Our blogs | Business Immigration

The UK Dependent Visa: Eligibility, Requirements, and How to Apply

19 January 2024

The UK Dependent Visa is specifically crafted to cater to the close relatives of individuals already residing in the UK. These family members may include spouses, partners, children, and other dependents. The visa serves as a means to ensure that families can live together and access the various benefits as a result of living in the UK.

Eligibility Criteria for UK Dependent Visa.

Relationship: To be eligible for a Dependant Visa, you must be a family member who depends on a qualifying migrant. According to the Immigration Rules, a ‘dependant’ is defined as:

Husband, wife, or civil partner.
Unmarried or same-sex partner.
The child must be aged under 18 years at the time of application.

To obtain a Dependant Visa as a spouse or partner, you must be married to or in a civil partnership with someone who is either:

In the UK, on a relevant visa.
When applying for a visa at the same time as you are making your application for a Dependent Visa.

Same-sex or unmarried partners must demonstrate a genuine relationship similar to marriage for the past two years.

Children may apply for a Dependant Visa if:

Both parents are applying for entry clearance simultaneously.
Both parents are already in the UK, and the child is applying to join them.
One parent is already in the UK, and the other parent is applying for entry clearance to join them with their child.

Children may also only apply for a Dependant visa of a sole parent if:

The parent is the only surviving parent.
The parent has sole responsibility for the child’s upbringing.
There are serious or compelling reasons why the child can exceptionally apply as the dependent of only one of their parents.

Financial Requirements: One of the pivotal aspects of securing a UK Dependent Visa is meeting the stringent financial requirements set by the immigration authorities. Adequate financial support is crucial to ensure that the dependent family members can sustain themselves without relying on public funds.

Accommodation: When applying for a UK Dependent Visa, demonstrating suitable accommodation is a crucial aspect of the application process. The UK government places a strong emphasis on ensuring that dependent family members have access to safe and stable housing.

The accommodation provided by the sponsor (the primary visa holder) must meet certain standards set by the UK government. This includes considerations for the size of the property, sanitary facilities, and overall habitability.

Application Process for the UK Dependent Visa

Online Application: Begin by filling out the online application form, providing accurate and complete information.

Gather necessary documents: Here are some of the documents that you may need (including more, depending on your situation):

A passport or other valid travel document
Marriage Certificate for your Spouse or Birth Certificate for your Child
Bank statements
Evidence of the relationship between the dependant and the applicant
The results of your tuberculosis test (if applicable)
The results of a criminal record check (if applicable)

Biometric Information: Schedule an appointment to provide your fingerprints and a photograph as part of the biometric information collection process.

Processing Time: If you’re applying for a dependent visa from outside the UK, it could take up to 12 weeks to process your application from the date of your visa appointment. However, you can speed up the process by using the priority service, which normally delivers the decision within 5 working days for an additional fee.

If you are applying from inside the UK, the current service standard is 8 weeks from the appointment date. However, you can also opt for the priority or super-priority services for an additional cost. The priority service expedites the decision to 5 working days, while the super priority service delivers the decision within 24 hours.

How can we help?

Understanding and successfully applying for a UK Dependent Visa is an important step towards reuniting with your family. Our team at Davenport Solicitors is dedicated to making this process as simple as possible for you. We work hard to provide you with all the necessary information, preparation, and guidance to ensure that you feel confident and well-prepared when submitting your visa application.