia
• Solomon Islands
• Timor-Leste
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turkmenistan
• Entry granted: 21 or 120 days
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL
• VOA fee is 3,000 AMD, valid for 21 days, single-entry (OR) 15,000 AMD, valid for 120 days, single-entry
• Visa must be a STICKER in the passport, E-Visa prints are not accepted
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia

20. Georgia

• UK visa must be valid on the day of arrival in Georgia
• Total duration of consecutive stays must not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia

21. Gibraltar (British Territory)

• UK visa must have been issued for at least 6 months or more
• UK residence permit must have been issued for at least 12 months or more
• Official source: Gibraltar Borders & Coastguards Agency

22. Ireland

• North Macedonia
• Permitted visas: A valid used multiple-entry UK short-stay standard visitor visa
• Entry granted: 90 days or until the exit date on your UK entry stamp, whichever is shorter
• Must enter the UK first before entering Ireland
• Must enter and exit Ireland within the exit date on your UK entry stamp (this is different from the visa expiry date)
• Can enter Ireland directly from the UK or elsewhere, but must enter Ireland within the exit date on the UK entry stamp
• Official source: Department of Justice of Ireland

23. Moldova

• Central African Republic
• Equatorial Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• South Africa
• Entry rule: The UK visa or BRP must be valid for the intended period of stay
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova

24. Montenegro

• Entry rule: UK visa must be valid for the intended period of the stay
• Official source: Government of Montenegro

25. North Macedonia

• Entry granted: 15 days
• UK visa must be valid for at least 5 days beyond the intended period of stay
• Total duration of consecutive stays must not exceed 3 months in any 6 months period
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Macedonia
• UK visa must be valid for the entire duration of the stay
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia
• Afghanistan
• Algeria (those aged 15-18 and 35-65)
• North Korea
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for Turkey e-Visa online
• eVisa fee is 43 USD, valid for 180 days, single-entry only
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey

If you hold a UK visa or BRP, you can follow this  step-by-step guide to apply for Turkey e-Visa . This guide has step-by-step instructions and screenshots to help you fill out the application, pay the visa fee and download your approved e-Visa.

28. United Kingdom (Of course!)

• Includes all parts of the United Kingdom: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
• Includes British Crown Dependencies: Isle of Man and the Channel Islands (Bailiwick of Jersey and Bailiwick of Guernsey)

RELATED: 5 ways to get proof of onward travel for your next trip

Middle East

29. Bahrain

• Entry granted: 14 days or 30 days
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL or Bahrain eVisa
• Single-entry VOA fee is 5 BD, valid for 14 days, entry up to 14 days
• Multiple-entry VOA fee is 12 BD, valid for 3 months, entry up to 30 days
• Single-entry eVisa fee is 9 BD, valid for 14 days, entry up to 14 days
• Multiple-entry eVisa fee is 16 BD, valid for 1 month, entry up to 14 days
• For VOA, the UK visa must be valid for the entire stay in Bahrain
• For eVisa, the UK visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
• Official source: Bahrain eVisa Portal
• Burkina Faso
• Congo, Dem. Rep. Of
• Congo, Rep. of
• Cote d’Ivoire
• Guinea Bissau
• Sierra Leone
• South Sudan
• Permitted visas: None
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for Jordan E-Visa
• The ILR or BRP must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
• Official source: Jordan E-Visa Portal
• El Salvador
• Entry granted: 10 or 30 days
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Oman 26M or 26N Tourist Visa online
• 26M eVIsa fee is 20 OMR, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
• 26N eVIsa fee is 5 OMR, valid for 10 days, single-entry only
• Official source: Sultanate of Oman, Royal Oman Police
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for A3 Visa online on the Hayya portal
• A3 Visa fee is QAR 100, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
• Must provide hotel booking for the entire stay reserved through the Discover Qatar website
• UK visa or BRP/ILR must be valid on the day of the A3 Visa application
• Official source: Qatar Tourism Board

33. Saudi Arabia

• Permitted visas: Valid USED multiple-entry UK standard visitor visa (other visas not accepted)
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL or Saudi Arabia eVisa
• VOA or eVisa fee is 300 SAR, valid for 1 year, multiple-entry (plus service fee and insurance fee)
• UK visa must have been used at least once to enter the UK
• Official source: Saudi Arabia Tourism Authority

