Some families are separated by borders but they don’t have to stay that way. The UK Family visa lets a parent or child join their family member who is British or settled in the UK, and build a permanent life together.
There’s nothing harder than being separated from your parent or your child by an international border. The UK Family visa exists precisely to fix that it’s a dedicated route that lets a parent or child join their loved one who is a British citizen or settled in the UK, and build a permanent life together. For genuine families who meet the requirements, it’s a real and achievable path home.
That said, the Family visa (governed by “Appendix FM” of the visa Rules) is one of the more technical UK routes, with a strict income requirement, detailed evidence rules, and important distinctions between the parent and child routes. Many rejections happen not because the family doesn’t qualify, but because the evidence wasn’t presented in the exact way the Home Office requires. In this guide, we’ll make it all clear and show you how to avoid the mistakes that keep families apart.
Who is this guide for?
Pakistani parents who want to join their British or settled child in the UK, and children who want to join their parent who is British, settled, or on a family route in the UK.
The Family visa is an umbrella term for several routes under Appendix FM that let a family member join a person who is British or settled in the UK (or has certain other status). It covers partners, parents, children, and adult dependent relatives. Crucially, it leads to permanent settlement (ILR), this is a route to living in the UK for good, not a temporary stay.
Key distinction:
The Family visa is for joining someone who is
British or settled
in the UK. If your family member is only in the UK temporarily on a work or student visa, you apply as a
dependant
on their visa instead not on the Family visa route.
This guide focuses on the two family reunion routes most relevant to parents and children:
| Parent of a Child in the UK | For a parent who wants to come to the UK to care for their child, where the child is British or settled and the parent has parental responsibility (often sole or shared, living apart from the other parent). | |
| Child Joining a Parent | For a child who wants to join their parent in the UK, where the parent is British, settled, or applying/being granted a family visa, and the child meets the age and dependency rules. |
Every family is different:
Parent and child cases often turn on specific factors, parental responsibility, sole responsibility, and the child’s best interests. These can be complex, which is why personalised advice makes such a difference.
Not sure how this applies to you?Send us your details and a Westside adviser will tell you honestly where you stand. Free 30 minute assessment.
Ask on WhatsAppWhile the exact rules vary by route, most Family visa applications must satisfy these core areas:
For the parent and partner routes, the sponsor must usually meet the Minimum Income Requirement (MIR). As of 2026, this is:
| Minimum income | £29,000 per year (raised from £18,600 in April 2024) |
| Children | The £29,000 now stays fixed regardless of the number of children |
| Savings alternative | £88,500 held for 6 months (or a combination with income) |
| Some benefits | An “adequate maintenance” test may apply instead in certain cases |
The evidence trap:
Many rejections happen not because the income is too low, but because the evidence wasn’t in the
exact format
the Home Office requires (payslips, bank statements, and employer letters covering specific periods). Getting the financial evidence right is where expert help pays off the most.
Note on the child route:
A child applying to join a parent doesn’t have a separate income threshold of their own, but the family must still show they can be maintained and accommodated without public funds. We’ll confirm exactly what applies to your case.
Adult applicants on the parent route usually need to meet an English language requirement, which rises through the journey: A1 for the first application, A2 when extending, and B1 for settlement (ILR). Children are not subject to this requirement.
At the heart of every family application is proof that the relationship is real and ongoing. For the parent/child routes, this means evidence of the family bond, parental responsibility, contact, and (where relevant) financial and emotional support. The Home Office looks closely at whether the relationship is genuine so strong, consistent evidence is essential.
A well organised document pack is the difference between approval and rejection. Typically you’ll need:
Not sure how this applies to your case?
Send us your question on WhatsApp. A Westside adviser in DHA Lahore will reply, Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 18:00.
Ask on WhatsAppApplying from Pakistan follows this path (entry clearance from outside the UK):
The Family visa leads to permanent settlement but via one of two routes, depending on your circumstances:
| 5 year route | For those who meet all the standard requirements (financial, English, relationship) ILR after 5 years |
| 10 year route | Where not all standard rules are met but rejection would breach family life (Article 8) ILR after 10 years |
| Extensions | Both routes involve renewals, meeting requirements at each stage |
| Citizenship | Possible after ILR, subject to requirements |
Good to know:
Even if you can’t meet every standard requirement, there may still be a path via the 10 year route, based on your family life and (for children) the child’s best interests. These cases are complex and benefit hugely from expert advice.
Because the Family visa is about proving genuine family life and meeting strict financial rules, consistency and honesty across all your evidence are absolutely central.
