Last Updated: October 19, 2026
 

UK Dependant Visa: Bring Your Family to the UK

A UK Dependant Visa allows eligible partners and children to join or live with a family member who holds a qualifying UK work or study visa. Depending on the visa route, dependants may be able to live, work or study in the UK for the period allowed by their immigration permission. However, not everyone with a UK visa can bring their family. The rules depend on the main applicant’s visa type, job or course. Changes introduced in 2024 and 2025 brought new restrictions for most international students, care workers and certain workers in medium-skilled roles. Before applying, families should check the latest eligibility rules, required documents and visa fees. Understanding these requirements can help you prepare your application and plan the cost of bringing your family to the UK.
 

What is a UK Dependant Visa?

A UK Dependant Visa allows eligible family members to live in the UK with someone who holds a qualifying immigration permission. The main applicant is the person who holds, or is applying for, the main work or study visa. Their eligible family members apply as dependants.

The most common dependants are:

• Spouse or civil partner: A legally married husband or wife or civil partner.
• Unmarried partner: A partner who meets the relevant relationship requirements.
• Dependent children: Children under 18 who meet the immigration rules.
• Children aged 18 or over: In certain cases, children who already hold permission to stay in the UK as dependants.
   

Parents are not normally dependants under work or study visa routes. Parents who need long-term care may need to consider the separate Adult Dependent Relative route, which has strict eligibility requirements.
 

Who Can Bring Dependants to the UK?

Your eligibility depends on the main applicant's visa category.
 

Benefits of a UK Dependant Visa

Eligible dependants may receive the following benefits:
 

• Live in the UK: Stay with their family member for the period granted under their immigration permission.
• Work in the UK: Partners can generally work in almost any job, except as a professional sportsperson or sports coach, subject to their visa conditions.
• Study: Eligible dependants can study in the UK, subject to applicable requirements.
• Access healthcare: They may access NHS healthcare under the applicable rules, including payment of the Immigration Health Surcharge where required.
• Apply for settlement: They may qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) if they meet the rules for their immigration route.
   

 

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Eligibility for the UK Dependant Visa

A UK Dependant Visa allows eligible family members to join or stay with someone who holds a qualifying UK visa. Eligibility depends on the main applicant’s visa type, the relationship between family members and the applicable UK immigration rules.

You may be eligible to apply if you meet the following conditions:

• Partner or spouse: You are legally married to, in a civil partnership with, or in a qualifying relationship with the main visa holder.
• Dependent children: Your child is under 18, or is over 18 and already has permission to stay in the UK as a dependant, where the relevant route allows this.
• Eligible main visa holder: Your family member holds a visa category that allows dependants to apply.
• Proof of relationship: You can provide documents to establish your relationship with the main applicant.
• Financial requirements: You meet the maintenance requirements if they apply to your visa route.
• Identity and application requirements: You have the required identity documents, complete the relevant application and provide biometrics or verify your identity when required.
   

UK Dependant Visa Requirements

When applying for a UK Dependant Visa, each applicant must provide documents to prove their identity, relationship to the main visa holder and eligibility under the relevant immigration rules. The exact requirements depend on the main applicant’s visa type and the dependant’s circumstances.

The standard documents may include:

• Valid passport or travel document:
• Marriage or civil partnership certificate
• Birth certificate
• Proof of relationship
• Proof of maintenance funds
• Main applicant’s visa details
• Medical certificate
• A criminal record certificate is required only where specifically applicable.
• Completed online application
• Identity verification and biometrics
   

How to Apply for a UK Dependant Visa

Step 1: Confirm that the main applicant's visa route allows dependants. Check whether any restrictions apply to the job, course or date the main visa was granted.

Step 2: Collect passports, relationship evidence, financial documents and the main applicant's visa information.

Step 3: Complete the online application. Each eligible family member normally submits a separate application. Provide accurate information and check all details before submitting.

Step 4: Link your family applications where the process supports it, use the Family Linking Code to connect the applications. Keep the main applicant's reference details available.

Step 5: Pay the applicable visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge, where required.

Step 6: Follow the instructions to verify your identity through the UK Immigration: ID Check app or attend a biometric appointment, if required.

Step 7: UKVI will assess your application and supporting documents. Processing times depend on the visa route, application location and individual circumstances.

Step 8: If approved, each dependant receives an eVisa showing their UK immigration status. They can view their status through a UKVI account.

Note: Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) have been replaced by the eVisa system as the standard way to demonstrate immigration status. Follow the latest UKVI instructions to access and maintain your digital status.

