July 16, 2026

UK Dependant Visa 2026: New Rules for Skilled Worker, Student & Health & Care Worker Dependants

A UK Dependent Visa allows the spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, or child under 18 of a main visa holder to live in the United Kingdom for as long as the main visa is valid. Since January 2024, the routes that can sponsor dependents have been significantly restricted — most taught master’s students and overseas care workers can no longer bring family members.

If you are planning to move to the UK as a Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Student, Graduate, or Global Talent visa holder, the dependent rules in 2026 are very different from what they were in 2022. This guide explains exactly who can bring dependants, the new salary and course requirements, current fees, the application process, and how to handle dependents who arrived under the old rules.

2024–25 Dependant Rule Changes At a Glance

Date	Change	Routes affected
Jan 2024	Most taught master’s students can no longer bring dependents. Only research postgraduates (e.g. PhD) and government-sponsored students retain the right.	Student visa
Mar 2024	Overseas care workers and senior care workers can no longer bring dependents on new applications.	Health and Care Worker visa
Apr 2024	Skilled Worker minimum salary threshold raised to £38,700 (with transitional rules). Higher salary thresholds extend to dependent routes indirectly.	Skilled Worker visa
Apr 2024	Family visa minimum income threshold raised from £18,600 to £29,000 (with further rises planned to £38,700).	Spouse / Partner visa
Ongoing 2024–26	Digital eVisa rollout replaces BRP cards for dependants too.	All dependant routes

Important — transitional rules apply. If you applied before the cut-off date listed above, you can usually continue to bring dependants under the old rules. Always check the date of your original Certificate of Sponsorship or CAS letter before assuming you are blocked.

Who can bring dependants to the UK in 2026?

Main visa route	Can bring dependants?	Conditions
Skilled Worker	Yes	Sponsor and salary must meet current thresholds; financial maintenance evidence required (or 12 months of sponsor employment).
Health and Care Worker (overseas applicants from Mar 2024)	No (for new applications)	Applies to overseas care workers and senior care workers. UK-based applicants from before March 2024 retain rights.
Student (taught master’s, undergrad, foundation)	No	Single biggest restriction of 2024. Most international students cannot bring family.
Student (research postgraduate — PhD, DPhil)	Yes	Research route remains exempt.
Student (government-sponsored, e.g. Chevening)	Yes	Government-sponsored exception.
Graduate Route (post-study work)	Yes (if dependant was already in UK as your dependant)	You cannot bring new dependants once on the Graduate visa — only continue existing ones.
Global Talent	Yes	Full dependant rights.
Innovator Founder	Yes	Full dependant rights.
High Potential Individual (HPI)	Yes	Full dependant rights.
Scale-up	Yes	Full dependant rights.

UK Dependant Visa fees 2026

Dependant visa fees mirror the main applicant’s route. You pay one fee per dependant per application — there is no family discount.

Visa route (dependant)	Application fee (per dependant)	IHS (per year)
Skilled Worker dependant — 3 years or less	£827 (out of UK) / £1,000 (in UK)	£1,035
Skilled Worker dependant — more than 3 years	£1,500 (out of UK) / £1,955 (in UK)	£1,035
Student dependant	£524 (out of UK) / £704 (in UK)	£776
Graduate Route dependant (continuation only)	£822	£1,035
Global Talent dependant	£760	£1,035
HPI dependant	£822	£1,035

Add £500 for priority service or £1,000 for super-priority. A family of four on Skilled Worker dependant visas for a five-year period typically pays £12,000 to £15,000 in visa fees and IHS combined.

