What is this section about?
This section explains what you need to do if you want to settle in the United Kingdom (UK) with your relatives. You must obtain a visa before you travel to the UK , otherwise you will be refused entry on arrival.

If you want to join your spouse, fiancé/e or partner in the UK , please see our separate leaflet. Also see our separate leaflet if you want to join a family member in the UK who is a citizen of a European Economic Area country.

Can I go to live with my parents in the UK as a child?
You may apply to join your natural, step or adoptive parents in the UK as long as:

• one of them is able to live in the UK lawfully, with no time limit attached to their stay (i.e. a British Citizen, a Commonwealth Citizen with a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode, or any other person with Indefinite Leave to Remain)
• they can support you without help from public funds;
• they have adequate accommodation, owned or occupied exclusively by them, where you can live without help from public funds.

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How can I qualify to join my parents in the UK ?
You, or your parents, must show that you are:

• under 18 years of age and
• not leading an independent life, not married and have not formed an independent family unit.

You cannot join one of your parents in the UK if the other will still live abroad, unless the parent you are joining has had sole responsibility for your upbringing. 

Can parents, grandparents and other dependent relatives go to live in the UK ?
If you are a widowed parent or grandparent of 65 or over, or parents or grandparents travelling together, of whom one is 65 or over, you may qualify if:

• you are wholly or mainly financially dependent on children or grandchildren living and settled in the UK
• you are without other close relatives in your own country to turn to
• your children or grandchildren can support you without help from public funds
• your children or grandchildren have adequate accommodation, owned or occupied exclusively by them, where you can live without help from public funds

If you are a parent or grandparent under the age of 65 you may qualify if:

• you are living in the most exceptional compassionate circumstances
• you are wholly or mainly financially dependent on children or grandchildren living and settled in the UK
• you are without other close relatives in your own country to turn to;
• your children or grandchildren can support you without help from public funds
• your children or grandchildren have adequate accommodation, owned or occupied exclusively by them, where you can live without help from public funds

If you are over 18 with a parent settled in the UK , or if you are a sister, brother, aunt, uncle or any other parent or grandparent (but not a nephew or niece) of a relative settled in the UK , you may qualify if you meet the above criteria, and can demonstrate that:

• you are living alone in the most exceptional compassionate circumstances .

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What are public funds?
Your sponsor cannot use public funds to support and accommodate you. These are:

• Income Support/Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
• Housing and homelessness allowance
• Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit
• Working families tax credit
• a social fund payment
• Child Benefit
• any disability allowance

What will happen when I make my application?
The Visa Officer will check that he or she has all the information that is needed to make a decision. If more is required, you will be asked to provide this. It might also be necessary for you (and/or your parents) to attend an interview in our Pretoria office. If you have not submitted an application in person, you will be contacted by telephone and a convenient date and time arranged.

How long can I stay with my parents in the UK ?
If both of your parents have the right to live in the UK , you will be allowed to stay there permanently as from the date that you arrive.

If your parent has the right to live in the UK and has had sole responsibility for your upbringing, you will be allowed to stay there permanently from the date that you arrive.

Otherwise you will be given permission to stay in the UK for two years only, at the end of which you can apply to stay in the UK permanently.

How long can I stay with my children, grandchildren or other relatives in the UK ?
If you are issued a visa for settlement to accompany or join a relative as detailed above you will be allowed to stay in the UK permanently from the date that you arrive.

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