Check if you need a UK visa: Information based on your answers

You may need a visa

Whether you need a visa depends on how long you’re staying in the UK.

If you’re staying 6 months or less

You do not need a visa if you’re visiting family or a partner for 6 months or less.

If you’re travelling on or after 8 January 2025, you’ll need to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA). You’ll be able to apply from 27 November 2024.

If the family member you’re joining is from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you may be able to apply for a free family permit. This makes it easier and quicker to enter the UK. Your family member must have been living in the UK by 31 December 2020.

If you’re staying longer than 6 months

The visa you apply for depends on your family member’s situation. You can work or study if your application is successful.

Your family is settled in the UK

You may be able to apply for a family visa if your family member or partner:

  • is a British citizen
  • is settled in the UK (called having ‘indefinite leave to remain’)
  • has settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
  • has a Turkish worker or businessperson visa

Your family member must be your partner, child, parent, or a relative who’ll provide long-term care for you.

Your family is working or studying in the UK

You may be able to apply as a ‘dependant’ of your partner or parent’s visa if they’re working or studying in the UK.

Browse for your family member’s type of visa to find out how to apply.

Your family member was 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. Your close family member must:

  • be a citizen of an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
  • have been living in the UK by 31 December 2020
  • have settled or pre-settled status

To be eligible to apply from outside the UK, you must either:

  • be a citizen of an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and have a biometric passport or national identity card
  • have a biometric residence card (BRC) or biometric residence permit (BRP) issued in the UK which has not expired

Otherwise you’ll need to apply for a free family permit to come to the UK. Once you’re in the UK you can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Your answers

Start again

What’s your nationality as shown on your passport or travel document?
USA
Change What’s your nationality as shown on your passport or travel document?
What are you coming to the UK to do?
Join partner or family for a long stay
Change What are you coming to the UK to do?

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