Can I Bring My Parents to the UK Permanently?

Bringing family to live in the United Kingdom is a major decision, particularly when it involves older parents. Whether you are a British citizen, someone with settled status, or on a work or study route, you may wonder how to ensure your parents can stay with you in the UK. In this guide, we look at the available visa options and detail the requirements for anyone who wants to bring their parents to the UK permanently or for a shorter visit. If you need professional assistance, Sterling Law can help you manage the complexities of these processes to maximise your parents’ chances of obtaining the correct status in the UK.

Bringing Parents to the UK for a Short Stay: Standard Visitor Visa

A UK Parents Visitor visa is often the first route for those who wish to see their parents, whether for a special occasion or simply to spend time together.

The Standard Visitor visa is typically used for:

Tourism
Visiting family
Business activities (such as attending conferences)
Undertaking a short course of study

If you want your parents to come to the UK for a temporary stay – perhaps to meet a new grandchild or attend a wedding – this could be a suitable option. It is not intended for those who plan to bring parents to the UK permanently, but it offers a straightforward way for short visits.

To be granted a Standard Visitor Visa, your parents must show that they:

Intend to leave the UK at the end of their visit
Have sufficient funds for their stay and return journey
Have suitable accommodation and can cover their living costs
Will not engage in prohibited activities (e.g., paid work)

Short-term Standard Visitor visas are usually issued for up to six months. However, if your parents travel to the UK frequently, you can apply for a long-term Visitor visa valid for two, five, or ten years. Each visit generally cannot exceed six months. This can be a practical option if you expect multiple visits, especially for retired parents or those who wish to come to the UK on a regular basis.

UK Parent Visa

This visa allows parents to join their children who are British citizens or who hold permanent residence. A family visa for parents suits those intending to remain in the UK for a more extended period.

A visa for parents of British citizens or someone settled in the UK lets a parent live in the country on the basis that they have a child who is either under 18 or is dependent on them. It is structured to meet the best interests of a child in the UK, ensuring their parent can stay or join them. Although it does not immediately grant indefinite residence, it can lead to settlement if all requirements continue to be met.

Parents visa requirements may include the following:

Demonstrating a genuine, ongoing parental relationship with a child in the UK
Showing that the child is British or has settled status
Proving adequate accommodation and financial stability (so there is no reliance on public funds)
Meeting English language and suitability criteria (e.g., no criminal record)

Parents typically need to show regular contact and involvement in the child’s life if the child lives with another parent or guardian. This visa is usually granted for 2 years and 9 months initially and can be extended for another 2.5 years if the criteria remain satisfied. After a required period, you may qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Fulfilling these conditions over time can eventually allow you to convert your status to permanent residence and then potentially move on to British citizenship.

Adult Dependent Relative Visa

One of the most direct routes to bringing older parents to the UK is the Adult Dependent Relative visa. It is intended for family members who need long-term care that can only realistically be provided by a sponsor in the UK. If you are looking for a dependent visa for parents, this might be the most suitable category, though it comes with strict conditions.

The visa is aimed at adult relatives – including parents, grandparents, siblings, and adult children – who, because of advanced years, illness, or disability, need substantial long-term personal care. A sponsor must be a British citizen, a person with settled status (ILR), or someone under humanitarian protection in the UK.

Key requirements include:

The applicant must be over 18
A need for long-term personal care, such as help with daily activities (eating, washing, dressing)
No one in the applicant’s home country can provide the required level of care
The sponsor must have the financial means to provide maintenance, accommodation, and care without the applicant relying on public funds

If approved, the applicant can live in the UK indefinitely, effectively settling with their sponsor. Although this route often leads to quicker permanent residence, the requirements are stringent, and the likelihood of refusal can be higher, so professional legal guidance is strongly advised.

Visa Application Process

Whichever UK long-term visa for a parent you opt for, the application process usually follows similar steps:

Complete and submit the relevant forms, providing personal details, financial information, and a statement of intent.
Submit supporting documents, such as proof of relationship (birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.), financial records (bank statements, pay slips), and health reports if required.
Provide biometric information (fingerprints and photos) at a Visa Application Centre in your country of residence.
For most family visas, pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of your application. This grants access to NHS services in the UK.
The Home Office makes a decision based on the evidence supplied. Additional documents or an interview may be requested in some instances.

Since each family’s circumstances differ, seeking expert advice can help you organise your documents properly and present a clear, robust application.

