Dependent Visa UK: Apply With Immigration Lawyer Support
You may be able to bring your spouse/partner and children to the UK as your dependants based on your current UK visa type. You and your family must also meet the eligibility conditions for a dependent visa, financial and otherwise.
Our Manchester Immigration Lawyers team have helped several foreign nationals to come to the UK on dependent visas. For more information and/or immigration assistance with your UK dependent visa application, call us today at 0161 826 9783.
UK Dependant Visa Overview
Spouses or civil/unmarried partners and dependent children of certain UK visa holders may be eligible to stay with the main applicants in the country. As they join the main visa holder as the latter’s ‘dependants’, their visas are usually referred to as ‘dependant’ visas tied to the main applicant’s UK visa type (e.g., a Skilled Worker visa or a Global Talent visa), although there is no specific visa called the dependant visa in the UK.
On a dependant visa, you can work (except as a sportsperson or coach) or study in the UK, access the NHS and public education facilities, and enter and exit the country freely during your visa validity. However, you cannot claim most social benefits, or be entitled to the State Pension.
After living continuously in the UK for five years as a dependant of a work visa holder, you may also be eligible to apply to settle here permanently.
Page Contents
- UK Dependant Visa Overview
- Visas That Allow You to Bring Your Dependants to the UK
- Recent Dependant Visa UK Policy Changes
- Eligibility Requirements for Dependant Visa UK: Spouse/Partner
- Eligibility Requirements for Dependant Visa UK: Children
- Financial Requirements for a Dependant Visa UK
- Required Documents for Dependant Visa UK
- Application Process for a UK Dependant Visa
- Dependent Visa UK Processing Time, Cost and IHS Fees
- Settlement in the UK for Dependant Visa Holders
- How Manchester Immigration Lawyers Can Help You
- Frequently Asked Questions
Visas That Allow You to Bring Your Dependants to the UK
If you are holding any of the following visas, you may be able to bring your spouse/partner and dependent children to the UK:
| Visa / Route | Dependants allowed? | Important limitation / note |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | Yes | Dependants’ leave normally ends same date as main applicant. Maintenance evidence often required if the sponsor/employer is not certifying maintenance. (GOV.UK) |
| Health & Care Worker | Yes (but) care workers/senior care workers who start after 11 Mar 2024 cannot bring new dependants; existing workers on route before that date have transitional protections. (GOV.UK) | |
| Scale-up Worker | Yes | Route-specific rules apply (see Home Office). (GOV.UK) |
| Global Talent | Yes | No usual minimum salary test for dependants. |
| International Sportsperson | Yes | Standard dependant provisions. |
| Minister of Religion (T2) | Yes | Standard dependant provisions. |
| British National (Overseas) | Yes | BN(O) has specific provisions including (in some cases) adult dependants. |
| UK Ancestry | Yes | Standard dependant provisions. |
| High Potential Individual (HPI) | Yes | Standard dependant provisions. |
| Graduate visa | Limited | Dependants can stay only if they joined you earlier on the Student/Tier-4 or were born in the UK while you had valid student leave — new joiners on the Graduate route are not permitted. (GOV.UK) |
| Student visa | Limited | From 1 Jan 2024 most students cannot bring dependants — only government-sponsored students (course >6 months) or certain postgraduate research students (RQF level 7+ with restrictions) may. (GOV.UK) |
| All temporary work visas | Mostly yes (except Seasonal Worker) | Many temporary work routes allow dependants; check the specific route. |
| Innovator Founder / Representative of Overseas Business / Global Business Mobility | Yes (route specifics) | Route-specific documents and evidence required. |
Moreover, if you already hold any of the work visas that are closed to new applicants, e.g., the Entrepreneur visa (Tier 1) or the Investor visa (Tier 1), your eligible family members can join you in the UK or apply to extend their stay in the UK depending on your visa validity.
Recent Dependant Visa UK Policy Changes
As part of what then Home Secretary James Cleverly described as his ‘five-point plan’ to cut net migration to the UK and visa abuse, certain policy changes in relation with the dependant visa were announced on 4 December 2023, to be effective from 2024.
