A UK dependent visa allows the spouse, partner, or child of someone who is already settled in the UK to join them and live in the country. This visa category is designed to keep families together and enable them to reside in the UK while their family member works, studies, or resides permanently in the country.

 

Dependents can apply to join their family member as a dependent partner, dependent child, or dependent relative, depending on their relationship to the sponsor.

 

The eligibility criteria and application process vary depending on the visa category, but typically involve providing evidence of the relationship with the sponsor, proof of financial support, and meeting English language requirements where applicable.

 

Once granted, dependent visas allow individuals to live, work, and study in the UK for the duration specified on their visa, with the possibility of extending their stay or applying for settlement (indefinite leave to remain) in the future.

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You can apply for a family visa to live with your:

• spouse or partner

• fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner

• child

• parent

• relative who’ll provide long-term care for you

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You can apply to extend your stay with your family member if you’re already in the UK on a family visa and can extend at any time before your current permission to stay in the UK expires.

 

If you’re extending to stay with the same family member, you’ll only get up to 28 days left on your current stay added to your new visa.

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You must live in the UK for a certain amount of time before you’re eligible for settlement (‘indefinite leave to remain’). Before you extend your visa, check how much time you need to settle in the UK.

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You might be able to apply to stay on the basis of your private life if you’ve lived in the UK for many years already.

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