Bringing Dependants to the UK

For most work and study visa routes, the following family members can apply as dependants:

• Spouse or civil partner — must be legally married or in a civil partnership;
• Unmarried partner — must have been in a genuine relationship for at least two years;
• Children under 18 — including stepchildren and adopted children in some cases, provided both parents consent (or the applying parent has sole responsibility);
• Children aged 18–21 — in some limited routes and circumstances, older children who are wholly dependent may qualify.

Not all visa routes allow dependants. Visitor visas, Youth Mobility Scheme visas, and some short-term routes do not permit dependants. Always check whether the specific visa route allows dependant applications before planning family reunification.

The financial requirements for sponsoring dependants differ significantly depending on the main visa route:

Skilled Worker Visa dependants: The main visa holder does not need to meet a separate income threshold purely for dependants, but must demonstrate that they can maintain and accommodate all dependants without recourse to public funds. In practice, this means showing £285 per dependant held in a bank account for a consecutive 28-day period ending no more than 31 days before the application date. This maintenance requirement is waived if the Certificate of Sponsorship states that the employer certifies maintenance — an option available to sponsors who have chosen to do so under the sponsorship rules. Check the CoS carefully before assuming maintenance funds are needed.

Family visa (spouse/partner route) dependants: Where dependants are applying alongside or after a family visa holder, the financial position is governed by the Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) for the sponsor. From April 2024, the MIR increased to £29,000 per year. The threshold is rising in phases: a planned increase to £34,500 is scheduled as phase two, and the final threshold of £38,700 is the intended end point (subject to government confirmation of timing for the later phases). The MIR must be met regardless of the number of dependant children, though additional funds may be needed for larger families in some circumstances.

Student visa dependants: Students who are eligible to bring dependants (generally those on courses of nine months or more at postgraduate level, or government-sponsored students) must show that each dependant can be maintained. The required maintenance funds are £845 per month for up to 9 months (London) or £680 per month for up to 9 months (outside London) per dependant. These figures are per dependant, not per household — for two dependants applying with a student in London, the combined maintenance requirement would be £1,690 per month held for 9 months, or £15,210 in total for both dependants.

The Immigration Health Surcharge must also be paid for each dependant for the full duration of the visa period. For families with multiple dependants applying for multi-year visas, the total IHS cost can be substantial.

Dependants on most work visa routes have the right to work in any capacity — there is no restriction on the type of employment, the hours, or the employer. This is a significant benefit compared to some other countries' dependant policies. Children have the right to access state education.

Dependants' leave is linked to the main visa holder's leave — if the main visa holder's leave is curtailed or ends, the dependant's leave is similarly affected. If the main visa holder applies to extend their visa, the dependants must also apply to extend — dependants are not automatically extended.

After five years of continuous lawful residence in the UK (which can include time as a dependant), dependants can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in their own right, provided they continue to meet the relevant requirements. After ILR, British citizenship is available after a further year.

Switching to an independent visa category: Dependants can apply to switch into their own visa category without leaving the UK, provided they meet the requirements of the new route. Common switches include a Student dependant switching to a Skilled Worker visa after completing a degree (via the Graduate visa or directly if a job offer is in place), or a dependant switching to their own Student visa. There is no requirement to return to your home country first. The application must be made before the current leave expires, and the switch must be to a route that permits in-country applications — most main routes allow this.

Extension requirements and timing: When the main applicant extends their visa, each dependant must submit their own extension application and pay their own application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge. Dependants cannot rely on the main visa holder's extension to cover them automatically. Applications should be submitted in good time — ideally at the same time as the main applicant's extension — to avoid any gap in leave. If a dependant's leave expires before an extension is granted, they may fall into overstaying, which has serious consequences for future applications.

If the main applicant's visa is curtailed: Curtailment of the main visa holder's leave — for example, because their sponsoring employer withdraws sponsorship or they breach visa conditions — triggers a corresponding curtailment of any dependant's leave. The Home Office will issue a curtailment notice to the main visa holder; dependants typically receive their own curtailment letter. A 60-day grace period usually applies from the date of curtailment, during which the main visa holder and their dependants can find a new sponsor, switch to another route, or make arrangements to depart the UK. Dependants should not assume they have more time than the main visa holder. If the main visa holder finds a new sponsor and is granted a new visa, dependants can apply to extend on the new basis.

ILR pathway for dependants: Dependants can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after completing five years of continuous lawful residence in the UK — the same qualifying period as the main applicant. Time spent in the UK as a dependant counts towards this five-year requirement. The dependant must make their own ILR application, meet the knowledge of language and life in the UK requirements (passing the Life in the UK Test and demonstrating English at B1 CEFR level), and must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period during the qualifying period. Absences for more than the permitted amount can delay eligibility. After ILR, a dependant can apply for British citizenship after a further year of lawful residence.