Dependant Visa to UK For Australians

Which UK visas permit dependents? And what are the conditions?

Work Visa Dependants

When coming to the UK on a valid work visa, the applicant is permitted to “sponsor” a partner or child to join them. A dependant is typically granted the same leave that is left on the main applicant’s visa.

For example, if the main applicant is granted a 3 year Skilled Worker visa and applies for you to join them at the same time as making their own application, you (as the dependant) will have a visa duration of 3 years too. If they apply for you to join afterwards, and your visa is granted 6 months later, then you would have 2 years 6 months on your visa.

The following work visas permit dependents under various conditions:

• Skilled Worker visa if the applicant has a job role above RQF Level 6
• Health and Care Worker visa for job roles above RQF Level 6 (and not as a care or social care worker)
• Global Talent visa for dependents of ‘exceptional individuals’ (dependants are only permitted once the main visa is granted)
• Scale-up visa dependants can apply alongside or after the main applicant. There are no “restrictions” but the sponsor must be able to support them financially in the UK and prove their relationship.
• Minister of Religion visa (T2) dependants are permitted when sufficient financial support is available.
• International Sportsperson visa dependants face no further conditions, beyond proving a genuine relationship and the main applicant having suitable funds to support.

Business Visas

Business visas that permit dependants in the UK include:

• Innovator Founder visa for close relatives of non-UK entrepreneurs setting up an innovative, viable and scalable business in the UK
• Global Business Mobility (GBM) visas do not contribute towards continuous residence for permanent settlement and are intended for temporary work assignments in the UK. However, providing the sponsor can financially support the dependant, and prove their relationship, they can be more straight-forward to obtain than longer-term routes. GBM visas include:
  – Senior or Specialist Worker
  – UK Expansion Worker
  – Service Supplier
  – Secondment Worker

Family Visas

Dependants who are on a Family visa as a partner or child of a British citizen or someone with UK settled status will typically be given a permission duration of 2 years 9 months (if applying from outside the UK) or 2 years 6 months (inside the UK).

• A Family visa is for relatives of British citizens or settled individuals. You cannot apply for a Family visa if the main applicant (the sponsor) is a UK visa holder. You must apply for a Skilled Worker Dependant or Dependant visa.
• A UK Ancestry visa can be granted if you have a parent/grandparent or in rare cases, a great grandparent born in the UK. Dependants are permitted to apply for a Dependant visa, not a Family visa, but the entry criteria are broadly similar.

Student Dependant visas

Student Dependant visas are permitted for post-grad students studying above RQF Level 8 (typically PhD-level) or on a government scholarship of at least 6 months’ duration.

Are dependants allowed on temporary visas in the UK?

Other temporary categories often used by Australians, such as short-term work visas or visitor visas also prohibit dependents. If you intend to bring your family, they should apply for permission themselves (without you as a sponsor). The Global Business Mobility route (above) permits dependents for the same length of temporary permission that the main applicant is granted. Other temporary visas typically do not.

Youth Mobility Scheme – Can you bring dependants?

The Youth Mobility Scheme remains a popular pathway for Australians to live and work in the UK for up to two years. However, it does not allow dependants. The only exception is if a child is born in the UK during your stay. Any visitors or relatives wishing to stay long-term must apply for their own permission, separately.

Overview

To be eligible for a dependant visa, you must be the immediate family member of someone holding or applying for:

• A long-term work visa, such as the Skilled Worker Visa, Minister of Religion Visa, etc.
• A temporary work visa, except the Seasonal Worker Visa.
• The Global Business Mobility visas
• Innovator Founder Visa holders.
• Global Talent Visa holders.
• The UK Ancestry Visa.
• A full-time study visa for a postgraduate level course (RQF level 8 or above) that lasts 9 months or longer.
• A student visa as a government-sponsored student starting a course that lasts longer than 6 months.

You can either apply for the dependant visa at the same time your family member is applying for their UK visa or after they are already settled in the UK.

Eligibility Requirement for Partners

You can apply for a dependant visa if you are the husband, wife, unmarried partner, or civil partner of a UK visa holder. You must be able to prove one of the following as well:

• That you’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK.
• That you and your partner have been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years.
• That you have been in a relationship for at least 2 years, but you cannot live together, for example, because you’re working or studying in different places, or it’s not accepted in your culture.

If you and your partner do not reside together, you must show that you are committed to each other. You should provide evidence of:

• Regular communication
• Financially supporting each other
• Caring for any children you have together
• Time spent together as a couple, for example, on holidays or at events.

Eligibility Requirements for Children

You can apply for the dependant visa as the child of an appropriate UK visa holder if you are under 18 years old.

If you are between 16 and 18, you must also be dependent on your UK-based parent, which means that:

• You are not married or in a civil partnership
• You live with them unless you’re living away for full-time education
• You are financially supported by your parents.