34. United Arab Emirates

• Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR, BRP and spouse visas
• Entry granted: 14 days
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL at all UAE airports
• VOA fee is 100 AED, valid for 14 days, single-entry only
• UK residence permit must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
• Official source: Embassy of UAE in London, UK

RELATED: How to turn your weak passport into a strong passport (with examples)

• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL at all international airports
• VOA fee is $25 USD, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
• UK visa must have been used to enter the UK at least once
• Official source: Egypt Tourism Department

36. Morocco

• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for Morocco e-Visa
• E-Visa fee is 770 MAD, valid for 180 days, single-entry only
• UK visa or BPR/ILR must be valid for at least 90 days from the day of arrival
• Official source: Morocco E-Visa Portal

RELATED: How to book flight tickets with 24 hour FREE cancellation on Expedia: A step-by-step guide

• Permitted visas: Valid multiple-entry UK RESIDENT visas such as student, work, etc.
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT but are eligible to apply for  Japan eVisa
• eVisa fee is JPY 3,000, valid for 90 days, single-entry only
• Must submit  proof of residence  to prove that you reside in the UK
• Must show the visa issuance confirmation via the eVisa website on your phone at the immigration (Prints and PDFs are not accepted)
• Must enter Japan by flight only
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

38. Kyrgyzstan

• Permitted visas: All valid used/unused LONG-TERM multiple-entry UK visas, issued for at least for 3+ years
• Entry granted: 7 days
• UK visa must be a long-term visa issued for 3 or more years, visas issued for less than 3 years are not accepted
• After entering Kyrgyzstan this way, you can only reenter Kyrgyzstan again after 21 days
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan

39. Philippines

• Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of departure
• Official source: Embassy of the Philippines in India

40. Singapore

• Entry granted: 96 hours (4 days)
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT but are eligible to obtain Visa Free Transit Facility (VFTF) upon arrival
• Must be traveling to or from the country of passport. Example: Must be traveling to a third country from India via Singapore or traveling to India from a third country via Singapore. An example itinerary would be India-Singapore-Bali or Bali-Singapore-India.
• Both arriving and departing flights in Singapore must be on the same itinerary
• UK visa or BPR/ILR must be valid for at least 1 month at the time of arrival
• Official source: Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority

41. South Korea

• Eligible nationalities: All nationalities (except these 23 countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cameron, Cuba, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Uzbekistan and Yemen)
• Entry rule: Must be traveling to/from the UK through South Korea
• Official source: South Korea Embassy in Washington DC, USA
• Permitted visas: All valid/expired used/unused single/multiple-entry UK visas, except transit
• Permitted residence permits: All valid/expired ILR and BRPs
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT but are eligible to apply for ROC Travel Authorization Certificate online
• ROC Travel Authorization Certificate is free of charge, valid for 90 days, multiple-entry
• If using an EXPIRED UK visa or residence permit, the visa or residence permit must have expired in the last 10 years
• Official source: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)

43. Thailand

• Permitted residence permits: A valid ILR or BRP
• Entry granted: 60 days
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for Thailand e-Visa online
• E-Visa fee is 40 USD, valid for 90 days or 180 days, single or multiple-entry
• Must submit  proof of residence in the UK such as driver’s license, utility bill, etc
• Thai E-Visa Portal

So, there you have it! 43 countries and territories you can travel VISA-FREE with UK visa.

Do you know any other country (I haven’t listed here) where you can travel VISA-FREE with UK visa? Let me know in the comments below.

Change history:  For those who are interested, here are the changes to this list.

WRITTEN BY THIRUMAL MOTATI

Thirumal Motati is an expert in tourist visa matters. He has been traveling the world on tourist visas for more than a decade. With his expertise, he has obtained several tourist visas, including the most strenuous ones such as the US, UK, Canada, and Schengen, some of which were granted multiple times. He has also set foot inside US consulates on numerous occasions. Mr. Motati has uncovered the secrets to successful visa applications. His guidance has enabled countless individuals to obtain their visas and fulfill their travel dreams. His statements have been mentioned in publications like Yahoo, BBC, The Hindu, and Travel Zoo.

PLAN YOUR TRAVEL WITH VISA TRAVELER

I highly recommend using these websites to plan your trip. I use these websites myself to apply for my visas, book my flights and hotels and purchase my travel insurance.

01. Apply for your visa

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02. Book your fight

Find the cheapest flight tickets using Skyscanner . Skyscanner includes all budget airlines and you are guaranteed to find the cheapest flight to your destination.

