A dependent is someone who is under the age of 18. Only under exceptional circumstances is a person over the age of 18 considered a dependant in cases where they are not able to look after themselves.
You can apply for a UK dependant visa if both parents are settled in the UK or on a qualifying visa that allows them to bring dependants. In the case where it’s just one parent, they will need to prove that they have sole responsibility for their child.
A parent is someone who is:
If your child lives in the UK, you can apply for a UK parent visa if you need to look after them. This visa is only for a parent joining a child who lives in the UK. If you are joining your partner in the UK, you must apply for a UK spouse or partner visa.
To qualify for a parent visa your child must be under the age of 18 or under 18 when the first application for the visa was made and not living an independent life.
If your child is over 18, you must be able to prove they do not live an independent life.
Your child must be living in the UK and they must be one of the following:
If you apply from within the UK, the child must have lived in the UK for at least seven years and you must show that it would not be reasonable for them to leave.
You will also need to prove that:
If you are applying to move to the UK as the partner or spouse of someone already living in the UK and your child will be coming with you, you must apply for their dependant visa at the same time as your partner visa application.
If your child was born outside of the UK, you must show:
You will need to meet the financial requirements. This is set at £18,600. It will cost an extra £3,800 for one child, and £2,400 per additional child thereafter.
If you are coming to the UK on another type of visa, it might still be possible to bring your child with you as a dependant.
If you and your partner are not UK residents but want to move to the UK with your child or children, these are the visas that will allow you to bring dependants with you.
The Skilled Worker visa, previously known as the Tier 2 visa, lets you bring your partner and child with you to the UK. Your dependants’s visas will be valid for the same period as yours.
If you’re a healthcare professional, you can apply for a Health and Care Worker visa. You do not need to pay the health surcharge with this visa.
To bring depandants with, you will need to prove that:
You must have enough money to support your child – £315 for one child and £200 for each additional child, which needs to be available for at least 28 sequential days.
Your dependants will also need to prove their identity. They will need to get their fingerprints and photographs taken at a visa application centre for their biometric residence permit.
Your partner or children may be able to apply to come to the UK or extend their stay in the UK if you are in the UK on a Student visa.
You must be:
You must prove:
They will also need to get their biometric information taken.
You will need to prove the same information as the Skilled Worker visa – outlined above. You must be the legal parent and prove that your child lives with you. You can bring your spouse or partner as well as children with UK Start up the visa. The money you need to have in addition to £1,270 to support yourself is:
The money must have been in your account for more than 28 days before your application.
You will need to have £1,270 you must have to support yourself and then:
There are no maintenance fee requirements, but your dependents must have their biometric information taken.
Your child can apply for indefinite leave to remain if they are under 18 and both parents are permanent residents in the UK, or the parent that is solely responsible for them is a UK permanent resident.