UK dependant visas: partners and children
If you hold — or are applying for — a UK visa on a route such as Skilled Worker or Student, your partner and children may be able to join you as dependants. This guide explains who counts as a dependant, how the rules change with the main applicant’s route, the evidence and extra money needed, work and study rights, and how extending and settling “in line” works.
On this page
Quick answer. A dependant visa is for the partner or child of someone on a main route (for example Skilled Worker or Student). Each dependant makes their own application — it is not automatic — and the detailed rules come from the main applicant’s route, so whether dependants are allowed, what evidence is needed and how much money to show all vary. Dependants are normally granted permission in line with the main applicant, but settlement is assessed separately. This is different from a partner/family visa to join a British or settled person.
In brief
- A dependant is usually a partner (spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner in a relationship akin to marriage, normally for at least two years) or a dependent child under 18.
- Each dependant makes a separate application — status does not transfer automatically.
- The main applicant’s route decides the rules — and some routes allow few or no dependants.
- You usually show extra money per dependant, held for a set period; some applicants are exempt. Amounts vary by route.
- Dependants are granted in line with the main applicant, but settlement is not automatic and has its own requirements.
- Joining a British or settled partner is a different, family-route application.
1. What a dependant visa is
A dependant visa lets the partner or child of a main applicant come to, or stay in, the UK on the same route. The dependant’s permission is tied to the main applicant and is normally granted for the same period. But a dependant always makes their own application and must meet the requirements — holding a visa yourself does not give your family automatic status.
2. Dependant visa vs partner (family) visa
These are often confused:
- A dependant visa is for the family member of someone on a points-based or other work/study route (Skilled Worker, Student, and so on). The rules come from that route.
- A partner or family visa under Appendix FM is for joining a partner who is British or settled (or on certain protected routes). That is a different application with its own financial and English requirements — see our partner & spouse visa guide.
3. Who counts as a dependant
A partner is a spouse, civil partner, or an unmarried partner in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership, normally for at least two years before the application. The relationship must be genuine and subsisting, and any previous marriages or partnerships must have properly ended.
A child is normally a dependent child under 18 at the date of application (a child first granted as a dependant can usually extend after turning 18), who is not married or in a civil partnership and is not living an independent life. Where only one parent is applying or present, the Rules look at whether that parent has sole responsibility for the child, or whether there are serious and compelling reasons, with suitable care arrangements. The exact child test depends on the route (Appendix Children for most work and study routes, Appendix FM for family routes).
4. The rules depend on the main route
Whether dependants are allowed — and the detail — is set by the main applicant’s route. Start with the route below for the specific rules:
| Main route | Dependants | Where the detail is |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | Usually yes, but not automatic — some occupations (for example care roles and certain medium-skilled roles) are restricted from bringing new dependants. | Skilled Worker dependants |
| Student | Only a government-sponsored student (course of 6 months or more) or a full-time postgraduate PhD / doctoral / research student (9 months or more); most taught courses cannot. | Student visa — dependants |
| Graduate | Generally only family members already in the UK as your dependants can stay on with you. | Graduate visa |
| Youth Mobility | No provision for dependants. | Youth Mobility Scheme |
| ECAA (Ankara Agreement) | The partner route is mainly transitional (for partners who already held ECAA dependant permission); the child route still allows an application from outside the UK. | ECAA dependant partner · ECAA dependant child |
Dependant eligibility and the restricted occupations change — confirm the current position for your route on GOV.UK.
5. Evidence
For a partner: a marriage or civil partnership certificate, or — for an unmarried partner — evidence of living together and of a genuine, continuing relationship (joint address, finances, communication, photos, travel), plus evidence that earlier relationships ended.
For a child: the birth certificate and evidence of the parental link, each parent’s immigration position, and, where only one parent is involved, custody or consent documents and how the child’s care is arranged. Documents must match across the application — inconsistent names, dates or addresses are a common cause of delay.
6. The financial requirement
Most routes require extra money to be shown for each dependant, usually held in an account for a set continuous period. The amount and the rules depend on the route and on how many dependants apply, and some dependants do not have to show funds at all — for example where the main applicant has been in the UK for a qualifying period, or an A-rated sponsor certifies maintenance on the Skilled Worker route.
We do not publish the amounts here, because they vary by route and change. For the Skilled Worker figures and a worked calculator, see the Skilled Worker dependant financial requirement. Estimate fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge per person with our Fee & IHS calculator, and — for family-route cases — use the Financial Requirement and Adequate Maintenance calculators. Always confirm the current amounts on GOV.UK.
7. Work & study rights
What a dependant can do is set as a condition on their own grant. Partners of Skilled Workers can usually work, including full-time, in most jobs; dependants on some routes have more limited rights. Dependant children can usually study. Always check the condition printed on the dependant’s own permission rather than assuming it follows the main applicant’s.
