A UK dependant visa is permission for an eligible family member to come to or remain in the UK because their partner or parent holds, or is applying for, a qualifying UK visa. It is not one single visa category. The correct application depends on the main person's immigration route, such as Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Student, Graduate, Global Talent or another eligible route.
In most cases, a dependant is a spouse, civil partner, qualifying unmarried partner or qualifying child. However, eligibility is not decided by the family relationship alone. The lead applicant's visa route must allow dependants, and the dependant must meet the relationship, financial and application requirements for that specific route.
This is where many families get caught out. A person may be genuinely married to, or financially dependent on, someone in the UK, but still be unable to apply as a dependant if the lead applicant's route does not permit it. If you are unsure which route applies, Immigration UK can help you understand the relevant rules and prepare the right type of application.
What Does Dependant Mean in UK Immigration?
In UK immigration, a dependant is usually a close family member whose immigration permission is linked to a main applicant, often called the lead applicant. The dependant does not automatically receive permission simply because the lead applicant has a visa. Each dependant normally needs to make a separate application, prove their identity and provide supporting documents.
A dependant's permission is usually granted in line with the lead applicant's permission. For example, if a Skilled Worker is granted permission until a particular date, their partner's permission will normally not go beyond that date. If the lead applicant later extends their visa, dependants usually need to extend separately too. It is not automatic, which is a little inconvenient, but very important to remember.
Who Can Qualify As a Dependant?
The usual categories of dependant family members are partners and children. Other relatives, such as parents, grandparents, siblings, adult children applying for the first time, aunts, uncles and cousins, will not normally qualify under ordinary work or Student dependant rules.
Spouse or Civil Partner
A husband, wife or civil partner may qualify as a dependant if the relationship is genuine and continuing, and the marriage or civil partnership is recognised for UK immigration purposes. Evidence usually includes a marriage or civil partnership certificate, identity documents and, where appropriate, proof that the couple live together or maintain a real relationship.
Unmarried Partner
An unmarried partner may qualify if the relationship is durable and similar to marriage or civil partnership. Under many routes, the couple will need to show that they have been in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership for at least two years. Evidence can include shared accommodation, joint bills, correspondence, travel records, photographs and proof of regular contact.
The Home Office will look at the overall picture. One document rarely proves everything. A strong application usually tells a clear story, supported by consistent evidence covering the relevant period.
Child Under 18
A child under 18 may qualify as a dependant child if they meet the relationship and care requirements. Evidence may include a birth certificate, adoption documents, proof of parental responsibility and evidence of where the child lives. Where both parents are not applying together, additional evidence may be needed to explain the child's care arrangements.
Child Aged 18 or Over
An adult child will not usually qualify as a dependant if they are applying for the first time. In many cases, an adult child must already have held permission as the dependant child of the lead applicant and must not have formed an independent life. This can involve looking at whether the child is married, living independently, financially independent or has their own separate family unit.
Which Visa Routes Allow Dependants?
The rules vary by immigration route, so the first question is always: what visa does the lead applicant hold or intend to apply for? Families of temporary workers or students usually apply under the lead applicant's route, rather than under the family visa rules for joining a British or settled person.
Common dependant routes include:
- Skilled Worker: partners and children are often permitted, subject to occupation, maintenance and route rules.
- Health and Care Worker: dependants may be allowed in some cases, but major restrictions apply to care workers, senior care workers and certain medium-skilled roles.
- Student: only certain Students can bring dependants, mainly qualifying government-sponsored students and certain postgraduate research or doctoral students.
- Graduate: new dependants cannot normally join simply because the lead applicant holds Graduate permission, although existing qualifying Student dependants may be able to continue.
- Global Talent and Innovator Founder: partners and children may generally apply as dependants where the route requirements are met.
If the lead applicant is exploring employment-based permission, the rules for UK work visa routes should be checked carefully before planning a family application. Route names can sound similar, but the dependant rules are not interchangeable.
