Dependant Visa UK 2026: Bringing Family on a Work Visa

If you are working in the UK on a Skilled Worker or other eligible visa and want your partner and children with you, you are in the right place. Being apart from your family is stressful, and the rules around dependant visas can feel confusing. This guide explains, in plain English, who qualifies as a dependant, what evidence the Home Office expects, why applications get refused, and what you can do if something goes wrong.

We deal with these applications every week. Below you will find practical answers to the questions that keep families awake at night.

Key takeaways

• Who can come: your partner (spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner) and children under 18 can usually apply as dependants of a Skilled Worker and several other work routes.
• Money matters: a maintenance (funds) requirement often applies unless your sponsor certifies your family’s maintenance, or you are exempt after a qualifying period in the UK.
• Evidence is everything: genuine relationship proof and correct financial documents are the most common reasons applications succeed or fail.
• Timing: dependants can often apply together with the main applicant or join later; children born in the UK have separate arrangements.
• If refused: your options may include administrative review, reapplication or, in limited cases, appeal — check the refusal letter and take advice quickly.

What is a dependant visa?

A dependant visa lets the family members of a main visa holder live in the UK for the same period as that main visa holder. The main applicant is often called the “lead” or “main” applicant. Their family members apply on the same route as dependants.

The most common example is the Skilled Worker route. Other work routes that allow dependants include the Global Talent, Scale-up, Health and Care Worker, Senior or Specialist Worker (Global Business Mobility), and several others. Not every route permits dependants, and some short-term routes are more restricted, so the specific route matters.

Who counts as a dependant?

Two main groups can usually apply:

• Your partner — a spouse, civil partner, or an unmarried partner you have lived with in a relationship similar to marriage for a qualifying period (generally at least two years).
• Your children — children under 18 at the date of application. Children who are already 18 or over can sometimes qualify where they were last granted leave as your dependant and are not living independently, but the rules here are tighter.

Both parents must normally be applying to come to the UK, already be in the UK, or be a British citizen or settled here, unless the applicant parent has sole responsibility or there are serious and compelling reasons. This point trips up many families, so consider it carefully before applying for a child.

The relationship requirement: proving you are genuine

The Home Office wants to be satisfied that your relationship is real, subsisting and that you intend to live together. For married couples this is usually straightforward, but a marriage certificate alone is rarely enough on its own.

For unmarried partners, the burden is heavier. You must show cohabitation in a relationship akin to marriage, normally for at least two years before you apply. Gaps in evidence, different addresses on documents, or thin paperwork can all cause problems.

Helpful evidence often includes:

• joint tenancy agreements, mortgage statements or utility bills in both names;
• joint bank accounts or evidence of shared financial responsibilities;
• correspondence addressed to both of you at the same address over time;
• photographs, travel records and evidence of contact across any periods apart.

Where your documents point to different addresses, explain why. A short covering letter that deals honestly with any gaps is far better than hoping a caseworker will not notice.

The financial (maintenance) requirement

Dependant applications usually involve a maintenance requirement, designed to show your family can support itself without relying on public funds. There is a set amount for a partner and an additional amount for each child.

The funds normally need to be held for a continuous period (commonly 28 days) before you apply, and evidenced with the correct bank statements or equivalent. Two important exceptions frequently apply:

• Sponsor certification: your employer sponsor can certify that they will maintain and accommodate you and your family, removing the need to show personal savings.
• Time in the UK: if the main applicant has already been in the UK for a qualifying period (often 12 months or more), the maintenance requirement may not apply in the same way.

Because exact figures and holding periods change, always confirm the current amounts on GOV.UK before you gather documents. Do not rely on figures a friend quoted last year.

Validity and suitability: the basics you must get right

Before a caseworker even looks at your relationship, your application must be valid. That means the correct form, the right fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge paid, and biometrics provided. A missed fee or unpaid surcharge can lead to rejection without a decision on the merits.

Suitability is the other side of the coin. Previous immigration breaches, deception, certain criminal matters or significant debts to the NHS can all lead to refusal. Honesty is essential — a false document or misleading answer can cause a refusal and long-lasting consequences for future applications.

Common reasons dependant visas get refused

Understanding why applications fail helps you avoid the same traps. In our experience, the recurring themes are:

• Weak relationship evidence — especially for unmarried partners who cannot show two years of genuine cohabitation.
• Financial documents that do not match the rules — wrong account holder, missing days, statements not in the correct format, or funds dipping below the threshold.
• Child eligibility problems — issues with parental responsibility, consent, or the other parent’s status.
• Inconsistencies — dates, addresses or names that do not line up across documents.
• Suitability issues — undisclosed history or perceived deception.

Most of these are preventable with careful preparation.

