Immigration

Work Dependent Visas

Home
Visa

Work Dependent Visas

Work and Sponsorship

Get In Touch

Skilled Worker Visa Dependants

If you’re in the UK on a work visa, such as the Skilled Worker visa, your partner and children may be eligible to join or remain with you as dependants. The UK Home Office outlines specific criteria and procedures for dependant applications.

Eligibility Criteria for Dependants:

  • Partner: Must be your spouse, civil partner, or an unmarried partner with whom you’ve lived in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership for at least two years.
  • Children: Must be under 18 at the time of application. Children over 18 can apply as dependants if they are already in the UK as your dependant.

Financial Requirements:

Dependants must demonstrate sufficient funds to support themselves during their stay in the UK. The required amounts are:

  • £285 for your partner
  • £315 for one child
  • £200 for each additional child


These funds must have been held for at least 28 consecutive days prior to the application.
Alternatively, if you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months, or if your employer can cover your family’s costs during the first month in the UK (confirmed on your Certificate of Sponsorship), this requirement may be waived.

Application Process:

  • From Outside the UK: Dependants must apply online before travelling to the UK.
    Each family member needs to complete a separate application and pay the visa fee.
    They’ll require your application number, known as a Global Web Form (GWF) or
    Unique Application Number (UAN).
  • From Inside the UK: Dependants can apply to extend or switch their visa to stay with you, provided they are not in the UK on certain visa categories (e.g., visitor visa, short term student visa). If your dependant is in the UK on a Student visa, they can switch if they’ve completed their course or studied for a PhD for at least 24 months.

Important Considerations:

  • Care Workers and Senior Care Workers: Dependants cannot apply to join or stay with you if you’re sponsored for a job in the occupation code ‘6135 Care workers and home carers’ or ‘6136 Senior care workers’, unless you were employed in these roles and on a Skilled Worker visa before 11 March 2024, and meet specific conditions.
  • Duration of Stay: Dependants’ visas will typically be granted in line with the expiry date of your visa. They must not stay beyond the main visa holder’s permitted duration.


For comprehensive guidance, refer to the UK government’s official resources or consult with an immigration advisor to ensure compliance with current regulations.

Point Based System Dependants

The UK’s Points-Based System (PBS) Dependant Visa allows family members of individuals holding certain work or study visas to join or remain with them in the UK. This visa category is designed to keep families together during the primary visa holder’s stay.

Eligibility Criteria:

To qualify as a PBS dependant, you must be:

  • The spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner of the primary visa holder.
  • A child under 18 years old at the time of application.

The primary visa holder must possess a valid visa under one of the following categories:

  • Skilled Worker Visa
  • Health and Care Worker Visa
  • Global Business Mobility routes
  • Innovator Visa
  • Start-up Visa
  • Scale-up Visa
  • Temporary Work routes
  • International Sportsperson Visa
  • Graduate Visa
  • Minister of Religion Visa
  • UK Ancestry Visa
  • Investor Visa
  • British National (Overseas) Visa


Note: Following a change in the rules announced in July 2023, student visa holders with courses starting after 1 January 2024 cannot be accompanied by dependants, unless they are studying a postgraduate research programme.

Financial Requirements:

Dependants must demonstrate sufficient funds to support themselves during their stay. The required amounts are:

  • £285 for a partner
  • £315 for one child
  • £200 for each additional child

These funds must have been held for at least 28 consecutive days prior to the application. Alternatively, if the primary visa holder has been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months, or if their employer can cover the family’s costs during the first month in the UK (confirmed on the Certificate of Sponsorship), this requirement may be waived.

Application Process:

  • From Outside the UK: Dependants must apply online before travelling to the UK. Each family member needs to complete a separate application and pay the visa fee. They’ll require the primary visa holder’s application number, known as a Global Web Form (GWF) or Unique Application Number (UAN).
  • From Inside the UK: Dependants can apply to extend or switch their visa to stay with the primary visa holder, provided they are not in the UK on certain visa categories (e.g., visitor visa, short-term student visa). If a dependant is in the UK on a Student visa, they can switch if they’ve completed their course or studied for a PhD for at least 24 months.

Rights and Conditions:

PBS dependants are generally permitted to work and study in the UK, with certain restrictions depending on the primary visa holder’s category. They must not access public funds and should ensure their stay does not exceed the primary visa holder’s permitted duration.