The United Kingdom Dependent Visas are for family members of individuals who have or are applying for visas under various work categories, including Worker routes (formerly Tier 2), Temporary Worker routes (formerly Tier 5), Representatives of overseas businesses, Innovators, Global Talent migrants, and those with visas granted on the basis of UK ancestry. We at Henleaze Law can increase the likelihood that your dependent family members will be permitted to accompany you to the UK, allowing you to begin on your new adventure stress-free.
As an immigration-focused business, we provide friendly, responsive, and accurate legal advice and information. By entrusting us with the management of your complete family’s application for leave to enter the United Kingdom, you can be confident that you will receive sound legal advice and representation.
Who Is Eligible to Apply for a UK Dependent Visa?
To qualify for a UK Dependent Visa, you must be a qualifying migrant’s dependent family member. According to the Immigration Rules, a ‘dependent’ is defined as a:
- Whether a husband, wife, or civil partner,
- A partner who is not married and is not of your gender;
- At the time of application, the child must be under the age of 18.
Other family members are extremely unlikely to be successful in claiming dependent status for the purposes of obtaining a Dependent Visa for the UK.
To qualify for a Dependent Visa as a spouse or partner, you must be the spouse or partner of someone who meets one of the following criteria:
- In the UK with a valid visa, or
- Applying for a visa at the same time you apply for a UK dependent visa
Additionally, same-sex or unmarried partners must demonstrate that they have been in a continuous real relationship equivalent to marriage for the last two years.
Children may apply for a Dependent Visa in UK if they meet the following criteria:
Both parents are simultaneously seeking entrance approval, or
- Both parents are already in the UK, and the child wishes to accompany them; or
- One parent is already in the UK, and the other is requesting entry permission to join them and the child.
A necessary condition of the Dependent Visa to UK is that the family has sufficient funds to support themselves without relying on public assistance. For instance, if the primary applicant is seeking a Skilled Worker Visa, they must demonstrate that they have £285 in savings for the dependent partner, as well as an additional £315 for the first dependent child and £200 for each additional dependent kid. However, if a holder of a Skilled Worker Sponsor License with an A-rating certifies that these funds would be made available, the applicant may not be required to show confirmation of funds availability.
UK Dependent Visa Application
How Do I Submit an Application for a Dependent Visa?
UK Dependent Visa applications can be made inside or outside the United Kingdom, as well as online (unless the applicant is from North Korea). Our experienced attorneys will guide you and ensure that the process runs smoothly.
What Documents Do I Need to Submit When Applying for a PBS Dependent Visa in the United Kingdom?
The following documents must be included with your application (Note: This is not a complete list):
- A valid passport, as well as other travel documents
- Marriage Certificate for Spouse or Child Birth Certificate
- Bank statements
- Proof of the relationship between the dependent and the applicant
- The results of the tuberculosis test (if applicable)
- The results of any criminal background checks (if any)
We will assist you with gathering all of the necessary documentation for your complete family.
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) are notoriously stringent in their requirements that all papers be accurate and meet specified specifications. Failure to comply may result in your application being denied or rejected. Any document written in a language other than the UK’s official languages (English or Welsh) must be translated by a licensed professional translation.
Additionally, the UKVI may conduct checks to ensure the legitimacy and correctness of paperwork. Any discrepancies may raise suspicions of deceit, which may result in application rejection and a ten-year restriction on future entrance clearance to the UK.
How long does it take to process a dependent visa?
A Dependent visa from outside the UK may take up to 12 weeks to process from the date of your visa appointment.
For an extra charge, the application can be filed via priority service, which typically results in a decision within five working days.
From within the United Kingdom, the current service standard is eight weeks from the date of the appointment.
For an extra fee, priority and super priority services are offered. Priority service expedites the decision to five business days, while super priority expedites it to 24 hours.
What are the costs of a dependent visa in the United Kingdom?
The fee for dependent visas is determined by the primary applicant.
Each dependent is also charged an Immigration Health Surcharge of £624 per year for adults and £470 per year for minor applicants.
There is a £19.20 cost for biometric enrolment within the United Kingdom.