Since January 2024, spouses/partners and children of the Student visa holders can apply for a UK dependant visa only if the main applicants are:
- A government-sponsored student enrolled in a course that lasts longer than six months, or
- A full-time student on a postgraduate level course that lasts nine months or more (plus if the course starts on or after 1 January 2024, it must be either a PhD or other doctorate level course, or a research-based higher degree)
In addition, from 11 March 2024 onwards, care workers and senior care workers are no longer eligible to bring their spouses/partners and children to the UK as their dependants. However, those already in the UK on a Health and Care Worker visa before that date may continue having their eligible family members living with them, provided they are:
- Still on a Health and Care Worker visa, or
- Extending their Health and Care Worker visa with their current employer, or
- Changing to a new job within the same occupation code while on a Health and Care Worker visa
Recent policy changes — short summary
| Change | Effective date | Who is affected | Practical impact / what applicants should do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student dependants restrictions (most international students cannot bring family) | 1 Jan 2024 | Most taught international students | Only government-sponsored students on >6 months courses and certain postgrad research students (and some pre-existing dependants) may bring family. Check current course eligibility. | GOV.UK news (Jan 2024). (GOV.UK) |
| Care worker / senior care worker dependant ban | 11 Mar 2024 | Newly arriving care workers and senior care workers | Workers taking up care jobs after this date generally cannot sponsor dependants; limited transitional protection for those already on the route. | GOV.UK pages; analysis. (GOV.UK) |
| Skilled Worker minimum salary + Immigration Salary List changes (affects eligibility/fees) | 4 Apr 2024 (salary changes implemented in 2024/25 period) | Employers and prospective Skilled Workers & their dependants | Higher salary threshold for some roles; impacts who can sponsor and therefore who can bring dependants. | Commons Library / Home Office reporting. (House of Commons Library) |
| Home Office fee / IHS increases (recent uprating) | 2025 updates (fees reviewed 9 Apr 2025 / 1 July 2025 fees table updates) | All applicants & dependants | Higher application fees and IHS; check exact fee at application moment. | Home Office fee publications & IHS guidance. (GOV.UK) |
Eligibility Requirements for Dependant Visa UK: Spouse/Partner
To be eligible for a dependant visa as the main applicant’s spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner, you must meet the following criteria:
- You are 18 or more, and
- You are married to or in a civil partnership with that main applicant that is recognised in the UK, or
- You have been living with the main applicant for at least two years before you have applied for a dependant visa, or
- You have been in a relationship with the main applicant for at least two years before applying for your visa, but you two were not living together due to acceptable and provable reasons
In the last scenario, valid reasons for not living together may include (but not limited to) cultural or societal barriers, partners working/studying in different places, etc. However, you will have to prove that you have had a mutual ongoing commitment for at least two years.
Eligibility Requirements for Dependant Visa UK: Children
To be eligible for a dependant visa, your child must be:
- Under 18 (including those who were born in the UK during your stay)
- Living with you in the UK unless studying full-time in a boarding school or university
- Unmarried or not in a civil partnership
Children over 18 can also be eligible if they currently have permission (‘leave to enter’ or ‘leave to remain’) to live in the UK as your dependants. They must not be married or in a civil partnership, and must be your sole responsibility financially (or otherwise).
Financial Requirements for a Dependant Visa UK
The term ‘dependant’ indicates that your eligible family members are financially dependent on you for their living expenses when they join you in the UK. The financial requirements for a dependant visa vary depending on the main applicant’s visa type.
Generally speaking, you must be able to prove that you have sufficient financial means to cover your dependants’ expenses in the UK. In case your employer is sponsoring your dependants to the UK (applicable only for sponsored workers), you will need to submit evidence thereof.
However, if a dependant visa applicant is already legally and continuously living in the UK for 12 months or longer before they apply, they may be exempt from meeting the financial requirements. In case they were absent from the UK during the said period for a significant duration, they must meet the financial requirements for a dependant visa.
