Family visas · IAA-regulated advice
UK Dependant Visa Advice in Birmingham & London
Bring your partner and children to the UK on your work or study visa, or extend their stay. We check whether your visa allows dependants, get the evidence right and prepare each application, for a fixed fee agreed in writing.
Last checked 25 October 2026 · Reviewed by Vishal Gautam, IAA-regulated adviser
Overview
What is a dependant visa?
A dependant visa lets your partner and children live with you in the UK while you’re here on a work or study visa. Each of them applies separately, linked to your application, and their visa usually ends on the same date as yours.
Not every visa allows dependants. Since 2024 most students can’t bring family, and care workers and people in medium-skilled jobs who came more recently can’t either. Check before your family makes plans.
✓This is your visa if…
- You’re on, or applying for, a Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Global Talent, Scale-up or similar visa
- You’re doing a PhD or research degree, or you’re a government-sponsored student
- Your partner is your husband, wife or civil partner, or you’ve been together for 2 years
- Your children are under 18, or already in the UK as your dependants
→Look at another route if…
Quick check
Can your family join you? Six questions, one minute
Answer honestly. Nothing is saved or sent: this is a general guide, not advice on your case.
Is the main visa a work visa, a Graduate visa, or a Student visa for a PhD, research degree or government-sponsored course?Most taught master’s and undergraduate students can’t bring dependants.
If the job is care worker, senior care worker or another medium-skilled job, has the worker been in it since before 11 March 2024 (care) or 22 July 2025 (medium-skilled)?Not a care or medium-skilled job? Answer yes.
Are you married or in a civil partnership, or have you been together for at least 2 years?If you don’t live together, you’ll need to show an ongoing commitment.
Are your children under 18, or already in the UK as your dependants?They must live with you, unless they’re away in full-time education.
Can you show £285 for your partner, £315 for one child and £200 for each other child, held for 28 days?Not needed if you’ve all been in the UK for 12 months, or your employer covers it.
Is your family outside the UK, or here on a visa they can switch from?Visitors and seasonal workers can’t switch in the UK.
Eligibility
Dependant visa rules by route
Who can bring dependants depends on the main visa. These are the rules on GOV.UK as at 25 October 2026.
Skilled Worker visa
- Partners and children under 18 can usually join you
- Care worker or senior care worker: only if you’ve worked in the UK in that job on a Skilled Worker visa since before 11 March 2024, or for a child born in the UK and a few other cases
- Medium-skilled jobs: only if you’ve been in one on a Skilled Worker visa since before 22 July 2025, or for a child born in the UK and a few other cases
- Each family member pays the same visa fee as you, for the same length of visa
The money must be held for 28 days in a row, ending within 31 days of the application, unless you’ve all been here 12 months or your employer certifies it.
Health and Care Worker visa
- Partners and children can usually join you, and pay no health surcharge
- Care worker or senior care worker: only if you’ve been in that job in the UK on a Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visa since before 11 March 2024, or for a child born in the UK and a few other cases
- Medium-skilled jobs: the same limit, with a 22 July 2025 cut-off
- The same maintenance money applies: £285, £315 and £200
Doctors and nurses on this visa aren’t affected by these limits: they apply to care and medium-skilled jobs only.
Student visa
- Only if you’re on a PhD or other doctorate, a research-based higher degree, or a government-sponsored course longer than 6 months
- Taught postgraduate courses starting on or after 1 January 2024 don’t allow dependants
- Each dependant needs £845 a month in London or £680 a month elsewhere, for up to 9 months
- Their visa ends on the same date as yours
The money isn’t needed if they’ve been in the UK on a valid visa for at least 12 months.
Graduate visa
- Only family who were already your dependants on your Student visa can stay with you
- A child born in the UK during your Student or Graduate visa can also apply
- New dependants can’t join you from abroad on a Graduate visa
- Switching to a visa such as Skilled Worker may let new dependants join you
Their Graduate dependant visa ends on the same date as yours, and the Graduate visa can’t be extended.
Global Talent, Scale-up and High Potential Individual
- Partners and children can usually join you on these routes
- Scale-up and High Potential Individual dependants need the £285, £315 and £200 maintenance money
- Each family member applies and pays separately, and their visa ends with yours
- Family on a visit visa, seasonal worker visa or short-term student visa can’t switch in the UK
Other routes have their own rules: tell us which visa you hold and we’ll check.
Documents
Dependant visa documents
Each family member applies separately, but their evidence has to match yours. Gaps between the applications cause delays and refusals.
What everyone needs
- A valid passport for each family member
- Your marriage or civil partnership certificate, or proof of 2 years together
- Each child’s full birth certificate, showing both parents
- £Bank statements showing the money held for 28 days
- Your application number or family linking code
- Proof your children live with you
Plus a TB test if they’re coming from a listed country, and certified translations of anything not in English or Welsh.