Fees for dependents of skilled workers are as follows:
- Skilled Dependent Worker – 3 year visa – £610 entry clearance
- Skilled Worker (Scarcity Occupation List) – 3-year visa – £464
- Dependent of a skilled worker – 5 year visa – entry clearance of £1,220
- Skilled Worker (Shortage Occupation List)-5 year visa-£928
- A skilled worker’s dependent – 3 year visa – stay – £704
- Skilled Worker (Shortage Occupation List)—three-year visa with the option of extending to £464 per year.
- Dependent of a skilled worker – five-year visa – stay in the country £1408
- Skilled Worker (Shortage Occupation List) — a five-year visa that can be extended for an additional £929.
Entry Permits and Permits to Remain Fees for dependents of other visa types can also be found on the current fee list maintained by the Home Office, including the following:
- Health and social services visas
- Exclusive Representative
- The inventor
- Ethnicity
- Internal Transfer
- Temporary Workers
What Are the Benefits of a Dependent Visa for PBS?
As a dependent, you will be able to work and study in the United Kingdom (with certain limits), and your children will be able to attend either a public or private school. Naturally, your family will remain intact, allowing you to enjoy living in a new nation.
Additionally, you may be entitled to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after completing a relevant qualifying period.
What are the criteria for obtaining a dependent visa in the United Kingdom?
The dependent must be able to perform the following:
- Ascertain their identity;
- Demonstrate their connection to the primary applicant;
- Plan to stay in the UK with their sponsor for the duration of their visa;
- Have enough money to live on without relying on government assistance (i.e., benefits).
What are the requirements for a dependent visa in the United Kingdom?
Dependent visa UK restrictions differ according to the dependent route requested for. In all situations, couples must demonstrate that they are in a genuine cohabiting relationship and want to live in the UK with their spouse. Children must be under the age of 18 unless they have since reached that age as a result of an application or first grant of (continuous) leave as a dependent.
In most situations, the applicant must demonstrate that they can support and house themselves in the UK without relying on public funding (i.e. state benefits). Dependents of Skilled Workers may be required to maintain a set amount of funds in their bank account or to obtain a maintenance certification from the Skilled Worker’s sponsoring firm. Other dependents, such as those with UK ancestry, may be able to demonstrate “sufficient” funds without meeting a set threshold.
What are the prerequisites for obtaining a Dependent Visa?
A dependent visa is only available to eligible family members. This includes the following:
- Spouses
- Civil partners
- Partners who are not married (but are in a stable, long-term relationship)
- Children under the age of 18 at the time of application (dependent children over 18 can apply for extensions as dependents if they have been on leave as dependents since they were under 18).
Partners must demonstrate that they are in a genuine relationship with the applicant and intend to live in the UK with their partner.
Children must not be self-sufficient (i.e. financially independent).
Who is eligible to enter the United Kingdom as a dependent?
Only immediate family members are eligible to apply as visa dependents. This would include the following:
- Spouses
- Civil partners
- Partners who are not married (but have a long-term relationship)
- Minors under the age of 18 (on the application date)
Unmarried partners must demonstrate that they have lived with their partner for a minimum of two years. Children must not be allowed to live independently.
Is it feasible for holders of dependent visas to work in the United Kingdom?
Holders of dependent visas are eligible to work in the United Kingdom. They may work independently, but employment as a professional athlete or a doctor/dentist in training is restricted.
How much money is required to apply for a dependent visa?
Dependents of skilled workers will be required to meet a minimum financial condition. If the Skilled Worker is sponsored by an A-rated sponsor who is willing to “verify maintenance” for their employee and dependents, no bank statement is necessary. Similarly, if the dependents are seeking leave to stay and have been in the United Kingdom for at least 12 months at the time of application, financial evidence is not necessary.
Other dependents may be required to demonstrate that they have “sufficient” financial resources to maintain themselves.
What Can Henleaze Law Do to Assist You with Your UK Dependent Visa Application?
At Henleaze Law, our skilled lawyers have considerable expertise completing successful UK Dependent Visa applications. We recognize how complicated these applications might be for some candidates. Nonetheless, we will endeavor to make everything as straightforward as possible. We work diligently and give the appropriate legal advice and counsel to increase your chances of receiving approval for your Dependent Visa application.
Our superior customer service guarantees that you receive the assistance and understanding you require throughout the application process. From our initial meeting until you receive a decision on your visa, we accompany you through each stage, keeping you informed of the application’s status.
