Who Can Apply as a Dependant?

A UK Dependant Visa allows close family members of a primary visa holder to join them in the United Kingdom. The term “dependant” is defined strictly by immigration rules and typically includes spouses, civil partners, unmarried partners, and children under 18. In limited circumstances, dependent adult relatives such as parents or grandparents may also qualify if they require long‑term personal care from the main visa holder and meet additional criteria. The primary visa holder must hold a valid UK visa in one of several categories – most commonly the Skilled Worker visa, Health and Care Worker visa, Student visa, or Global Talent visa. Dependants cannot apply independently; their immigration status is tied to the main applicant’s permission to stay.

To qualify as an unmarried partner, you must prove you have lived together with the primary visa holder in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership for at least two continuous years immediately before the application. For children, they must be under 18, not married or in a civil partnership, and financially dependent on the visa holder. Step‑children and adopted children are included provided the relationship is genuine and legal.

Core Eligibility Criteria

All dependant visa applications must satisfy several mandatory requirements. The Home Office assesses each case on the basis of relationship genuineness, financial sustainability, health, and character. Meeting these conditions is essential to avoid refusal.

Genuine Relationship Evidence

The Home Office requires clear documentary proof that the claimed relationship is real and subsisting. For spouses and civil partners, a valid marriage or civil partnership certificate issued by a competent authority is necessary. If the marriage took place outside the UK, it must be legally recognised under UK law. For unmarried partners, evidence of cohabitation over the preceding two years is crucial – this can include joint tenancy agreements, utility bills, bank statements showing the same address, official letters, and photographs spanning the period. Any gaps or inconsistencies in the evidence may lead to the application being refused on relationship grounds.

Separated family members should also provide proof of ongoing contact, such as messages, call logs, or flight itineraries if visits have occurred. The Home Office expects that the relationship existed before the main visa application and continues during the permission period.

Financial Maintenance Requirement

The primary visa holder must demonstrate that they can support their dependants without accessing public funds. The specific financial threshold depends on the visa route and the number of dependants. For Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visas, the main applicant must prove they have at least £285 in savings for the first dependant and £200 for each additional dependant, held for at least 28 consecutive days and ending no more than 31 days before the application date. In addition, the main applicant’s salary must meet the general minimum income requirement for their own visa category, but the savings above are separate.

For Student visa dependants (only allowed for postgraduate students on courses of nine months or longer or government‑sponsored students), the financial requirement is different: the main student must show £845 per month for the first dependant and £680 per month for each additional dependant, calculated for up to nine months. Funds must be held for 28 days.

It is vital to calculate the correct amount and provide evidence from a regulated financial institution. Failure to meet the financial requirement is one of the most common reasons for dependant visa refusals. The funds cannot be borrowed; they must belong to the applicant or their sponsor.

Health and Character Checks

All dependant visa applicants must meet health requirements. This includes undergoing a tuberculosis (TB) test if they are from a country on the UK’s list of high‑incidence countries. The test must be carried out by a Home Office‑approved clinic and the certificate valid at the time of application. Additionally, the Home Office may require a full medical examination if there is evidence of a serious communicable disease or condition that could place a significant burden on the National Health Service.

Character checks involve declaring any criminal convictions, both in the UK and overseas. Applicants aged 18 or over may need to provide a police clearance certificate from their country of residence or any country where they have lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years. The Home Office will consider the seriousness of any offences and may refuse the application if the individual is deemed a threat to public order or national security.

English Language Requirement

Unlike the main applicant in many visa routes, dependants are generally not required to pass an English language test. This exemption applies to all main dependant categories covered here. However, if a dependant later wishes to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in their own right – for example, as a spouse of a British citizen – they will need to meet separate English language requirements at that stage. For the initial dependant visa application, no English proficiency evidence is needed.

Application Process

Dependant visa applications must be submitted online through the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) portal. The applicant normally applies from outside the UK, although in‑country applications are possible if the main visa holder is switching to a new visa category that permits dependants. The standard processing time is 8 weeks for overseas applications, though priority or super‑priority services may be available in some locations for an additional fee.

