Dependent Visa


A dependent visa enables overseas immediate family members of UK visa holders to come to the UK. Many different visa types allow holders to bring dependent family members to the UK, including work, PhD study, business, and ancestry visas. The immigration rules refer to a PBS dependent visa and a dependent visa. Both visas broadly have the same purpose: to allow dependent family members to join the main visa holder in the UK.




Who can apply for a dependent visa?


You can apply for a dependent visa in the UK if you are the dependent of a person in the UK for work, PhD study, business visa, or ancestry visa. A ‘dependant’ refers to a partner, spouse, or child of the main visa holder.

Partners must either be married or in a civil partnership with the main visa holder, or they must have been living together for two or more years.

To apply for a child dependent visa, children must be under 18 years of age, or if they are 16 years of age or older, they must be dependent on the main visa holder. Being dependent means that they are not living an independent life (i.e., not married, in a civil partnership, or have children), live with the main visa holder (unless they attend boarding school or university), and are financially supported by the main visa holder.

In addition to dependent visas for children and partners, under the Adult Dependent Relative Visa Scheme, it is possible to bring elderly members to the UK if the UK resident has indefinite leave to remain (ILR) or UK citizenship.




The general requirements for a UK dependent visa are


  1. 1. Prove you meet the relationship requirements as a dependent family member.

  2. 2. Prove you meet the financial requirements to have enough money to support your life in the UK.

  3. 3. Prove your identity and relationship to the visa holder.

  4. 4. Intend to live together with the sponsor while you are in the UK.

Note: Because dependent visas are available under several immigration categories, the specific requirements for a dependent visa in the UK to be met will depend on the type of visa held by the sponsor (i.e., the main visa holder).




Dependent visa financial requirements


Whether any financial requirements apply will depend on the type of visa held by the main visa holder. For example, when applying for a skilled worker dependent visa in the UK, it must be shown that the main visa holder or the applicant has the following:

  1. 1. £285 for a partner

  2. 2. £315 for one child and £200 for each additional child

In most cases, if the main visa holder and dependent have been in the UK for 12 months or more, there is no financial requirement.




Documents checklist


Dependent visa applicants will be asked to provide a number of documents to support their application. The exact list of documents you will need to provide will depend on the type of visa held by the main applicant and your relationship with them. Some of the documents or information you may need to provide include (please note this list of documents is not exhaustive):

  1. 1. The Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN) for the main visa holder (to link the applications together).

  2. 2. Proof of identity (e.g., passport).

  3. 3. Proof of relationship to the main visa holder (e.g., birth certificate, marriage certificate, certificate of civil partnership).

  4. 4. Proof of dependence, e.g., evidence of attendance at a boarding school or university and correspondence showing the applicant has the same address as the main visa holder.

  5. 5. Bank statement: showing the funds required to meet the financial requirement have been held for at least the last 28 days.

It is important to ensure you provide all of the documents required by UKVI, as failure to do so may result in your application being delayed or refused. If you are unsure if you have all of the necessary documents to support your UK dependent visa application, speak to one of our immigration solicitors, who will check this for you before submission.




How to apply


The process you will need to follow when applying for a dependent visa in the UK will depend on the type of visa held by the main visa holder. The main steps you will need to follow to apply for a dependent visa in the UK are as follows:

  1. 1. Complete and submit the online application form; remember to provide the unique reference number of the main applicant’s application.

  2. 2. Pay the application fee and immigration healthcare surcharge.

  3. 3. Upload all of the documents required to support your application.

  4. 4. Book and attend a biometric appointment with your nearest Visa Application Centre (if outside the UK) to have your fingerprints scanned and a photo taken.

In most cases, you can expect to receive a decision on your UK dependent visa within 8 weeks.




Dependent visa validity and conditions


  1. 1. Dependent visas are typically granted for the same duration as permission given to the main visa holder. For example, if the main visa holder has a 2-year visa, the dependent visa will also be granted for 2 years.

  2. 2. Dependent visa holders enjoy a great deal of flexibility and are able to live, work, study, and travel freely. Importantly, dependents do not require sponsorship to work in the UK and can change jobs and employers without seeking permission from the Home Office.

  3. 3. Dependent visa holders, however, cannot apply for public funds such as benefits while in the UK.