Important Restrictions for Workers and Students
Recent changes have made dependant eligibility more restricted in some categories. Since 11 March 2024, new care workers and senior care workers have generally been unable to bring dependants, subject to specific transitional and family-based exceptions. From 22 July 2025, restrictions also affect some Skilled Worker roles that do not meet the higher skill threshold and are only eligible because they appear on a relevant shortage or temporary list. In these cases, dependant eligibility can depend on the exact occupation code, whether the role meets the required skill level, whether the role appears on the relevant list, and whether any transitional protection applies.
This means the sponsor's occupation code, the date the Certificate of Sponsorship was assigned, the lead applicant's immigration history and the timing of the application can all matter. The Home Office publishes detailed guidance on dependent family members in work routes, but applicants should still check the live route-specific rules before submitting anything.
Student dependants are also limited. For courses beginning on or after 1 January 2024, most taught master's students cannot bring new dependants unless they fall within a permitted category. A Student may generally bring dependants only if they are government-sponsored on a qualifying course lasting more than six months, or they are studying a qualifying postgraduate research-based higher degree or doctoral qualification at an eligible provider. If the lead applicant is studying, it is sensible to review the UK study visa requirements before assuming a partner or child can apply.
Dependant Visa Financial Requirements
Most dependant applications require evidence that the family can be maintained in the UK without relying on public funds. The exact financial requirement depends on the route. Work routes and Student routes use different maintenance rules, so it is important not to mix them up.
For many work routes, unless an exemption applies, the required maintenance funds are currently £285 for a dependant partner, £315 for the first dependant child and £200 for each additional dependant child. These amounts may be covered by the lead applicant, the dependant or, where permitted, certified by the sponsor. The funds normally need to be available in the required way at the required time.
For Student dependants, the maintenance requirement is different. Current guidance refers to £845 per month if the Student's course is in London, or £680 per month if the Student's course is outside London, generally for up to nine months. This is normally calculated per dependant for the relevant period, subject to current GOV.UK guidance. Funds usually need to be held for 28 consecutive days unless an exemption applies. Because fees, maintenance rules and evidential requirements can change, figures should always be checked against the current GOV.UK route page before applying.
Documents Needed for a UK Dependant Visa
The documents required will depend on the route and the family relationship, but most applications need clear evidence of identity, relationship, finances and immigration status. Weak or inconsistent evidence is one of the most common reasons dependant applications become delayed or refused.
A practical document checklist may include:
- Valid passport or travel document for each dependant.
- Lead applicant's visa details, eVisa information, application reference or sponsorship details.
- Marriage or civil partnership certificate for a spouse or civil partner.
- Evidence of a durable relationship for an unmarried partner.
- Birth certificate, adoption certificate or parental responsibility evidence for a child.
- Bank statements or sponsor certification showing required maintenance funds.
- Evidence of address, care arrangements and dependency for children, especially older children.
- Certified translations for documents not in English or Welsh.
Documents should be consistent. Names, dates, addresses and relationship history should make sense when read together. If there are gaps, such as periods living apart, previous name changes or unusual financial arrangements, these should usually be explained rather than left for the caseworker to guess.
How to Apply for a UK Dependant Visa
Dependants normally apply online using the application form linked to the lead applicant's route. Each dependant completes a separate application and pays the relevant application fee. The application may also require payment of the Immigration Health Surcharge, unless an exemption applies.
If applying from outside the UK, the dependant will usually need entry clearance before travelling. They may need to prove identity using the UK Immigration ID Check app or attend a visa application centre to provide biometrics. They should not travel to the UK expecting to sort it out at the border where entry clearance is required.
If applying from inside the UK, the dependant must check whether their current visa allows switching into the dependant route. Some immigration categories, such as visitors, generally cannot switch from inside the UK. Applications should be submitted before current permission expires.
A dependant may apply at the same time as the lead applicant or later, if the route allows. Later applications are common where a worker moves to the UK first and the family joins after accommodation, schooling or work arrangements have been organised. However, later does not mean easier. The dependant must still meet the rules in force at the time of application.
