What relatives can I bring to the United Kingdom?
The Immigration Rules say that widowed mothers and widowed fathers aged 65 or over, and parents or grandparents travelling together, one of whom is 65 or over, can come to the United Kingdom. In certain circumstances, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, uncles and aunts over the age of 18, and also parents and grandparents under 65, may be allowed to come.
How do they qualify to come to the United Kingdom?
You must currently live and be settled in the United Kingdom legally with no time limit on your stay, and they must be able to show that:
- they are completely or mainly financially dependent on you;
- they do not have any other close relatives in their own country who can support them financially; and
- you have enough money to support and accommodate them without help from public funds.
If there are exceptional compassionate circumstances, children over 18, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles and other parents and grandparents who live alone may come if they meet the requirements set out above.
They must get entry clearance before travelling to the United Kingdom.
What are public funds?
If you come to live or stay in the United Kingdom, you must be able to support and accommodate yourself without claiming certain state benefits. These are:
- Income-based jobseeker's allowance (JSA);
- Income support;
- Child tax credit
- Working tax credit;
- a social fund payment;
- Child benefit;
- Housing benefit;
- Council tax benefit;
- State pension credit;
- Housing and homelessness assistance;
- Attendance allowance;
- Severe disablement allowance;
- Carer's allowance;
- Disability living allowance;
What is entry clearance?
Entry clearance is a visa or entry clearance certificate that is given to you so you can travel to the United Kingdom. You must apply for entry clearance to the British Embassy, High Commission or other British Diplomatic Mission (known as British Diplomatic Posts) in the country where your relatives live.
You can get advice about which British Diplomatic Posts can issue entry clearance from any British Diplomatic Post abroad.
You can get guidance leaflets and information about visas from UK visas. Write to:
Visa Correspondence Section
UKvisas
London
SW1A 2AH
United Kingdom.
General enquiries: +44 (0)20 7008 8438
Application forms: +44 (0)20 7008 8308
Fax numbers: +44 (0)20 7008 8359/8361