Can I sponsor my parent to come to the UK? Your Questions Answered

Wondering how to bring your parent to the UK? Whether for a short visit or permanent stay, this guide explains your options, eligibility requirements, and how to apply successfully.

We frequently receive questions from clients about bringing family members—especially parents—to join them in the UK. Whether you’re considering a short visit or permanent relocation, understanding your options and the legal requirements is key. Below, we answer some of the most common questions about sponsoring a parent to come to the UK.

Q1: Can I bring my parents to the UK for a short visit?

A: Yes, visiting family and friends is permitted as a Visitor for up to 6 months at a time. Depending on their nationality, they will either need to apply for a Visit visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation before they travel to the UK.

Q2: What is a Visit visa and what are the requirements?

A: A Standard Visitor visa is intended for tourism, short-term business, or family visits. To qualify, your parents must:

• Intend to leave the UK before the visa expires.
• Stay for no longer than 180 days in any single visit and not seek to live in the UK through frequent or successive visits.
• Demonstrate they can financially support themselves during their stay, including their travel and accommodation costs.
• Provide evidence of strong ties to their home country to satisfy the Home Office that they will leave at the end of their visit.

This visa does not allow access to public funds or long-term stay, and it’s essential they comply with all conditions to avoid future immigration complications.

Q3: Can I sponsor my parents to live permanently in the UK?

A: Sponsoring a parent for permanent residence is significantly more complex. They may be eligible under the Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa, but this route has very strict criteria and a low success rate.

Q4: What is the Adult Dependent Relative visa?

A: The ADR visa allows an elderly parent (or other adult family member) to join you in the UK permanently if you are British or settled in the UK (meaning that you have Indefinite Leave to Remain), but only if they:

• Needlong-term personal care due to age, illness, or disability.
• Cannot access or afford that care in their home country, even with your financial help.
• Haveno other close relatives in their home country who could provide care.
• Applyfrom outside the UK.

If approved, the applicant will be granted indefinite leave to enter, meaning they won’t need to apply to extend their leave.

Q5: What are the financial and accommodation requirements for sponsoring a parent under the ADR route?

A: You (the sponsor) must show that:

• You haveadequate income or savings to support your parent without public funds (this is known as the adequate maintenance test).
• You can provide suitable accommodation in the UK.
• You’ll be responsible for their long-term care needs.

Financial support can include employment income, self-employment, savings, or certain benefits, depending on your situation.

Q6: My parent has medical needs. Is that enough for an ADR visa?

A: Not necessarily. You’ll need extensive medical documentation to show:

• Agenuine need for long-term personal care.
• That this carecannot be accessed or paid for in the home country.
• There areno other family members available to assist them.

This is a very high threshold, and we recommend consulting with an immigration specialist before applying as most applications are refused at first instance.

Q7: What if I cannot meet the ADR requirements—are there other routes?

A: If you (or your partner if they were granted status before 31 December 2020) are resident in the UK with status under the EU Settlement Scheme (Pre-Settled or Settled Status), you may be able to apply for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit to sponsor an elderly relative to come to the UK.

The care requirements are less stringent than the ADR route, in that you must only show that, with regard to their financial and social conditions or health, the applicant cannot meet their essential living needs (in whole or in part) without the financial or other material support from you or your partner. You must have both been supporting them at this level before 31 December 2020 and continuously through to the date of application.

It is important to note that the sponsor cannot themselves have been granted a Family Permit, either under the EU Settlement Scheme or the former EEA Regulations.

Unfortunately, aside from the ADR route and EU Family Permit, there are no alternative permanent immigration routes. If you only hold a visa (limited leave to remain not granted under the EU Settlement Scheme), you cannot bring your parent to the UK under the current rules. If the application does not meet the criteria, it will highly likely be refused and the application fee is non-refundable.

Final Thoughts:

Bringing a parent to the UK—whether for a short visit or permanent stay—is possible but often challenging. The UK Visit visa is the most accessible option, while the Adult Dependent Relative visa is the only route for permanent relocation and requires a strong case with substantial evidence.

If you’re unsure which route is best or need help preparing an application, contact our team. We offer expert advice and tailored support to give your application the strongest chance of success.

Updated: 23.06.2025

How Gherson can assist

Gherson’s Immigration Team are highly experienced in advising on UK visa matters. If you have any questions arising from this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

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