Costs, Processing Times and Conditions in the UK
There is no single universal dependant visa fee. Fees vary according to the route, application location, length of permission and Home Office fee schedule. The Immigration Health Surcharge is separate from the application fee. Under current official guidance, Students, their dependants and applicants under 18 generally pay the reduced IHS rate of £776 per year, while other dependants may pay the standard rate unless an exemption applies. Eligible Health and Care Worker dependants may be exempt where the route conditions are met.
Processing times also vary. The standard time depends on whether the application is made inside or outside the UK and which route is being used. Some Skilled Worker applications inside the UK are listed under an eight-week service standard, while Student applications outside the UK are commonly listed under a shorter standard. Priority services may be available, but they do not guarantee approval and complex checks can take longer.
Many dependants on work routes can work and study in the UK, although restrictions can apply, particularly around work as a professional sportsperson or coach. Dependants are also commonly subject to a no recourse to public funds condition. The exact conditions should be checked on the grant of permission, because breaching visa conditions can cause serious problems later.
Is a Dependant Visa the Same As a Family Visa?
No. A dependant visa and a family visa are not the same thing, although both involve family relationships. A dependant application is linked to a lead applicant who usually holds temporary permission, such as a work or Student visa. A family visa is typically for joining or remaining with a British citizen, a settled person or someone with qualifying protection status.
This distinction matters because the rules, financial requirements, application forms and settlement routes can be different. If your partner is British or settled, you may need to consider the spouse or partner route instead. You may find it helpful to compare this with how a spouse visa differs from dependant permission before deciding which application is appropriate.
Can a Dependant Visa Lead to Settlement?
A dependant visa can lead to settlement on some routes, but not all. Where settlement is available, a dependant partner may need to complete a qualifying continuous period, often five years, and meet separate requirements at the settlement stage. These may include relationship evidence, cohabitation, absences, English language, Life in the UK Test and suitability requirements.
Dependant children have their own settlement rules. Their eligibility can depend on age, living arrangements, whether they have formed an independent life, and the immigration status of their parents. Settlement is never automatic simply because someone has held dependant permission for several years.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Many dependant visa problems are avoidable with early planning. The most common mistakes include assuming every visa route allows dependants, relying on outdated rules, applying from inside the UK when switching is not permitted, or providing only minimal relationship evidence. Adult child applications are also often misunderstood, particularly where the child has never previously held dependant permission.
Another frequent issue is using the wrong financial rule. Work-route maintenance figures are not the same as Student dependant maintenance rules. Families should also be careful with recent care worker restrictions and Skilled Worker occupation code changes, because transitional arrangements are precise and do not protect everyone.
Before applying, confirm the lead applicant's exact route, occupation or course, check whether dependants are permitted, calculate the correct maintenance funds and prepare documents that clearly support the relationship. Professional guidance can be especially useful where there has been a previous refusal, a complex family history or a recent change of visa route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my spouse join me in the UK on a work visa?
Possibly, but it depends on your exact work route, occupation and whether dependant restrictions apply. Your spouse must also make a separate application and prove the relationship is genuine and continuing.
Can an unmarried partner apply as a dependant?
Yes, in many routes an unmarried partner can apply if they can show a durable relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership, usually for at least two years. Strong evidence of cohabitation, shared finances and ongoing commitment is important.
Can my child over 18 apply as my dependant?
Usually only if they have previously held permission as your dependant child and have not formed an independent life. An adult child applying for the first time will not normally qualify under ordinary dependant rules.
Can a dependant work in the UK?
Many dependants on work routes can work and study, but the exact conditions depend on the route and the grant of permission. Restrictions may apply, including work as a professional sportsperson or coach.
Do dependants pay the Immigration Health Surcharge?
Most dependants must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge unless an exemption applies. The amount depends on age, route and length of permission, so it should be checked immediately before applying.
