A UK dependant visa allows the partner and children of someone holding a UK work, business or research visa to move to the UK with them and to live, work and study in the country. A family member’s permission is tied to the main applicant’s visa: it usually ends on the same date and, over time, can lead to indefinite leave to remain (ILR).
What is a UK dependant visa
The Immigration Rules do not contain a single visa called the “dependant visa”. The term describes the permission granted to a family member of someone on a specific route, such as Skilled Worker, Global Talent, Innovator Founder, High Potential Individual and several others. The visa holder is the main applicant, and their partner and children are their dependants.
Each family member makes a separate application and pays a separate fee, but the decision depends on the main applicant’s status. Under the GOV.UK guidance for dependants of Skilled Worker visa holders, a partner’s or child’s visa usually ends on the same date as the main applicant’s visa. If a child’s parents have visas with different expiry dates, the child’s visa ends on the earlier date.
The practical consequence of this link is simple: a family move should be planned at the same time as the main visa is chosen. The main applicant’s route determines whether family members can come at all, how much money must be shown, what the applications will cost and when the family can apply for ILR.
Who can apply as a dependant
Dependant status is limited to the immediate family. Under the general rules for work routes, a dependant can be:
- a husband, wife or civil partner, where the marriage or civil partnership is recognised in the UK;
- an unmarried partner, where the couple has lived together for at least 2 years at the date of application;
- a partner in a relationship of at least 2 years where the couple cannot live together, for example because they work or study in different places;
- a child under 18, including a child born in the UK during the parents’ stay;
- a child over 18 who already has permission to be in the UK as a dependant.
If a couple does not live together, they need to show an ongoing commitment, such as regular contact, financial support, caring for children together or spending time together as a couple. Children must live with the parent (unless they are in full-time education away from home, for example at boarding school or university) and must not be married or in a civil partnership.
Parents, siblings and other relatives cannot be dependants under these rules. Separate and considerably stricter routes apply to them, so their relocation needs to be considered separately.
Which visas allow you to bring your family
Whether family members can join you depends on the main applicant’s route. Most long-term work and business visas allow dependants, but in 2024 and 2025 the government restricted this for some workers and students. Here is a summary of the main routes, based on GOV.UK at the time of writing:
| Main applicant’s visa | Can family join? | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | Yes, with restrictions | New dependants of care workers and “medium skilled” occupations are allowed only in limited cases |
| Global Talent | Yes | £766 application fee for each family member |
| Innovator Founder | Yes | Family funds are in addition to the main applicant’s £1,270 |
| High Potential Individual | Yes | Same funds for a partner and children as on the Skilled Worker route |
| Student | Limited | Only government-sponsored students and PhD-level research courses |
| Graduate | Extensions only | No new dependants, except children born in the UK |
If your route does not allow dependants, this is not always a dead end. Sometimes the answer is to change the main visa: for example, switching from the Graduate visa to a Skilled Worker visa allows new dependants to join from outside the UK. This needs careful timing, because the switch must happen before the family’s current permission runs out.
Benefits of applying for a dependant visa with Imperial & Legal
- Assessment of each family member’s eligibility for dependant status
- Review of evidence of the relationship, address and parentage
- Calculation of fees, the healthcare surcharge and maintenance funds
- Preparation of partner and child applications with a family linking code
- Support with applications made from abroad or inside the UK
- Applications for children born in the UK during the parents’ stay
- Planning of extensions and family applications for ILR
When family cannot join: the 2024–2025 restrictions
The most significant recent changes concern not the requirements for dependants themselves, but who is entitled to bring them. For the Skilled Worker visa, the rules on GOV.UK set out two groups of workers with limited family rights:
- Care workers and senior care workers. A partner and children from outside the UK can join only if the worker has been continuously employed in this role on a Skilled Worker visa since before 11 March 2024, or if the child was born in the UK.
- “Medium skilled” occupations. A similar rule applies to those continuously employed in such a role on a Skilled Worker visa since before 22 July 2025, and to children born in the UK.
