Moving to the UK for your career is a significant step, and being able to bring your partner and children with you is a vital part of building your new life. The Skilled Worker Dependant visa is the dedicated route for your eligible family members to join you. However, the application process is separate and detailed, with its own financial, relationship, and procedural requirements that must be met perfectly.
Our team of specialist immigration advisors provides comprehensive support for the whole family. We manage the main Skilled Worker application and all dependant applications in parallel, ensuring they are correctly linked and meticulously prepared to prevent any issues that could delay or separate your family.
Who Can Apply as a Skilled Worker Dependant?
A dependant is defined as:
- Your husband, wife, civil partner, or unmarried partner.
- Your child under the age of 18.
- Your child who is over 18, but only if they are already in the UK as your dependant and are applying to extend their visa with you.
You must provide strong evidence of your relationship, such as marriage or civil partnership certificates for a partner, and birth certificates for your children.
Critical New Restrictions for Dependant Applications
It is essential to be aware of significant recent changes to the rules that restrict dependants for certain jobs.
For Care Workers and Senior Care Workers
As of 11 March 2024, if you are newly sponsored as a Care Worker or Senior Care Worker, you cannot bring your partner or children as dependants. The only exception is for those who were already in the UK and sponsored in these roles before this date, who may retain the right to have dependants under specific transitional arrangements.
For ‘Medium Skilled’ Jobs
A future rule change is planned for 22 July 2025. After this date, workers in jobs classified as ‘medium skilled’ will also lose the right to bring dependants. Again, transitional arrangements may apply for those already in the UK before this date.
Our experts can provide definitive advice on whether your specific job role is affected by these crucial rule changes.
The Financial Requirement for Your Dependants (Maintenance)
Your family must prove they have sufficient funds to support themselves upon arrival in the UK. This is in addition to the £1,270 you need for your own application.
Required Funds:
- For your partner: £285
- For your first child: £315
- For each additional child: £200
Example: To bring your partner and two children, they would need a total of £285 + £315 + £200 = £800.
The Critical 28-Day Rule:
This total amount must have been held in a bank account (yours or your partner’s) for at least 28 consecutive days, ending no more than 31 days before the date of their application.
When You Do NOT Need to Show Dependant Maintenance Funds:
You are exempt from this requirement if either:
- Your family has already been living in the UK with you on a valid visa for at least 12 months.
- Your A-rated sponsor agrees to certify maintenance for your family on your Certificate of Sponsorship.
The Application Process for Your Family
Your partner and children must each complete a separate online application.
- Linking Applications: It is crucial to link their applications to yours. They will need your unique application number (GWF or UAN). The system may also provide a ‘family linking code’ to ensure the applications are considered together.
- Identity Verification: Just like the main applicant, each dependant must prove their identity, either digitally via the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app or by attending an in-person appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC).
- Fees: Each family member must pay the full visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (£1,035 per year).
- Decision Times: The processing times are usually the same as for the main applicant: around 3 weeks from outside the UK and 8 weeks from inside the UK.
Life in the UK for Your Dependant Family Members
If their applications are successful, their visas will be granted with the same expiry date as yours, and they will have significant rights in the UK.
Your Dependant Partner and Children CAN:
- Work in the UK (with very few restrictions, except as a professional sportsperson).
- Study in the UK.
- Travel abroad and return to the UK.
- Apply to settle permanently (ILR) at the same time as you, after completing 5 years of continuous residence.
They CANNOT:
- Claim most benefits (public funds) or the State Pension.
Uniting Your Family with Expert Legal Support
Coordinating multiple visa applications is a complex task where a mistake on one can impact the entire family. Our dedicated team manages this process seamlessly.
- We confirm eligibility for all family members, including under the new restrictive rules.
- We manage the linking of all applications to ensure they are processed as a family unit.
- We provide a comprehensive financial check for the entire family’s maintenance funds.
- We offer end-to-end support, providing peace of mind that your family’s journey to the UK is in safe hands.
Don’t let administrative hurdles keep your family apart. Contact our specialist Dependant Visa team today for a comprehensive consultation.
About the Author:
Farzad Ghods is an international lawyer specialising in UK immigration law. He is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Immigration Advisors Authority (IAA) in the United Kingdom, and is also a member of the Iran Bar Association. He brings over fourteen years of professional legal experience to his practice.