You will need to provide any 2 of the following evidence as proof:

• A bank statement
• Credit card bills
• Driving licence
• NHS registration document
• An official letter from their university or college.

To apply for the dependent visa, both of your parents must either already be in the UK or be applying for entry clearance together. Otherwise, if only one parent is in the UK, your other parent must be applying for entry clearance to join them.

You can only apply as the dependent of a sole parent if:

• They are your only surviving parent
• They have sole responsibility for your upbringing
• There are serious and compelling reasons why you can apply as the dependent of only one parent.

Financial Requirements for Dependent Visa UK 

An important requirement for dependants is to have sufficient income to support themselves throughout their stay.

If you’re applying as a dependant partner on a work visa, you must have £285. The requirement for dependant children is £315 for one child and £200 for each additional child.

But, if your partner is on a study visa as a PhD candidate and you are eligible to join them, you must have:

• £845 a month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London
• ££680 a month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London

You, your partner, or your parent must have this fund continuously for 28 consecutive days. The conclusion of the 28-day period must fall within 31 days of your visa application date.

Make an Online Application

Visit the UK government site to begin an online application. Typically, a separate visa application must be made for each dependent joining a main applicant.

Additionally, there are different application forms for work visa dependants and study visa dependants. It is important to fill out the correct application form for your circumstance.

You will be required to provide the main applicant’s application number (GWF or UAN). You can also provide a ‘family linking code’, if you have one, to connect your application to theirs.

Pay the Application Fee

The next step is to pay the dependent visa application fee and immigration healthcare surcharge.

The visa application fee ranges from £524 for a student visa to ​​£1,519 for a Skilled Worker Dependent visa for 3+ years. The exact fee you’ll pay will depend on your family member’s type of visa. If you’re required to pay an immigration health surcharge, you must pay £1035 annually, upfront for each year of your visa permission. For students this is £776 per year.

One of our immigration advisors can help you determine the specific fees that apply to your immigration situation.

Submit Your Documents

You’ll need to upload all supporting documents to your application in line with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requirements.  You can also have them scanned at a visa centre if you don’t want to use the online service.

Attend a Biometric Appointment

You must book and attend an appointment at a visa application centre (VAC) to submit your biometric information (fingerprints and photographs). This will help you get your biometric residence permit when you arrive in the UK.

The UK VACs in Australia are located in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. You should pick a centre closest to you.

You might have the option to verify your identity using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document. If so, you may not need to visit the VAC.

Visa application centres & biometrics in Australia

Applicants in Australia provide their biometrics and submit supporting documents at UK Visa Application Centres (VACs) run by VFS Global.

VAC centres are based in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. Appointments must be booked online through the VFS Global portal, and applicants should be aware that additional charges may apply for optional services such as premium lounges, extended hours, or document courier return.

What happens at a VAC (Visa Application Centre)?

The appointment is straightforward. Applicants should expect to:

• Show appointment confirmation and a valid passport
  Submit or scan supporting documents (either in advance or at the centre)
• Provide biometrics (fingerprints and a digital photo)
  Confirm identity details using the GWF or UAN reference number

If no appointments are available locally, it is possible to attend a VAC in another country, provided you can legally enter and exit that country.

Translation, certification & Australian public records

Applicants often need to submit official civil and financial records. These may include Australian birth and marriage certificates, tenancy agreements, Medicare statements, ATO letters, or joint bank statements. Official copies of civil certificates can be obtained from the state or territory registry where they were issued.

Translations and certification

Any document not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Translators must confirm their credentials and certify that the translation is accurate. The Home Office has detailed standards that translators must meet.

Some documents may also require notarisation or an apostille, particularly where proof of authenticity is necessary. Applicants should confirm whether this step applies to their visa route before submission.

Tuberculosis testing – do Australians need it?

For most applicants in Australia, a TB test is not required because the country is not on the UK’s list of TB testing nations. The exception is where the applicant has recently lived in a country on the TB list.

The six-month rule

If you have spent more than six months in a listed country within the last six months, you must undergo a TB test at a Home Office–approved clinic in that country. Certificates from unapproved clinics will not be accepted. Applicants upload a scan of this certificate as part of their online visa application. The GOV.UK website has the full list of approved centres.
A valid TB certificate must include:

• The applicant’s photograph and identifying details
• The official stamp or seal of the clinic
• The issue date and expiry date (usually six months)

English language exemption for Australian nationals

Australian citizens are generally exempt from proving their English language ability because Australia is officially recognised by the UK as a majority English-speaking country. For routes such as family visas, settlement, and citizenship, this usually removes the need to sit a test.

When the exemption does not apply

Some categories may still request proof, depending on the exact form or route. Where evidence is required, presenting an Australian passport is usually sufficient. Always double-check the requirements for your specific visa type to avoid delays.