What if your evidence is weak, missing or inconsistent?

Do not panic, and do not paper over the cracks with something untrue. A single false document is far more damaging than an honest explanation.

If a document is missing, provide the best available alternative and explain the gap. If your addresses differ because of work or study, say so and provide context. Where cohabitation evidence is thin, a well-structured bundle plus witness statements can strengthen an otherwise borderline case.

Sometimes it is wiser to wait. If you are a few weeks short of the two-year cohabitation mark, or your savings have not been held long enough, a short delay can turn a likely refusal into a straightforward grant. A professional review before you submit can save months of stress.

What happens if your dependant application is refused?

Your first step is to read the refusal letter carefully. It should set out the reasons and any remedy available to you. The correct route depends on the reason for refusal and your specific facts.

Possible options include:

• Administrative review — where the refusal involved a caseworker error, this can be the right challenge in some work-route cases.
• Reapplication — often the fastest fix where a document was missing or the evidence can be improved.
• Appeal — available in limited circumstances, typically where human rights are engaged. Not every dependant refusal carries a right of appeal.

Time limits are strict, and choosing the wrong remedy can waste both time and money. Take advice quickly so you protect any deadline and pick the strongest path.

Applying together or joining later

Families can often apply at the same time as the main applicant, or dependants can apply to join once the main applicant is already here. Either way, the main applicant must hold a qualifying visa when the dependant applies.

Where a child is born in the UK to parents on work visas, that child does not automatically become a dependant. A separate application is usually needed, and there are specific arrangements for children born here. Check your position rather than assuming registration is automatic.

Can dependants work and study?

In many work routes, dependant partners can work in the UK, often without the restrictions that apply to the main visa holder, and dependant children can study. This flexibility is one of the biggest practical benefits of the dependant route. Because rules differ between routes, confirm what your dependants are permitted to do before making career or school plans.

Does a dependant visa lead to settlement?

Time spent in the UK as a dependant can count towards settlement (indefinite leave to remain) on many routes, provided the qualifying conditions are met. Partners often settle in line with the main applicant, and continuous residence, absences and the relationship all matter. Keep clear records of your time in the UK from day one, because you will need them later.

Practical next steps

1. Confirm the main applicant’s route allows dependants.
2. Check the current maintenance figures and whether an exemption applies.
3. Gather relationship and financial evidence early, and review it for consistency.
4. For children, confirm parental responsibility and the other parent’s status.
5. Have a professional review any borderline evidence before you submit.

How legal advice can strengthen your case

Most refusals we see were avoidable. A short review before submission can catch a mismatched address, a savings gap, or a child-eligibility issue that would otherwise sink the application. Where facts are complex — an unmarried partnership, a child from a previous relationship, or a past immigration problem — expert help matters even more.

We prepare your documents to meet the rules as they actually are, present your relationship persuasively, and deal honestly with any weak points before a caseworker finds them. If you have already been refused, we can assess the letter and advise on the strongest route forward.

Book an Appointment

For official guidance and the current fees and requirements, see the GOV.UK page on bringing your partner and children on a work visa.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring my partner to the UK if we are not married?

Yes, in many cases. Unmarried partners can qualify where you can show a genuine relationship and cohabitation for a qualifying period, usually at least two years. Strong, consistent evidence is essential, so take advice if your paperwork is thin or your addresses differ.

How much money do I need to bring my family to the UK?

A maintenance requirement usually applies, with a set amount for a partner and an additional amount per child, held for a continuous period before applying. Your sponsor may certify maintenance instead, and exemptions can apply after a qualifying period in the UK. Always check the current figures on GOV.UK.

Why was my dependant visa refused?

Common reasons include weak relationship evidence, financial documents that do not meet the rules, inconsistencies across documents, and child-eligibility issues. The refusal letter should explain the reason and any remedy, so read it carefully and seek advice quickly.

Can my dependant partner work in the UK?

On many work routes, a dependant partner can work, often without the restrictions the main visa holder faces, and dependant children can study. Rules vary between routes, so confirm what is permitted before making plans.

What can I do if my family’s visa is refused?

Your options may include administrative review, reapplication, or in limited cases an appeal, depending on the reason for refusal and your facts. Time limits are strict, so act promptly and take advice before choosing a route.

Does time as a dependant count towards settlement?

On many routes, time as a dependant can count towards indefinite leave to remain if the conditions are met, including continuous residence and permitted absences. Keep clear records from the outset, as you will need them when you apply to settle.

This article is general information only and is not legal advice. Immigration rules, fees and requirements change, and every case turns on its own facts. For advice tailored to your situation, please contact ukimmigration.law to arrange a consultation.

Last legally reviewed by Adam Sierant on 17 June 2025.