03. Book your hotel

Book your hotel from Booking.com . Booking.com has pretty much every hotel, hostel and guesthouse from every destination.

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If traveling on a one-way ticket, use BestOnwardTicket to get proof of onward ticket for just $12, valid for 48 hours.

05. Purchase your insurance

Purchase travel medical insurance for your trip from SafetyWing . Insurance from SafetyWing covers COVID-19 and also comes with a visa letter which you can use for your visas.

06. Get your zero-fee ATM card

You can manage money internationally in over 70 currencies using  Wise . With a Wise card, you can store and withdraw cash in 40 currencies with zero ATM fees. 

Need more? Check out my travel resources page  for the best websites to plan your trip.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER We are not affiliated with immigration, embassies or governments of any country. The content in this article is for educational and general informational purposes only, and shall not be understood or construed as, visa, immigration or legal advice. Your use of information provided in this article is solely at your own risk and you expressly agree not to rely upon any information contained in this article as a substitute for professional visa or immigration advice. Under no circumstance shall be held liable or responsible for any errors or omissions in this article or for any damage you may suffer in respect to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the information in this article. Please refer to our full disclaimer for further information.

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please refer to our full disclosure for further information.

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• Visas and immigration
• What you need to do

How to apply for a visa to come to the UK

Choose a visa.

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

There are different visas depending on:

• where you come from
• why you want to come to the UK
• how long you want to stay for
• your personal circumstances and skills

Before you apply, you must check if you need a visa and what type you need. Depending on your nationality, you might not need a visa to visit or transit through the UK.

Your application must be approved before you travel.

You do not need to apply for a visa if you’re an Irish citizen.

If you want to visit the UK

Apply for a Standard Visitor visa to visit the UK for up to 6 months. For example:

• for a holiday or to see family and friends
• for a business trip or meeting
• to do a short course of study

You must apply for a Marriage Visitor visa if you want to visit the UK to get married or register a civil partnership.

If you have a visitor visa you cannot take a job in the UK.

If you’re travelling through the UK

You might need a visa if you’re travelling through the UK on your way to another country, for example if you have a layover between flights.

Apply for a visa to travel through the UK .

If you want to study in the UK

Your course length, type and place of study affect which visa to apply for.

A Standard Visitor visa lets you do a short course of study that lasts no longer than 6 months.

A Short-term study visa lets you come to the UK to study an English language course that is over 6 months and up to 11 months.

A Student visa is usually for a longer course. You must be sponsored by a licensed college or university and have a confirmed place. On this visa, you may be able to do some work.

A Child Student visa is for 4 to 17 year olds who want to study at an independent school. If you’re 16 or over, this visa lets you do some work.

If you want to work in the UK

You can work in the UK on a short or long-term basis with a work visa. There are many types of work visa .

The visa you need depends upon:

• your skills and qualifications
• if you have a job offer and sponsorship
• if you want to bring your family with you
• what you’ll be doing - for example sporting, charitable or religious work

You can set up a business with an Innovator Founder visa .

If you want to join family in the UK

If you’re a spouse, partner or family member of someone who has British citizenship or settlement in the UK, you can apply for a family visa to join them. They may need to show that they can support you financially.

You may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain ( ILR ) after a set amount of time living in the UK.

If your family member is in the UK on a visa

You may be able to apply for a visa to join a family member who’s in the UK on a visa. They must be either:

• your spouse or partner
• your parent if you’re 18 or under

Check what visa you’ll need to join them.

Family reunion visas for refugees

If you were separated from your partner or child when you were forced to leave your country, they can apply to join you in the UK.

Your family members can apply if you have been given asylum or 5 years’ humanitarian protection, and not have British citizenship.

If your family member is from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

You can apply for a free EU Settlement Scheme family permit to come to the UK if you have a close family member who:

• was living in the UK by 31 December 2020
• has pre-settled or settled status
• you had a relationship with by 31 December 2020 (unless you’re applying for a child who was born or adopted after this date)

Close family members include your spouse or civil partner, child, grandchild, parent or grandparent.

A family permit lets you live, work and study in the UK for up to 6 months. You can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to stay in the UK after your family permit expires. You usually need to apply within 3 months of arriving in the UK.

Other ways to get permission to live in the UK

If you’re from the eu, switzerland, norway, iceland or liechtenstein.

