Looking to bring your loved ones with you when you come to live, work or study in the UK? We can help.
If you’re in the UK on a visa, your family members may be able to join or stay with you as dependants. While there is no single ‘dependant visa’ in the UK, the term commonly refers to a visa route that allows spouses, partners and children of visa holders to live in the UK alongside them.
Whether you’re applying alongside a loved one or sponsoring their move to the UK, we understand how important it is to keep families together.
FAQs
Dependant visas are a group of visas that allow family members and children to accompany another visa applicant to the UK. Unlike some other countries, there isn’t one specific visa type called a dependant visa. Instead, the following visa types can allow dependants to apply alongside the primary visa applicant, but specific conditions may apply:
A dependant is typically a husband, wife, civil partner, unmarried partner, LGBT partner, or child under 18. In some cases, children over 18 may qualify, and exceptions exist for dependent adults who require care.
Dependants would typically apply for a dependant visa if they intend to stay in the UK for more than 6 months.
Dependant visa routes are unsuitable for family members looking to join others who are already in the UK with leave to remain as a refugee or under humanitarian protection. If this is the case, you should apply for family reunion instead.
Yes. Most dependant visa holders are allowed to work full-time, including self-employment. The only exception is dependants of student visa holders, who may have limited work rights.
This depends on your visa type, but dependant visas usually require:
Dependants can apply for a dependant visa at the same time as the main applicant, but it’s not mandatory and applications can be submitted later. Dependants can apply at the same time or later either from outside the UK or in some cases, from within the UK.
If you are a dependant and you hold another UK visa, it may be possible to switch to a family visa if you make an application before your existing visa expires.
Dependants may not need a family or dependant visa if they’re intending on staying in the UK for less than 6 months and alternatives are available.
Dependant visas are generally issued in line with the length of the main applicant’s visa, however there are exceptions. When the main visa is extended or switched, dependants must also apply to extend their own leave.
The most notable exception to this are family visas. These are granted for a minimum period of 2 years and 6 months, and can be extended for a further 2 year and 6 month period.
Visa processing times will vary depending on which dependant visa you choose, ranging from 3 to 12 weeks, typically.
However, you will also need to prepare the required documentation and complete forms, which can add another 2 to 4 weeks.
Lastly, you will usually be asked to book and attend an appointment to have your biometric information taken by the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS). Depending on the time of year, you may need to wait a few days or weeks for an appointment, or you can a premium for a faster service.
We advise all our clients applying for a dependant visa to add on a month to the visa processing times reported by the government.
Again, this will depend on what visa the main visa applicant is applying for. Some visa routes such as the ancestry visa do not allow applicants or their dependants to apply from within the UK.
However, others, such as family visas, skilled worker visas or student visas do enable dependants to apply from within the UK.
If you’re unsure where you are allowed to apply from, our expert immigration team can assist on 0203 007 5500.
If your dependant visa is refused, you can request that your application be reconsidered. This is normally for cases where you believe the visa decision-making process was incorrectly followed, and it isn’t the same as lodging an appeal. Appeals can only be submitted for certain visa types, such as family visas and skilled worker visas and you must meet defined criteria in order to appeal, such as for humanitarian or protection reasons.
However, in some cases, there is no right to appeal, and instead, you will need to resubmit a fresh application.
Whether you should request reconsideration, appeal or resubmit your application will depend on your specific circumstances.
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