Financial & maintenance requirements checklist
| Main Visa Type | Minimum Income / Financial Requirement for Dependants | Exemptions / Relaxations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | Must meet minimum salary threshold (often £26,200 or above depending on occupation) + maintenance funds for dependants. | If employer provides “maintenance” or if already in UK for certain period, sometimes lower evidence needed. | Check salary requirement for specific occupation code. |
| Health & Care Worker | Similar to Skilled Worker thresholds. | Existing dependants may be “grandfathered” under previous rules. Changes from March 2024 affect new cases. | |
| Student Visa | New restrictions: only government-sponsored students or postgraduate courses of certain length. Financial requirement includes funds for dependants’ maintenance. | Those already with dependants may be unaffected. | |
| Graduate Visa | Generally cannot add new dependants; so financial requirement for new joining is often not applicable. | Exception: if dependants already joined under previous student visa or if child born in UK. | |
| Temporary Work / Other Work Visas | Must show maintenance funds + salary threshold as per route. | Some visa categories may have reduced thresholds or sponsor-provided maintenance. |
Required Documents for Dependant Visa UK
Here’s a checklist for documents that are usually required to apply for a UK dependant visa. However, please keep in mind that depending on your immigration circumstances and whether you are applying from inside or outside the UK, the Home Office may ask you to submit additional supporting documents:
- Your current and valid passport
- The Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN) for the main visa applicant (to link your applications)
- Proof of your relationship with the main visa applicant, such as marriage/civil partnership certificate, documents proving you have been living together or have an ongoing commitment for the past two years, birth certificates (for dependent children) etc.
- Proof that the main applicant has sufficient financial means to cover their dependants’ expenses, or evidence showing that they meet the minimum salary threshold, if applicable depending on their visa type (e.g., a Skilled Worker visa)
- Proof that your children are living with you, such as a bank statement, credit card bills, driving licence etc.
- A tuberculosis test certificate (if applicable depending on your country of residence if you are applying from outside the UK)
- Criminal record check certificate for adult applicants (where applicable)
Required documents checklist
| Document type | Typical examples (what to upload) |
|---|---|
| Identity | Current passport(s); travel documents; UKVI linking code (GWF/UAN) |
| Relationship proof | Marriage/civil partnership certificate; proof of 2+ years cohabitation (joint tenancy, bills), photos with timestamps, chat logs (with corroboration) |
| Financial evidence | Bank statements (28 consecutive days), payslips, employer letter confirming sponsorship of maintenance (if applicable) |
| Accommodation evidence | Tenancy agreement, mortgage statement, council tax or utility bills showing joint residence |
| Child evidence | Birth certificate; school/GP registration; parental responsibility documentation |
| Health & police checks | Tuberculosis test certificate (if from a listed country); criminal record check for adult applicants (where required) |
| Translations & certified copies | Translated + certified versions for any document not in English/Welsh |
Application Process for a UK Dependant Visa
You can apply for a dependant visa from inside or outside the UK depending on your current immigration circumstances. In both scenarios, the application is an online process, where each applicant must complete a separate visa application form.
To apply for a dependant visa, you will need the main applicant’s application number to apply for your UK dependant visa, also called a GWF or a UAN. If the main applicant receives a ‘family linking code’ from the Home Office, the dependants will need to enter the same as well to connect their applications.
The Home Office will also require you to prove your identity while applying for a visa. Depending on your country of residence and your passport type, you may either use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document or have your biometric information taken at a UK visa application centre (VAC).
In many countries, the UK embassy outsources some parts of the consular services to third parties, specifically for collecting hard copies of supporting documents, applicants’ passports, and visa interviews (if required). These service providers usually have more than one VAC in the respective countries, so you may choose the one nearest to your residence.
The completed application form and scanned copies of your supporting documents must be submitted, along with payment for the visa fees and immigration healthcare surcharge. After your online application is complete, you will need to book an appointment with the concerned VAC to submit your documents and also attend a visa interview, if applicable.
Application process — stepwise timeline
| Step | What you must do | Typical timing / tip |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Prepare documents & GWF/UAN | Collect passports, relationship proof, financial evidence, IHS payment | Ensure 28-day evidence periods line up with the application date |
| 2. Complete online form (separate form per applicant) | Enter main applicant’s GWF/UAN or family linking code where provided | Use exact names and dates as per passports |
| 3. Pay fees & IHS | Pay the visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge for each applicant (IHS reference received) | Check up-to-date fee table before paying. (GOV.UK) |
| 4. Biometrics / ID check | Either via the ID Check app or attend VAC for biometrics depending on country | Country rules vary — check VAC guidance for types of ID accepted. |
| 5. Submit documents to VAC or upload | Some VACs require hard copies; some allow scanned uploads | Follow VAC instructions precisely; missing docs are a common cause of refusal. |
| 6. Decision & travel | Decision email/letter will instruct how to get BRP / travel | If applying inside UK, you generally must not travel before decision (route-specific). |
Dependent Visa UK Processing Time, Cost and IHS Fees
A UK dependant visa application may take up to three weeks to receive a decision if applied from outside the UK. If you are already in the UK and have applied to switch to a dependant visa from your current visa, this may take up to eight weeks.