- Students. Under the Student visa rules, only government-sponsored students on courses longer than 6 months and students on a PhD or other research-based degree can bring dependants if their course started on or after 1 January 2024.
For family members already in the UK, there are further exceptions — for example, for a child whose only living parent is the worker. So before concluding that your family cannot join you, check the specific circumstances: the start date of employment, the occupation code, where family members are and their current immigration status.
Requirements for applicants
If the main applicant’s route allows dependants, each family member needs to meet several basic requirements. These are broadly similar across the work, talent and business routes, although the details — maintenance amounts, fees and wording — differ.
What you need to show for a UK dependant visa application
- Valid permission of the main applicant or an application made at the same time
- A genuine marriage, civil partnership or relationship
- At least 2 years of living together for unmarried partners
- A child under 18 who is not married or in a civil partnership
- A child living with the parent, unless in full-time education
- Maintenance funds held for at least 28 consecutive days
- Payment of the application fee and healthcare surcharge for each person
A separate rule applies to switching inside the UK. A family member cannot switch to dependant status while in the UK on a visit visa, a short-term student visa, a Parent of a Child Student visa, a seasonal worker visa, a domestic worker in a private household visa, on immigration bail or with permission outside the Immigration Rules. In these cases, the application must be made from outside the UK.
How much money you need to show
Family members must show that they can support themselves after arrival. Under the Skilled Worker rules and similar work routes, you need to show:
- £285 for a partner;
- £315 for the first child;
- £200 for each additional child.
These amounts are in addition to the £1,270 the main applicant must show. The money must be held for at least 28 consecutive days, and day 28 must fall within 31 days of the application date. Evidence of funds is usually not needed if the whole family has been in the UK with valid visas for at least 12 months, or if the sponsor covers the family’s costs for the first month and confirms this on the certificate of sponsorship.
For dependants of students, the amounts are higher and calculated monthly: £845 a month for courses in London and £680 a month outside London, for up to 9 months for each family member.
Costs and processing times
The cost of a family move has three parts: the visa fee for each family member, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for each year of the visa, and maintenance funds. One important detail from the official Skilled Worker cost guidance: a partner or child pays the fee for the same length of time as the main applicant, even if they apply later.
| Payment | Amount | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker dependant visa from outside the UK | £819 / £1,618 | Up to 3 years / more than 3 years, per family member |
| Extension or switch inside the UK | £943 / £1,865 | Up to 3 years / more than 3 years |
| Job on the Immigration Salary List | £628 / £1,235 | Reduced fee for the whole family |
| Global Talent dependant visa | £766 | Per family member |
| IHS for an adult | £1,035 a year | Paid for the full length of the visa when applying |
| IHS for a child under 18 and dependants of students | £776 a year | Reduced rate |
The surcharge rates are published on the GOV.UK IHS page. As for timing, a dependant applying from outside the UK will usually get a decision within 3 weeks of proving their identity and providing their documents, while the standard processing time inside the UK for Skilled Worker and Global Talent is 8 weeks. The Home Office publishes current service standards in its visa processing times guidance, but they are not guaranteed and may vary depending on the place of application and the applicant’s circumstances.
How the dependant visa process works
The sequence of steps hardly depends on the route: first the family’s eligibility is checked, then evidence is gathered, applications are submitted and, after a decision, extensions are planned. Below is the client journey with Imperial & Legal, step by step.
Consultation and family eligibility assessment
Evidence of the relationship and maintenance funds
Preparation and submission of family applications
Visa decisions and the family’s move to the UK
Visa extension, ILR and British citizenship
In practice, the second stage takes the longest: evidence of the relationship and finances is rarely ready in advance, and inconsistencies between documents — such as different spellings of a surname in a passport and a marriage certificate — are best resolved before applying rather than in response to a Home Office request.
Documents for a dependant visa
The exact list depends on the route and the family’s circumstances, but in most cases you will need:
- a valid passport for each family member;
- the main applicant’s application number (GWF or UAN) and family linking code, if one was issued;
- a marriage or civil partnership certificate, or evidence of at least 2 years of living together for unmarried partners;
- children’s birth certificates showing the names of both parents;
- evidence of the child’s address, such as bank statements, an NHS registration document or a letter from their school or university;
- bank statements showing funds held for 28 consecutive days, unless the family is exempt;
- certified translations of any documents not in English or Welsh.
