If you have a UK Skilled Worker visa, your partner and children may be able to join you or stay with you in the UK. This is done through the Dependant Partner and Children Visa route.
Below is a simple, clear UK visa guide covering who can apply, requirements, documents, and what dependants can do in the UK.
Who can apply as a dependant?
Your partner can apply if they are:
Your spouse or civil partner, or
Your unmarried partner (you must have lived together for at least 2 years).
You’ll need to show proof of your relationship, for example:
Marriage or civil partnership certificate
Joint bills, tenancy, or bank statements
Children can apply if they are:
Under 18 at the time of application, or
Over 18 and already in the UK as your dependant
You’ll need to provide birth certificates and proof that they live with you and depend on you financially.
Job and visa rules for bringing dependants
To bring dependants, your job must be eligible under the Skilled Worker route.
You cannot bring dependants if:
You are a care worker or senior care worker and applied after 11 March 2024
You are in a medium-skilled occupation and applied after 22 July 2025
If you held your UK visa before these dates, you can still bring your family under the old rules.
All UK Skilled Worker Dependant Visa requirements for partner & children
Category | Requirement / Detail | Notes |
Main applicant status | The Skilled Worker must hold a valid visa or be applying for one. | Dependants’ visas will end when the main visa ends. |
Eligible dependants | - Partner (spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner living together for 2+ years) - Children under 18 (or over 18 if already dependants in the UK) | Unmarried partners must show a genuine, long-term relationship. |
Relationship evidence | - Marriage or civil partnership certificate - Proof of cohabitation for unmarried partners (bills, tenancy, joint accounts) - Child’s birth certificate showing parentage | For children over 16, proof they still live with and depend on the parent. |
Financial requirement | - £285 for partner - £315 for first child - £200 for each additional child - Funds must be held for 28 consecutive days | Not needed if the main applicant has lived in the UK for 12+ months or employer certifies maintenance. |
Accommodation | Must show suitable living arrangements for all family members. | Evidence can include tenancy agreements or proof of address. |
Application location | Can apply from outside or inside the UK. Must apply before current visa expires. | Cannot switch from short-term visas like Visitor or Seasonal Worker. |
Documents needed | - Passports - Relationship and financial evidence - Proof of main visa holder’s status- Biometric information (photo & fingerprints) | Each dependant must apply separately and pay relevant fees. |
How to apply for UK Skilled Worker Dependant Visa route
Each dependant must apply separately online. You’ll need to:
Use your main applicant’s GWF or UAN number to link applications
Upload documents and provide biometrics (photo and fingerprints)
Pay the application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
Processing times
About 3 weeks if applying from outside the UK
About 8 weeks if applying from inside the UK
Visa length and Settlement (ILR)
Dependants’ visas last the same length as the main Skilled Worker visa.
After 5 years in the UK, both you and your dependants can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) if:
You’ve lived continuously in the UK for 5 years
You haven’t spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period
What dependants can and cannot do
Dependants of Skilled Worker visa holders can work, study, and travel freely in the UK. This means your partner can take almost any job except as a professional sportsperson or sports coach, and your children can attend school or university. They can also leave and re-enter the UK during their visa period without issues.
However, dependants cannot claim public funds or benefits such as housing or welfare support. Their visa is always linked to the main applicant’s visa, so if the Skilled Worker visa expires or is not extended, the dependant’s visa will also end at the same time.
Keep all documents ready, apply before your visa expires, and plan ahead if you want your family to settle permanently in the UK.
