Bringing dependants

Who counts as a dependant

On routes that allow dependants, the family members who can usually apply are your partner and your children. Exact wording varies by route, but the core categories are consistent across the main work and study visas.

• Your partner: a husband, wife or civil partner, or an unmarried partner. For an unmarried partner you generally need to show you have been living together in a relationship for at least two years when you apply (some routes accept a genuine long-term relationship supported by other evidence).
• Your child under 18: including a child born in the UK during your stay. Children must not be married or in a civil partnership, and must normally live with you (unless they are in full-time education and boarding away from home).
• A child who is already 18 or over can usually only stay as a dependant if they already have permission in the UK as your dependant, rather than applying as a new adult dependant.

Each dependant pays their own fees

A dependant application is a separate, paid application. You pay the relevant visa fee for each family member joining you, and each person also pays the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which gives them access to the NHS during their stay.

The IHS is charged per person per year of the visa and is paid upfront when you apply. As of the date this page was verified, the surcharge is £1,035 per year for most applicants, and a reduced rate of £776 per year for students, their dependants, people under 18 at the date of application, and Youth Mobility Scheme applicants. So a work visa holder's partner and children would each typically pay the £1,035 rate, while a student's dependants pay the £776 rate.

Visa application fees themselves differ by route and are set separately from the IHS. Because fees change, always check the current amount for your specific route before applying.

Showing extra money (the maintenance uplift)

Most routes that allow dependants require you to prove you have enough money to support each family member, on top of the amount required for the main applicant. This is often called the maintenance or financial requirement, and the extra amount per dependant is sometimes described as an "uplift". The money usually has to be held in an account for at least 28 continuous days before you apply.

The amounts and rules differ by route. The figures below are examples confirmed from official gov.uk guidance for two common routes; check your own route for the exact requirement.

• Skilled Worker route: in addition to the funds for yourself, you generally need to show £285 for a partner, £315 for one child, and £200 for each further child. These maintenance funds are not required if your employer certifies they will cover the costs, or if you and your family have already been in the UK with valid visas for 12 months or more.
• Student route: dependants must show additional living costs of £845 a month for courses in London, or £680 a month for courses outside London, for up to a maximum of nine months. An exemption can apply where the family has already been in the UK on valid visas for 12 months or more.

The 2024 restriction on students bringing dependants

A significant change took effect for students starting courses on or after 1 January 2024. From that date, most students on taught courses can no longer bring dependants to the UK. This was a deliberate policy change to reduce net migration.

Under the current Student visa rules, you can generally only bring a partner and children if your course falls into a limited set of categories.

• You are studying a PhD or other doctorate (RQF level 8), or a research-based higher degree.
• You are a government-sponsored student on a course lasting longer than six months.
• Students on taught postgraduate courses such as a one-year taught Master's (RQF level 7 that is not research-based) generally cannot bring dependants under the rules that apply to courses starting from 1 January 2024.

Rules differ by route, so check yours

The most important takeaway is that dependant rules are route-specific. Some routes allow partners and children on broadly the terms above; others have tighter conditions or, like most taught study courses, do not allow dependants at all. Financial thresholds, exemptions and evidence requirements also vary between routes.

Before applying, read the dependants or family members section of the guidance for your exact visa, and confirm the current fees and financial amounts, as these are updated periodically.