If one of the child’s parents is not relocating, you may need their consent or evidence that the relocating parent has sole responsibility for the child’s upbringing. This is a common cause of delays for families after divorce and is best discussed at the very first stage.
Rights of a dependant in the UK
Dependant status on the work routes gives family members fairly broad rights. Under the GOV.UK rules for Skilled Worker dependants, a partner and children can:
- work, except as a sportsperson or sports coach;
- study;
- travel abroad and return to the UK;
- apply for ILR after 5 years in the UK, if they meet the other requirements.
There is one significant limitation: dependants cannot claim most benefits (public funds) or the State Pension. Access to the National Health Service (NHS) is provided through the IHS paid with the application.
This leads to a simple rule: any change in the main applicant’s status — a new employer, a switch to another visa or early termination of employment — should be assessed straight away from the family’s perspective as well.
Children born in the UK
A child born in the UK to parents on temporary visas does not automatically become a British citizen. To travel in and out of the UK with the child, you need to apply for a dependant visa for them, with a full UK birth certificate showing the names of both parents. If the child is staying in the UK, the application must be made before they turn 18.
Children born in the UK are one of the exceptions to the 2024–2025 restrictions: they can obtain dependant status even where the parent’s route no longer allows new partners and children to join from abroad. Whether the child can become a British citizen is a separate question that depends on the parents’ status at the time of birth and afterwards.
Extending a dependant visa and applying for ILR
When the main applicant extends or switches their visa, family members’ visas remain valid until their original end date. They can extend at the same time as the main applicant or at any point before their current permission expires — this includes children who have turned 18 during their stay.
To apply for ILR in the UK, family members of a Skilled Worker visa holder must meet separate criteria. Under the GOV.UK rules for family members:
- a partner must have lived in the UK as your dependant for at least 5 continuous years — time on their own visa does not count;
- a partner aged 18 to 64 must pass the Life in the UK Test and meet the English language requirements;
- a child can be included if both parents are applying for ILR at the same time or are already settled, with certain exceptions such as sole responsibility;
- a child over 18 must have first been granted dependant permission before turning 18 and must not be living an independent life.
At the time of writing, the ILR fee is £3,226 per applicant, and a decision is usually made within 6 months. If a partner has not yet completed 5 years, they can continue to extend their dependant visa even after the main applicant has obtained ILR. ILR then opens the way to British citizenship, which has its own requirements.
It is also important to watch for upcoming reform. In November 2025, the government published a consultation on earned settlement, which proposes linking eligibility for ILR to a migrant’s contribution, conduct and integration and extending the baseline qualifying period. The consultation closed on 12 February 2026; at the time of writing, the outcome has not been published and the current rules still apply. Families planning to apply for ILR in the coming years should keep track of any changes.
Practical examples
The scenarios below summarise typical situations in which families apply for dependant visas. They show how the same rules apply differently to different families.
An IT specialist’s family on a work visa
A specialist obtains a Skilled Worker visa and relocates with a spouse and two children. If the employer does not confirm on the certificate of sponsorship that it will cover the family’s costs, the couple must show £800 for the family (£285 + £315 + £200) in addition to the main applicant’s own £1,270. The fees for the spouse and children are based on the length of the main applicant’s visa.
Unmarried partners
A couple has lived together for three years but is not married. The partner can apply as an unmarried partner, and the key is evidence of at least 2 years of living together: tenancy agreements, bills at the same address and bank documents. If the evidence covers only part of the period, the gap is best addressed before applying.
A child born to a Global Talent visa holder
A researcher on a Global Talent visa and their spouse have a child in the UK. The child does not automatically become a British citizen, so to travel abroad and return, the child needs a dependant visa based on a full UK birth certificate. This visa usually ends on the same date as the parents’ visas and is extended together with them.
