Here’s an easily accessible guide to understand all conditions of a dependant visa, including visa type, job skill level, and timing of the main applicant’s employment.
What is a Dependant Visa?
A dependant visa grants someone permission to enter the UK as a dependant of someone who has either in the UK on a study or work visa, or has settled in the UK after being on a work visa.
Who Qualifies as a Dependant?
A dependant is someone related to a UK visa applicant in one of the following ways:
- Husband, wife, or civil partner
- Unmarried partner you’ve lived with in a relationship like a marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years
- Child under 18 on the date of application (including those born in the UK)
- Child over 18, if they were last granted permission as a dependant of their parent(s)
Who can Come to the UK as a Student Dependant?
The rules for the Student course requirement set out when a Student is permitted to bring dependants to the UK. A partner or child of a student can come to the UK on a Dependant visa if the main applicant is:
- a student who has received a scholarship or sponsorship from a national Government for study in the UK and is applying to study on a full time course of 6 months or longer
- a full-time Student is on a postgraduate level course (RQF level 7 or above) of 9 months or longer at a higher education provider with a track record of compliance and, if the course start date is on or after 1 January 2024, the provider has confirmed the course is a PhD or other doctoral qualification (RQF level 8), or a research-based higher degree
- a Student who has within the last 3 months before the date of application, permission to study on a full-time course of 6 months or longer, and is now applying for permission to study a full-time course of 6 months or longer where either:
- (i) the partner or child already has within the last 3 months before the date of application, permission as a dependent partner or dependent child of the Student; or
- (ii) the child was born since the last grant of permission to the Student, where the Student and partner or child are applying at the same time.
Who can Come to the UK as Skilled Worker Dependant?
The skill level of the main applicant’s job determines whether they can bring Dependants to the UK
A partner or child of a Skilled Worker can enter or stay in the UK on a Dependant visa:
- If the main applicant is applying as a Skilled Worker sponsored for a job at a skill level RQF 6 or above listed in Table1, 2, or 3 of the Appendix Skilled Occupations,
- If the main applicant is settled or has become a British citizen, and had permission on the Skilled worker route when they settled and you had permission as their dependant,
- If the main applicant is a care worker or senior care worker, their partner and children cannot apply to join or stay in the UK as dependants unless the main applicant was employed as a care worker or senior care worker in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa before 11 March 2024 and since the grant of entry clearance or permission they have continuously had permission as a Skilled Worker,
- If the main applicant’s job is in a medium skilled occupation below RQF level 6, their partner and children cannot apply to join them or stay in the UK as their dependants unless the main applicant was employed in the UK and on a Skilled Worker visa before 22 July 2025 and since the grant of visa they have continuously had permission as a Skilled Worker. The only cases where the main applicant can be sponsored in a medium skilled occupation and this exemption will not apply are those where the main applicant’s job is on the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List.
How long is the Visa Granted for Dependants?
The dependant’s visa will be granted as long as the main applicant’s visa. Dependant partners and dependant children are not required to apply at the same time as the main applicant, they can also apply to join the main applicant later.
What Kind of Work Can Someone With a Dependant Visa Do?
A dependant is generally allowed to undertake any kind of work except as a professional sportsperson or sports coach. For Student Dependants, further restrictions may apply depending on the student’s course of study.
eVisa or Vignette
Making a new application to enter and stay in the UK from 15 July 2025
You’ll still get a vignette if you apply as a Dependant for any visa or as a main applicant for visas other than work or study.
You may not get a vignette if you apply for a work or study visa on or after 15 July 2025. Instead, you will need to create a UKVI account to get access to your eVisa before you travel to the UK.
Settlement
If you are in the UK as a Dependent of a Skilled worker, you can apply for settlement if you meet the relevant requirements of the immigration rules.
How we can Help
At Karir Solicitors, we have in-depth expertise and a proven track record in assisting clients to bring their family members to the UK. Feel free to get in contact with us for any queries relating to dependant or main applicant visas.