The financial evidence must follow the exact Appendix FM format and tell one consistent story. A sudden large deposit or gaps in the required evidence raise doubts and cause rejections even when the income genuinely exists. Keep your payslips, bank statements, and employer letters aligned, covering the required periods, with no unexplained jumps.
Your relationship evidence must be real and consistent birth certificates, contact records, and proof of responsibility that all point to a genuine family bond. Honesty throughout protects your application and your route to settlement.
The golden rule:
A genuine relationship + consistent, correctly formatted financial evidence + complete, attested documents = a strong family application. This is exactly what turns a “maybe” into a “yes”.
Most family rejections come down to a few avoidable issues often about evidence, not eligibility. Fix these before you apply:
| Financial evidence in the wrong format | The number one rejection reason the income exists, but the payslips, statements, or employer letters don’t meet the exact Appendix FM rules. | Fix it first: Follow the exact financial evidence format, covering the required periods, with every document aligned. This is where expert review matters most. |
| Not meeting the £29,000 income | Falling short of the minimum income requirement, without using savings or an alternative correctly. | Fix it first: Confirm the sponsor meets £29,000, or plan to use the savings route or a valid combination before applying. |
| Weak relationship or responsibility evidence | Not proving the genuine parent child relationship, parental responsibility, or (for parents) the required contact and care. | Fix it first: Build strong evidence of the family bond, certificates, contact, responsibility, and support that clearly shows a genuine relationship. |
| Missing attestation or documents | Un attested certificates, missing accommodation proof, or an incomplete document pack cause rejections. | Fix it first: Get Pakistani certificates apostilled/attested early, and use a full checklist so nothing is missing. |
| Wrong route or switching mistakes | Applying on the wrong route (e.g. as a dependant vs family visa), or trying to switch from a visitor visa, leads to rejection. | Fix it first: Confirm the correct route for your situation before applying this single check saves many families a costly rejection. |
Here’s the honest truth: no one can “promise” a visa the decision always rests with the UK Home Office. But you can make your family’s application as strong as possible. And that’s exactly where we come in.
At Westside Visa, our consultants in DHA Lahore help Pakistani families navigate the technical Family visa route with confidence. We help you:
And if your family has already faced a rejection, don’t lose hope we’re expert at finding the real problem (often an evidence issue), fixing it, and rebuilding a stronger case. Many of our success stories started with a “no”. Think of us as your teammate honest, experienced, and fully on your side, working to bring your family together.
| Route | Appendix FM (parent, child, partner & more) |
| Sponsor | British citizen or settled person in the UK |
| Minimum income | £29,000/year (parent/partner routes) |
| Savings alternative | £88,500 held for 6 months |
| English (parent route) | A1 initial, A2 extension, B1 settlement |
| Settlement | ILR via 5 year or 10 year route |
| Processing | Up to around 24 weeks from outside the UK |
| TB test | Required for Pakistan |
Rules, income thresholds, fees, and evidence requirements change regularly and vary by route always confirm the latest details on the official GOV.UK Family visa page before applying.
Planning your UK journey? We’ve got you covered:
Family reunion is one of the most meaningful journeys of all. Westside Visa guides you through every step of the Family visa route, with honest, expert advice you can trust.
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+92 322 5061166 info@westsidevisa.com First Floor 22 A, Sector A Phase 5 DHA, Lahore
The UK family member must be a British citizen or settled in the UK (with ILR), or hold certain other qualifying status. If they’re only in the UK temporarily on a work or student visa, you apply as a dependant on their visa instead.
For the parent and partner routes, the sponsor must usually show at least £29,000 per year (raised from £18,600 in April 2024). This can also be met through savings of £88,500 held for 6 months, or a valid combination of income and savings.
Yes the parent route allows a parent to join their child in the UK where the child is British or settled and the parent has parental responsibility (often sole or shared, living apart from the other parent). These cases turn on responsibility and the child’s best interests.
It depends on your route. The 5 year route (meeting all standard requirements) leads to ILR after 5 years. The 10 year route (used where not all requirements are met but family life applies under Article 8) leads to ILR after 10 years.
No. You cannot switch to a Family visa from a visitor visa. Visitors must return to their home country and apply for entry clearance. Switching may be possible from certain other visa categories we can advise on your situation.
Very often it’s not because the family doesn’t qualify, but because the financial evidence wasn’t in the exact required format, or the relationship/responsibility evidence was weak. Getting the evidence precisely right is the single biggest factor in success.
Yes from confirming the right route and getting the financial evidence exactly right, to building relationship evidence and attesting documents. We can’t promise a visa (no honest consultant can), but we make sure your family’s application is as strong as possible. Contact us to get started.
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This guide is general information from Westside Visa Consultants, not legal advice. Visa rules change often, so always confirm the latest position on the official government website before you apply.
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