The application fee varies by route and location. As of 2025, the fee for a dependant of a Skilled Worker or Student is £490 to £625 per person. The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is also payable – currently £1,035 per year for adults and £776 per year for children, increasing annually with inflation. The IHS must be paid in full for the entire duration of the dependant’s visa.

Biometric appointments (fingerprints and photograph) are required at a Visa Application Centre in the applicant’s country of residence. Documents are submitted online and may also be uploaded, but original documents must be retained for possible inspection. After approval, the applicant receives a vignette sticker in their passport valid for 30 days to travel to the UK, and a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is issued once they arrive.

Rights of Dependants in the UK

A dependant visa typically grants permission to stay for the same duration as the main visa holder’s current grant of leave. Dependants can generally live, work, and study in the UK without restriction, although there are important nuances depending on the main visa category.

Work and Study Rights

Dependants of Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, and Global Talent visa holders have full access to the UK labour market. They can take up any employment, including self‑employment and being company directors, unless they are applying for entry clearance as a dependant of a Student visa holder, in which case work rights are limited to a maximum of 40 hours per week during term time (10 hours for those on courses below degree level) and full‑time during holidays. Student visa dependants cannot be employed as a doctor or dentist in training, or as a professional sportsperson (including coaches).

All dependants can study in the UK, including enrolling in educational institutions, without needing a separate Student visa. However, they cannot start work or study until their BRP is issued.

Access to Public Funds

Dependants on a family visa route (e.g., spouse of a British citizen) might have access to certain public funds, but those on dependant visas tied to a work or study visa are subject to the “no recourse to public funds” (NRPF) condition. This means they cannot claim most state benefits, including Universal Credit, housing benefit, or child benefit. If a dependant’s financial situation changes drastically, they may apply to vary this condition, but approval is rare and limited to exceptional circumstances such as homelessness or destitution.

Common Reasons for Refusal

Even strong applications can be rejected for avoidable mistakes. The most frequent grounds for refusal include:

  • Insufficient financial evidence: Missing bank statements, funds not held for the required 28 days, or using a non‑regulated financial institution.
  • Weak relationship proof: Inadequate cohabitation evidence for unmarried partners, failure to provide marriage translation if it is not in English or Welsh, or lack of ongoing communication proof.
  • Overstaying or breaching visa conditions: If the dependant has previously remained in the UK beyond their visa validity or worked in breach of their conditions, this can lead to a mandatory refusal under the General Grounds for Refusal.
  • Incorrect application category: Applying under the wrong visa route – for example, using a family visa form intended for partners of British citizens instead of the dependant form for the main visa holder’s route.
  • Failure to pay correct fees or IHS: Underpayment or incorrect calculation of the Immigration Health Surcharge can invalidate the application.

Many refusals are subject to administrative review or appeal, but the process is time‑consuming and costly. Preparing the application meticulously the first time is far more effective.

Recent Policy Updates

UK immigration rules are subject to frequent changes. In late 2023 and 2024, the government announced major increases in financial requirements for family visas – notably for partners of British citizens the minimum income threshold rose to £38,700. While these changes do not directly affect work or student dependant visas, they signal a general tightening of eligibility. As of 2025, the savings thresholds for Skilled Worker dependants remain at £285 for the first dependant (unchanged for several years), but applicants should always check the Home Office’s current published guidance before applying, as amounts can be updated without prior notice.

Another key development: dependants of Student visa holders are now restricted to only courses at Research Council‑funded PhD programmes or those with official government sponsorship. This change, effective from January 2024, significantly limits who can bring dependants on a Student visa. Postgraduate students on taught master’s courses are no longer eligible to sponsor dependants.

Conclusion

UK Dependant Visa applications demand careful attention to detail. The core requirements – a genuine relationship, sufficient finances, and positive health and character checks – are non‑negotiable. By gathering comprehensive evidence, understanding the specific rules of the main visa route, and staying alert to policy changes, applicants can greatly improve their chances of success. If you are preparing an application, always refer to the official gov.uk guidance for Skilled Worker dependants, the Student visa dependant page, and the Home Office maintenance funds document for exact financial figures. For TB test requirements, consult the official list of countries. Reuniting with your family in the UK is achievable with the right preparation and up‑to‑date information.