Who qualifies as a dependant
A UK dependant visa is available to the partner and children under 18 of a Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Global Talent, Innovator Founder, Scale-up, or High Potential Individual visa holder. "Partner" means a spouse (marriage), civil partner (civil partnership registered in the UK or eligible equivalent abroad), or unmarried/same-sex partner of 2+ years living together in a relationship "akin to marriage".
The 2-year cohabitation test for unmarried partners is evidence-heavy: you'll need 2 years of shared addresses in utility bills, joint bank statements, travel records, or rental agreements. Applications fail most often on this evidence, not on the eligibility of the relationship itself. Gather documentation months before applying.
2024-26 rule changes restricting care workers
In April 2024, the Home Office removed the right to bring dependants for new care worker (SOC 6111) and senior care worker (SOC 6114) visa holders. Applications before 11 March 2024 retain existing dependant rights; applications after that date cannot bring dependants. Doctors, nurses, and other clinical Health and Care Worker roles retain full dependant rights.
The change was announced as part of the net migration reduction package. If you are currently considering care-sector sponsorship and want to bring your family, check whether your role falls into the restricted SOC codes — if so, consider clinical pathways (NMC Nurse, Senior Carer in a regulated setting with enhanced responsibilities) which may qualify under different SOC codes retaining dependant rights.
Financial requirements and maintenance
Unless your sponsor certifies maintenance on your CoS, each dependant requires additional proven funds held for 28 consecutive days before applying: £285 for a partner, £315 for the first child, £200 per additional child. A family of four (main applicant + partner + 2 children) needs £1,270 + £285 + £315 + £200 = £2,070 total held in the main applicant's name.
Evidence: bank statements dated within 31 days of application, in the main applicant's name, showing the required balance on every day of the 28-day period. Do not move money in/out during this window, even if the balance never drops below threshold. If maintenance is "certified" by your sponsor on the CoS, all family members are covered and no savings evidence is required — ask your sponsor whether this is the case before you apply.
Work and study rights for dependants
Partner dependants can work in any role, self-employed or employed, without their own sponsor licence or salary threshold. This is a major advantage vs the US H-4, where only certain H-4 visa holders can work. UK dependants can change jobs freely, work part-time, start a business, or choose not to work.
Child dependants can attend UK state schools (free) or independent schools (fee-paying, £15,000-£45,000/year). University-age children on dependant visas pay international fees unless they obtain their own student visa. Adult children (16+) can continue on dependant visas if they remain financially dependent and living with the main applicant, but this becomes harder to evidence after age 18.
Fees and IHS for dependants
Each dependant pays their own visa application fee, matching the main applicant's rate (£719-£1,639 depending on duration). They also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge independently: £1,035/year per adult, £776/year per child. A 5-year visa therefore carries £5,175 IHS per adult dependant, £3,880 per child — payable upfront.
The Health and Care Worker visa IHS exemption applies to the main applicant and all dependants. A family of four on Health and Care Worker routes saves around £18,000 in IHS over a 5-year visa compared to general Skilled Worker. This is the single biggest financial benefit of clinical/NHS routes.
Applying at the same time as the main applicant
You can apply as a family (in-country biometrics together, single submission session) or separately (dependants apply later from outside the UK to join you). Applying together is strongly recommended: processing times align, documents prepared once, and family join the UK simultaneously.
Each dependant needs their own passport, English evidence if over 18 (except for partner route — partners do not need English until later extension), TB test if from a listed country, relationship evidence, and financial evidence. Child passport photos must be less than 1 month old. If a child is in the UK on a different visa, they switch to dependant category via a separate in-country application.