If you started living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme instead of applying for a visa. The deadline to apply was 30 June 2021, but you can still apply if you can show reasonable grounds for the delay in applying.

Check if you can still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme .

You can only apply from outside the UK if you have a valid passport or national identity card with a biometric chip.

Commonwealth citizens

You can apply for an Ancestry visa to work in the UK if you have a British grandparent and meet other eligibility criteria.

You may have right of abode to live in the UK.

If you’re a Commonwealth citizen and cannot prove your right to be in the UK, read about the Windrush scheme .

Returning residents

You’ll need to apply for a returning resident visa to come back to the UK if one of the following is true:

you had indefinite leave to remain under the EU Settlement Scheme (‘settled status’) and left the UK for more than 5 continuous years (or 4 continuous years if you’re a Swiss citizen or their family member)

you had permanent permission to stay in the UK (‘indefinite leave to remain’) but it was not under the EU Settlement Scheme and you left the UK for more than 2 years

Other visas

There may be another visa that’s right for you based on your circumstances. Check if you need a visa and what other visas you’re eligible for.

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OPINION - Visa rules: I love my partner but the UK's cruel new wage threshold threatens our life together

O ver 150,000 people have signed petitions to cut the upcoming visa changes — you might think the Home Office would reconsider this massively impactful decision. Unfortunately, it’s becoming glaringly obvious that anyone who tries to make themselves heard is just screaming into the void.

I am not from the UK. This means I have to earn the privilege of living here by proving my worth through my contributions to society. I think this notion is reasonable.

My partner, on the other hand, is a long time resident of this country. When you meet someone, should the stages of getting to know them also include a passport check?

About six months into our relationship, we were certain that we didn’t want to live apart. Could I have ever known that I would want to spend the rest of my life with a stranger who flirted with me at a department store?

From moving into our tiny flat in Camden to flying all the way to India for an official family introduction, everything seemed to be going great. I’m no fan of romantic films but I did feel like I was living in one. And I didn’t hate it.

That was until the Home Office decided to make some changes. Their plans seemed to put a huge obstacle in front of us: what happens if we can’t get my spousal visa approved? Where do we live? How do we decide if the love we have for each other is worth upheaving the life my partner has worked so hard to build for himself?

It will cost me a total of £4153 just to submit this application

When it was first announced, the jump in the minimum salary threshold from £18,600 to £38,700 seemed atrocious. This meant that if you don’t make an income that meets the requirement, you can’t sponsor your partner or family member’s visa and they can’t come live with you in the UK. This news caused a huge wave of panic for many people. As this increase put the family/spouse visa salary threshold far higher than the average UK salary for those in their mid to late twenties, the uproar was justified.

Everything that my partner and I had put down in our 5-year plan (yes, we have one of those) seemed to be destroyed by the same establishment that is supposed to help him see it through. We went from saving to put a down payment for a house and being dedicated to building durable local careers to feeling like we were sitting ducks. Now we just wait for the next bit of bad news to roll in and drag us further from the lifestyle we dreamed of.

I’m sure these changes have been driven by some supposedly justifiable reason. For one, the insinuation that immigrants risk overusing public service is quite presumptuous. I’m coming up to the end of my second year in London and have been successful at accessing NHS services a total of zero times. Of course, I am far from the only one struggling to get healthcare when needed with 250 patients dying every week due to long wait times .

It’s jarring to think that is the case when not only do I make contributions every month to national insurance, which are taken straight from my paycheck, but I also had to pay a whopping £2070 NHS surcharge to get my post-graduate visa application approved.

All this for a service that isn’t even wholly available to me? It just proves that the argument that public funds need to be protected from immigrants, who pay such a ghastly amount to even be allowed into the country, is nothing but right-wing cant borne out of contempt for anyone who cannot buy the government’s support.

Next week on April 11th, the threshold will officially reach £29,000 but as of 2025, which is when I will be switching over to the spouse visa, it will go up to £38,700. Oh, and did I mention that it will cost me a total of £4153 just to submit this application?

When talking with others my age, it’s almost a unanimous belief that there seems no end to systems that only further the divide between the rich and poor. No wonder Gen Z is going through a hell of a mental health crisis .

Costs continue to go up, wages remain stagnant and people’s love lives are now also being dictated by a Home Office that just doesn’t listen. They ought to have a “What citizenship do you hold?” section on dating apps now.

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