How to apply for a UK Dependant Visa — step by step

Confirm eligibility — check the main applicant’s visa route is on the list of routes that can sponsor dependants in 2026.
Gather identity and relationship documents — marriage certificate, civil partnership certificate, or two years of cohabitation evidence (for unmarried partners); children’s birth certificates listing both parents.
Gather financial evidence — the dependant must show maintenance funds: £285 for partner, £315 for first child, £200 for each additional child, held in an account for 28 consecutive days before applying. Some categories are exempt if the sponsor has been in the UK with permission for 12 months or more.
Complete the online application on gov.uk (the form differs by main applicant route — e.g. ‘Skilled Worker dependant’).
Pay the visa fee plus IHS upfront. IHS is non-refundable.
Book a biometric appointment at the nearest VFS or TLS Contact centre, or use the UK Immigration: ID Check app if eligible.
Upload supporting documents through the portal.
Attend biometrics. Standard decisions take 15 working days from outside the UK or 8 weeks from inside.

Documents required for a UK Dependant Visa

All applicants

Valid passport
Two recent passport-style colour photographs
Tuberculosis test certificate (if from a listed country)

Relationship evidence (spouse / partner)

Marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate
OR cohabitation evidence for at least two years (joint bills, lease, joint bank statements — minimum six pieces of evidence spanning the period)
Photos of the relationship across time, joint travel records, communication history (for unmarried partner applications)

Relationship evidence (child)

Full birth certificate showing both parents
Sole responsibility evidence if only one parent is moving to the UK
Letter of consent from the non-migrating parent

Main applicant evidence

Copy of the main applicant’s passport and BRP / eVisa share code
Copy of the main applicant’s Certificate of Sponsorship / CAS / endorsement letter
Letter from main applicant’s employer or sponsor (if applicable)

Extending or switching a UK Dependant Visa

Dependant visas tie directly to the main applicant’s permission. When the main applicant extends, dependants must extend at the same time — they cannot extend independently.

Switching is permitted in some cases:

A dependant on a Skilled Worker dependant visa can apply for their own Skilled Worker visa if they have a job offer and the sponsoring employer holds a licence.
A dependant who marries a British citizen during their stay can switch to a Spouse visa.
A child dependant aged 18 cannot continue as a dependant indefinitely — they must apply for their own visa route (often Student or Skilled Worker) before turning 18 if they want to remain.

Common mistake — dependants who arrive after the main applicant must apply separately. Their qualifying time for ILR starts from the date their dependant visa is granted, not from the main applicant’s arrival date. Plan accordingly.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Bringing your family to the UK — talk to GMS Immigration

Dependant visa rules changed three times in 2024 alone. We at GMS Immigration track every Statement of Changes so that you do not have to. Our team has helped hundreds of families move to the UK together — including complex cases involving unmarried partners, children with one non-migrating parent, and transitional applications under the old rules. Book your free initial consultation today.

Can my partner come with me on a Student Visa in 2026?

Only if you are on a research postgraduate course (PhD, DPhil, master’s by research) or a government-sponsored programme of 6+ months. Taught master’s students, undergraduates, foundation students, and language students cannot bring dependants.

Can dependants work in the UK?

Yes. Dependants on Skilled Worker, Global Talent, HPI, Innovator Founder, and Student dependant visas have unrestricted right to work in any job, full-time or part-time, except as a professional sportsperson. They do not need their own sponsor.

How long does a dependant visa last?

Exactly as long as the main applicant’s visa. If the main visa is granted for three years, the dependant visa is also granted for three years. Renewal is in lockstep with the main applicant.

Can my parents come to the UK as my dependants?

Generally no — UK immigration rules do not recognise parents as dependants under work or study routes. There is a separate Adult Dependent Relative visa for elderly parents who need long-term care, but the eligibility bar is very high and approval rates are below 10%.

Does my dependant get ILR with me?

If your dependant has been on the dependant visa for the full qualifying period (usually five years), they apply for ILR at the same time as you. If they joined late, they must wait until they have completed their own five years before becoming eligible for ILR — even if you have already received it.

We are not married — can my partner still come?

Yes, as an unmarried partner. You must prove a relationship akin to marriage that has lasted at least two years, with documented cohabitation. Joint tenancy agreements, joint utility bills, joint bank statements, and travel records are the strongest forms of evidence.