 

UK Dependant Visa Fees

The following application fees are based on the fee figures applicable from 8 April 2026. The exact amount depends on the visa category, application location, length of permission and any applicable exceptions.

Application fees
 

Immigration Health Surcharge

The Immigration Health Surcharge is an additional cost that many visa applicants must pay when applying to stay in the UK.
 

How Much Does a UK Dependant Visa Cost for a Family?

Consider a family where a Skilled Worker visa holder plans to bring their partner and one child to the UK for three years. The estimated costs below include visa application fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).
 

Note: This estimate is based on the stated fee assumptions for a three-year stay. The actual amount may vary depending on the visa route, visa duration and applicable fees. Additional expenses, such as priority services, document translation and travel, are not included.
 

UK Dependant Visa Processing Time

The processing time for a UK Dependant Visa depends on the main applicant’s visa type, where the application is submitted and whether additional checks are required. For dependants applying under the Skilled Worker route, the estimated standard processing times are:

• Applying from outside the UK: Usually around 3 weeks.
• Applying from inside the UK: Usually around 8 weeks.

These are standard service times, not guaranteed deadlines. Applications may take longer if UKVI needs additional documents or further checks.
 

What is a Family Linking Code?

A Family Linking Code helps eligible family members connect their visa applications with the main applicant's application. If a code is available for your application route, the main applicant can follow the relevant UKVI instructions to obtain it. Their family members can then enter the code when completing their own applications.

Keep the following details available:

• The main applicant's application reference.
• The Family Linking Code, if issued.
• Each dependant's application reference.

The code does not replace the need to submit separate applications, provide supporting documents or pay the relevant fees.
 

Recent UK Dependant Visa Rule Changes

Care workers and senior care workers

Restrictions introduced on 11 March 2024 limit the ability of care workers and senior care workers to bring dependants. Overseas recruitment for these roles closed on 22 July 2025. The closure and dependant restrictions are separate issues, and transitional provisions may apply to eligible workers already on the route. Families should check whether the main applicant qualifies under the relevant transitional rules or exceptions.
 

Temporary Shortage List and medium-skilled roles

For relevant new grants from 22 July 2025, workers sponsored in affected RQF levels 3–5 roles on the Temporary Shortage List cannot generally bring dependants. People who were already on the relevant route before that date may retain their rights under transitional provisions. The restriction does not mean that every job described as medium-skilled automatically prevents family applications. The job, sponsorship and immigration history must be checked.

Student dependant restrictions

Since 1 January 2024, most international students have not been allowed to bring dependants. The main exceptions generally cover qualifying postgraduate research students and certain government-sponsored students studying for more than six months. Students should confirm that their course and sponsorship meet the applicable requirements before making plans for their family.

Family visa income requirement

For the partner family visa route, the minimum income requirement increased to £29,000 a year on 11 April 2024. This is a separate route from the dependant rules for work and study visas. The £29,000 requirement should not be applied automatically to every dependant application.
 

UK Dependant Visa and Settlement

Indefinite Leave to Remain allows eligible people to settle in the UK without time limits on their stay. A dependant may qualify for settlement if their immigration route allows it and they meet the relevant residence, relationship and other requirements.

Key points to understand:

• A five-year route remains relevant to eligible dependants on qualifying routes.
• The qualifying period depends on the route and individual circumstances.
• Settlement is not automatic after five years.
• Applicants must meet the applicable requirements when they apply.

The UK has also considered reforms to settlement, including an earned-settlement approach based on a longer baseline period. Proposed changes should not be presented as current law unless they have been formally implemented. Changes to English-language requirements may also affect settlement applications from 26 March 2027. The applicable rules, exemptions and commencement dates should be confirmed before applying.
 

Common Reasons for UK Dependant Visa Refusal

An application may be refused or delayed for several reasons.

• Missing or incorrect documents
• Insufficient financial evidence
• Unclear relationship evidence
• Ineligible visa route
• Incomplete application or identity checks
   

How Can Y-Axis Help You?

Y-Axis is a UK-based immigration and visa firm. For more than 25 years, we've been helping people with their UK Dependant Visa submissions. We make the process easier to understand, and we'll confirm your paperwork is correct as well as submitted on time.

Our services include:

• Eligibility assessment through Y-Axis UK Immigration Points Calculator
• Paperwork verification and application help
• Biometric appointment scheduling and application tracking
• Visa extension and permanent residency application guidance
• Post-visa support for work and settling in the UK