A master’s student who wants to bring family
A master’s student whose course started after 1 January 2024 cannot bring a spouse as a dependant on a Student visa. One option is to switch after the course to a route that allows dependants, such as a Skilled Worker visa, with a job offer from a licensed sponsor.
Real stories of families that Imperial & Legal has supported with their move to the UK show how these rules work in practice.
Client stories on this topic
Relocation to the UK: IT Specialist with Family
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UK Innovator Visa for a Tunisian Entrepreneur and His Family
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One of these clients explained why it mattered so much that his partner could relocate with him:
When Tsewang told me about the job offer, I was very happy for him because it was a great boost for his career. At the same time, I realised that I would not be able to come with him to the UK since I did not have a UK visa. We have lived together for the last couple of years, and I could not imagine living apart. We started to look for a way to relocate together and, fortunately, came across Imperial & Legal’s ad online.
Situations like this are common: the main applicant already has a job offer, and the question of a partner or children comes up later. The earlier the family is built into the relocation plan, the lower the risk that someone is left outside the UK.
Common mistakes in dependant visa applications
Most refusals and delays in dependant applications are caused not by complex legal issues but by predictable oversights during preparation. The most common are:
- Applying without checking dependant eligibility. This is especially relevant for care workers, workers in “medium skilled” occupations and master’s students.
- Funds held for too short a period. The money was in the account for less than 28 days, or the statement was out of date by the application date.
- Weak relationship evidence. For unmarried partners, gaps in evidence of 2 years of living together.
- Wrong fee calculation. Family members pay for the same length of time as the main applicant, even when applying later.
- Trying to switch from a visit visa. Several temporary routes do not allow a switch to dependant status inside the UK.
- Missing the extension for a child who has turned 18. After 18, a first application is no longer possible — only an extension of existing permission.
If an application is refused, it is important to assess the grounds and options straight away. More information is available on the page about UK visa refusals and appeals.
Family support
Dependant visa support with Imperial & Legal
Route assessment
Eligibility check for your partner and your children
Document package
Evidence of your relationship, address and family funds
Applications
Linked applications for every member of the family
Extensions and ILR
Planning of family extensions and applications for ILR
Dependant visa or family visa
The dependant visa is often confused with the family visa for a partner. These are different routes: a dependant visa depends on the main applicant’s temporary visa, while a family visa is for partners of British citizens and people with settled status in the UK.
| Criterion | Dependant visa | Partner family visa |
|---|---|---|
| Who sponsors | A holder of a Skilled Worker, Global Talent, Innovator Founder or other visa | A British or Irish citizen, or a person with ILR or settled status |
| Length of permission | Usually the same as the main applicant’s visa | Its own period, independent of another person’s visa |
| Finances | Fixed amounts for a partner and children | Separate financial requirements of the route |
| English language | Required when applying for ILR (ages 18 to 64) | Required when applying for the visa |
| Route to ILR | 5 continuous years as a dependant | 5 continuous years on a family visa |
If the main applicant has obtained ILR and the partner is still abroad, it may be better to apply for a family visa, which does not depend on work status. The family visa requirements are set out on GOV.UK; the choice between the routes depends on timing, finances and the family’s plans.
What to consider before applying
A dependant visa is the most direct way for a family to move to the UK together when the main applicant holds a suitable long-term visa. It gives family members the right to work and study and, over time, leads to ILR. But dependant status depends entirely on the main applicant’s route, and the restrictions of recent years have made an eligibility check the essential first step.
Key takeaways
- Dependants can be a spouse, civil or unmarried partner and children under 18.
- Care workers, “medium skilled” workers and most students have limited rights to bring family.
- Family funds are £285 for a partner, £315 for the first child and £200 for each additional child.
- Each family member pays the visa fee and IHS for the full length of the main applicant’s visa.
- A partner can apply for ILR after 5 continuous years as a dependant.
- Earned settlement reform is under discussion, but the current rules apply at the time of writing.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute individual legal advice. Rules and fees change, so check the current requirements on GOV.UK or discuss your circumstances with an adviser before applying.