Costs & timeline
Dependant visa cost and processing time
On a Skilled Worker visa, each family member pays the same visa fee as you, plus the health surcharge. For a partner on a 3-year visa from abroad, that’s £819 plus £3,105. Most decisions from abroad take about 3 weeks.
| Skilled Worker visa fee, partnerup to 3 years | £819 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge3 years at £1,035 (children £776 a year) | £3,105 |
| Home Office total, per partnerplus £285 maintenance money held in the bank, not paid to the Home Office | £3,924 |
| Skilled Worker visa fee, partnerup to 3 years | £943 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge3 years at £1,035 (children £776 a year) | £3,105 |
| Home Office total, per partnerplus £285 maintenance money held in the bank, not paid to the Home Office | £4,048 |
Fees from GOV.UK, checked 25 October 2026. Lower fees apply if the job is on the immigration salary list (£628 up to 3 years). Health and Care Worker dependants pay £324 or £628 and no surcharge. Student dependants pay £558 plus £776 a year. Our consultation fees →
Check your visa allows it
Before anything elseCare, medium-skilled and student limits decide whether your family can come at all.
Hold the money
28 days£285 for a partner, £315 for the first child and £200 for each other child, unless exempt.
Apply and prove identity
Week 0Each person applies online with your application number, then uses the ID Check app or a visa centre.
Decision
About 3 weeksFrom abroad, usually within 3 weeks. In the UK, usually within 8 weeks.
Settle (ILR)
After 5 yearsOn Skilled Worker and Health and Care, dependants can apply to settle after 5 years if they meet the other requirements.
Avoid a refusal
Common dependant visa refusal reasons
Most dependant refusals come from rules that changed recently, or money and relationship evidence. These are the issues we check first.
A job that no longer allows dependants
Care workers since 11 March 2024 and medium-skilled workers since 22 July 2025 usually can’t bring a partner or children.
We check: your job code and start date before your family applies.
The wrong kind of course
Taught master’s students who started on or after 1 January 2024 can’t bring dependants, whatever the course length.
We check: your course type and whether you’re government-sponsored.
Funds not held for 28 days
The money must be in the account for 28 days in a row, ending within 31 days of the application.
We check: the dates and amounts on every statement.
Not enough proof of 2 years together
Unmarried partners must show 2 years living together, or an ongoing commitment if apart.
We check: your evidence covers the whole 2 years.
Switching when they can’t
Family here as visitors, seasonal workers or short-term students can’t switch to a dependant visa in the UK.
We check: whether they can apply here or must apply from abroad.
Travelling while the application is pending
If a family member leaves the UK and Ireland before an in-UK application is decided, it’s treated as withdrawn.
We check: travel plans before anyone applies.
How we help
Our dependant visa services
Choose a one-off consultation, or let us handle your family’s applications from start to finish for a fixed fee.
Eligibility consultation
We check whether your visa allows dependants, and which family members can come.
Evidence review
We check relationship, money and children’s documents against the Rules.
Full applications
We prepare and submit each family member’s application, linked to yours.
Extensions and ILR
We extend their visas with yours and help the whole family settle.
Our scope: we’re regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority at Level 1. If you’re refused and need an appeal, we explain your options and refer you to a solicitor or higher-level adviser straight away.
FAQs
Dependant visa questions, answered
Can my partner work on a dependant visa?
On Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker dependant visas, yes: your partner can work in almost any job (not as a sportsperson or coach) and can study. They can’t claim most benefits.
How long does a dependant visa last?
It usually ends on the same date as your visa. If a child’s parents have visas with different end dates, the child’s visa ends on the earlier date.
Can I bring my family on a Student visa?
Only if you’re on a PhD or other doctorate, a research-based higher degree, or a government-sponsored course longer than 6 months. Taught postgraduate courses starting on or after 1 January 2024 don’t allow dependants.
I’m a care worker. Can my family join me?
Only if you’ve been working in the UK as a care worker or senior care worker on a Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa since before 11 March 2024. Otherwise only limited cases apply, such as a child born in the UK.
Our child was born in the UK. Do they need a visa?
A child born here isn’t automatically British. You need to apply for their dependant visa if you want to travel in and out of the UK with them, and before they turn 18 if they’re to stay. Some children can register as British: ask us.
Can my family join me on a Graduate visa?
Only family who were already your dependants on your Student visa, plus a child born in the UK during your Student or Graduate visa. New dependants may be able to join you if you switch to a visa such as Skilled Worker.
Do dependants pay the health surcharge?
Yes, usually: £1,035 a year for adults and £776 a year for children, and £776 a year for students’ dependants. Dependants of Health and Care Worker visa holders don’t pay it.
Can my family settle in the UK with me?
On Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visas, your partner and children can apply to settle after 5 years in the UK if they meet the other requirements. Settlement rules are under review, so check with us before you plan around a date.
Ready when you are
Together, sorted.
Book a consultation, or start with the free quick check on this page.