Your dependant visa processing fee depends on the main applicant’s visa type. For example, if the main applicant is holding a Skilled Worker visa in the UK for up to three years, each dependant visa applicant will have to pay a fee of £819 (i.e. same as the main applicant) as well as a healthcare surcharge of £1035 for adults and £776 for children under 18 for each year of their stay in the UK.
Processing Time
| Route | Outside UK (avg) | Inside UK / Switch (avg) |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker dependants | 3 weeks | 8 weeks |
| Family partner/child | 12 weeks | 8 weeks |
| Student dependants | 3 weeks | 8 weeks |
| Adult Dependent Relative | 12+ weeks | 8 weeks |
Settlement in the UK for Dependant Visa Holders
After living in the UK legally and continuously on a dependant visa for five years, you may be able to apply for permanent settlement, also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’. You must meet the following conditions in order to do so:
- As a spouse/partner, you are in a genuine relationship with the main visa holder and wish to continue your relationship after applying for ILR (i.e., you are not in the relationship solely for obtaining ILR in the UK), or
- As a dependent child, you are:
- Living (or intend to live) with your parents or parents (unless studying at a boarding school or university)
- Supported and accommodated by the main visa holder without claiming social benefits
- Not married or in a civil partnership, or living an independent life
Moreover, the family must be generating sufficient income to support themselves in the UK while applying for ILR.
How Manchester Immigration Lawyers Can Help You
Our expert legal and immigration adviser teams at Manchester Immigration Lawyers have noteworthy expertise and experience in helping several foreigners with their dependant visa applications (as well as other UK visas). We have the required knowledge, experience, and empathy to assist you, regardless of how complex your immigration circumstances are.
If you are seeking overall advice with your dependant visa UK application, or would like our immigration experts to complete your application on your behalf, we are happy to help. We provide application services where our immigration specialists can guide you through each application stage.
To discuss the bespoke legal and immigration services we provide and how we can help you, call us today on 0161 826 9783 to speak with us.
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, the law may change, and the information may not reflect the most current legal developments. No warranty is given regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information, and we do not accept liability in such cases. We recommend consulting with a qualified lawyer at Manchester Immigration Lawyers before making any decisions based on the content provided.
Last modified on March 20th, 2026 at 2:39 pm
Advice Package
Comprehensive immigration advice tailored to your circumstances and goals.
Application Package
Designed to make your visa application as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Fast Track Package
Premium application service that ensures your visa application is submitted to meet your deadline.
Appeal Package
Ensure you have the greatest chance of a successful appeal. We will represent you in any case.
The Advice Package
During this untimed Advice Session with our professional immigration lawyers in London, you will receive our comprehensive advice, completely tailored to your needs and your situation.
The Application Package
With our Application Package, your dedicated immigration lawyer will advise you on your application process and eligibility. Your caseworker will then complete and submit your forms to the Home Office on your behalf.
The Fast Track Package
Our Fast-Track Application Package is a premium service for those who need to submit their application in time with their deadlines. Your case will become a top priority for our lawyers and you will benefit from our highest-quality services.
The Appeal Package
By choosing our Appeal Package, you can rely on our lawyers’ legal knowledge and experience to ensure you have the highest chance of a successful appeal. We will also fully represent you in any hearings/tribunals.
Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your dependant visa remains valid as long as the main applicant’s UK visa is valid. If the main applicant extends or switches their visa, your dependant visa will remain valid until expiry. You may extend/switch your dependant visa along with the main applicant or before your current visa expires.
If you are already in the UK on a different visa and want to switch to a dependant visa, you may be eligible to do so unless you are currently holding any of the following:
- A visit visa
- A short-term student visa
- A Parent of a Child Student visa
- A Seasonal Worker visa
- An Overseas Domestic worker visa
No, you do not need to prove your English language proficiency to obtain a dependant visa in the UK. However, you will have to meet the English language requirement when (and if) you apply to settle in the UK after five years.