Other Immigration Routes to Bring Parents to the UK

If the above routes do not meet your needs, other possibilities include:

EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

If you or your parents lived in the UK before the end of the Brexit transition and fulfil the relevant criteria, it might be possible to apply or join family members under the EUSS.

Applying for Refugee Status

This option is suitable for those who face a serious threat to their life, health, or freedom in their own country. To secure asylum, you must:

Show a genuine risk of persecution on grounds such as race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership of a specific social group
Provide documents proving threats or discrimination
Be ready for detailed checks and interviews to give your full account

Refugee status grants the right to remain in the UK with access to some public and medical services, but the process can be complicated and lengthy.

Work Visa

This generally applies to the principal applicant alone and does not typically include parents. However, if your parent possesses suitable professional skills and receives a qualifying job offer from a UK employer, they can consider applying. Key steps include:

Finding an employer licensed to sponsor migrants
Securing a role that meets migration service criteria
Demonstrating English language ability

A Work visa opens up the possibility of relocation and can also become the basis for acquiring long-term status or citizenship.

Student Visa

Parents wishing to gain new qualifications or retrain professionally may consider a Student visa, which requires:

Acceptance at an accredited educational institution
Proof of sufficient funds for tuition
Valid medical insurance and other requisite documents

This option is not geared towards permanent settlement, and bringing other family members can be limited.

Parent of a Child Student Visa

A Parent of a Child Student visa is applied if your child (under 12) attends an independent fee-paying day school in the UK. You are permitted to live in the UK to care for your child throughout their studies. It is not a settlement visa but can be extended until the child turns 12. You must show that you can support yourself and your child without working or using public funds, and you cannot bring other dependents under this route.

Each of these pathways has its own benefits and requirements, so it is crucial to assess your circumstances thoroughly and prepare every document carefully. If you are unsure or want to raise your chances of success, consult an experienced migration specialist.

How Much Does it Cost to Bring Parents to the UK?

The cost will vary considerably depending on the visa category and duration. Here is an approximate outline:

Visitor visa: Short-term (up to 6 months): around £115; Long-term (2, 5, or 10 years): from roughly £432 upwards, depending on the validity period.
Family visas: The Home Office fee for applications typically exceeds £1,500. You will usually also have to pay for UK healthcare as part of your application. Costs depend on the visa length (from about £776 for a year or more).

What Can I Do If a Visa Application Is Refused?

Even well-prepared applications can be declined. Typical grounds include insufficient financial proof, uncertainties about genuine family relationships, failing the English language requirement, or missing documents. If your UK parental visa request is refused, you can:

Apply for an administrative review (if you think a mistake was made in processing).
Lodge an appeal (family visas typically come with full appeal rights, enabling you to argue your case at an immigration tribunal).
Submit a new application, making sure you have resolved the issues mentioned in the refusal letter.

If your visa for parents is turned down, professional legal advice is strongly recommended. Identifying precisely why the application was refused and knowing how to address those issues can improve the odds of success next time.

How Can We Help?

Organising a UK visa for older parents or establishing a longer-term arrangement through a family visa can be daunting, significantly when immigration laws change frequently. At Sterling Law, our seasoned team of immigration experts can guide you from the initial consultation through to visa issuance or an appeal, if necessary.

Seeking professional legal support from Sterling Law comes with various advantages that make working with us both efficient and convenient:

Highly qualified specialists. Our lawyers possess in-depth expertise and substantial practical experience in UK immigration law. We continuously track legislative updates to provide you with the most pertinent and effective guidance. We handle even the most complex and unusual cases successfully.
Personalised approach. We acknowledge that every scenario is unique, so we carefully examine the details of your situation. This enables us to create a strategy tailored to your needs for a family reunion visa for parents.
Comprehensive help at every stage. Our team assists you throughout the entire process, from an initial consultation and document preparation to submitting your application and, if required, representing you in court. We aim to make securing a visa or another form of status in the UK as transparent and comfortable as possible.
A focus on results. Our objective is to support your success by providing a legal basis for reuniting with loved ones in the UK. You can count on us to do everything feasible to achieve a positive outcome.

By opting for Sterling Law, you receive more than standard legal aid; you also gain genuine support in achieving your goal. We take pride in helping clients bring parents to the UK permanently so they can begin a new phase of life surrounded by family care and companionship.