8. Extending in line & settlement
A dependant’s permission normally runs in line with the main applicant’s, and each person makes their own extension application before it expires. If the main applicant changes route or their permission ends, that affects the dependants too.
Settlement is not automatic. When the main applicant gets indefinite leave to remain, a dependant does not automatically get it. The dependant’s settlement is assessed on its own — typically a continuing relationship, continuous residence, suitability and, for a partner, the English language and Life in the UK requirements. See Knowledge of Language and Life.
9. Adding or switching a dependant
Whether a dependant applies from outside the UK (entry clearance) or switches in-country depends on their current status and the route’s rules. Several statuses cannot switch in the UK — so the wrong application type, or applying in the wrong place, can lead to a refusal. Check before applying.
10. How ENS can help
We can confirm whether your route allows dependants, identify the right application type and place to apply, check the relationship and child evidence, make sure any funds are held correctly, and prepare straightforward dependant applications alongside the main applicant — and advise on extending and settling in line.
Our regulatory scope. ENS is regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority at Level 1 and helps with straightforward applications within that authorisation. Matters that turn on credibility or genuineness, and any appeal, tribunal or judicial review, fall outside our scope — we will say so after an initial assessment and, where needed, help you find an appropriately authorised adviser. How our IAA Level 1 scope works.
11. Common mistakes
- Assuming every route allows dependants — several allow few or none.
- Treating a dependant grant as automatic — each person makes a separate application.
- Confusing a dependant visa with a partner/family visa to join a British or settled person.
- Showing funds for the wrong period, or not realising a dependant was exempt.
- Expecting settlement in line — a dependant’s ILR is assessed separately, with its own English and Life in the UK requirements for partners.
- Applying in the wrong place (in-country vs entry clearance) for the dependant’s status.
12. FAQs
Who can come as my dependant? +
Usually your partner (spouse, civil partner, or an unmarried partner in a relationship akin to marriage, normally for at least two years) and your dependent children under 18. Whether they can actually apply depends on your route.
Is a dependant visa the same as a spouse visa? +
No. A dependant visa is for the family of someone on a work or study route. A spouse/partner visa under Appendix FM is for joining a British or settled partner, with its own rules — see our partner & spouse visa guide.
Can my family come on any visa? +
No. Some routes allow dependants freely, some with restrictions (for example certain Skilled Worker occupations), and some not at all (for example Youth Mobility, and most taught Student courses). Check your route.
How much money do we need to show? +
Usually extra funds for each dependant, held for a set period — but the amount varies by route and some dependants are exempt. We do not quote figures here; use our calculators and confirm on GOV.UK.
Can my partner work? +
Often yes — partners of Skilled Workers can usually work, including full-time — but some routes are more limited. Check the condition on the dependant’s own grant.
If I get ILR, does my family get it too? +
Not automatically. Each dependant’s settlement is assessed separately, and partners usually need to meet the English language and Life in the UK requirements.
Can a dependant apply from inside the UK? +
Sometimes — it depends on their current status and the route. Several statuses cannot switch in-country and must apply for entry clearance. Take advice before applying.
Related guidance
Skilled Worker dependants
Who can apply, the evidence, funds, extending and settling.
Learn more →Partner & spouse visa
Joining a British or settled partner under Appendix FM.
Learn more →Disclaimer. ENS Immigration Advice is regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority at Level 1 (F202331709) and is not a firm of solicitors. This page gives general information about dependant applications; it is not legal advice on any individual case and does not guarantee an outcome. Dependant rules differ by route and change — confirm the current position for your route on GOV.UK before you apply.
Source basis. This page summarises the dependant provisions of the main-route Immigration Rules (including Appendix Skilled Worker and Appendix Student), Appendix Relationship with Partner, Appendix Children and Appendix Finance, and the related Home Office guidance published on GOV.UK. Rules and amounts change; confirm the current position on GOV.UK before relying on this information.
Eyyup Yaprak
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Founded to make regulated advice honest and accessible.
Before founding the practice, Eyyup spent 10 years teaching English in Turkey and Liverpool, so every stage of an application is explained clearly, in English or Turkish. A BA and MA in English Language Teaching and an Associate Degree in Computer Programming & Technology sit alongside AAT Level 4 in Accounting, giving a strong grasp of the financial evidence many visa categories require.
Casework spans family, work, settlement and Ankara Agreement (ECAA) applications, plus sponsor licence guidance for employers.
Bringing your family to the UK?
We can confirm whether your route allows dependants, get the application type and evidence right, and prepare your partner’s and children’s applications alongside your own.