Dependant Visa UK from Bangladesh

Genuine Relationship Requirement

To apply for a UK Dependent visa you must prove to the Home Office that you have a genuine and subsisting relationship with the UK-based sponsor. For instance, as a Bangladeshi citizen who wants to join a spouse or partner residing in the UK, you should bring a civil partnership or marriage certificate. For children, it includes full birth certificates and proof of parental responsibility.

To be eligible for the partner visa, the civil partnership or marriage must be legal and accepted by the UK legal system. The UK doesn’t recognise forced marriages, marriages between minors (both the sponsor and the applicant must have been over 18 in England and Wales, or over 16 in Scotland and Northern Ireland). Marriages to close relatives are also prohibited (see the Degrees of Prohibitive Relationship Act).

You need to prove that you have been in a relationship with your partner for 2 years minimum if you and your partner are unmarried. To prove this, you must provide your shared utility bills or tenancy agreements. If you have not lived together for reasons such as religious beliefs, you may need to show further documentation including photographs, or communication records proving the relationship.

If you have children who are under 18 years old, you must prove that they are dependent on you or your partner and permission has been given by both legal guardians.

You must prove that your children are not in a civil partnership or married and do not have children. Additionally, prove that your children live with you unless they live in a boarding school or university (away from home).

Financial Requirements

As a part of your UK Dependent visa application requirements as a Bangladeshi citizen, you must prove that you are financially dependent on your UK-based sponsor for the duration of your stay in the UK.

To sponsor dependents, applicants must show that they can support their family without claiming public funds. Unless the main visa holder has already lived in the UK for more than 12 months, the following funds must be available:

• £285 for a dependent partner
• £315 for the first child
• £200 for each additional child

The money must be held in the account for at least 28 consecutive days before applying.

If you applying for a Dependent visa as a partner, your combined income must be at least £29,000 a year. You may be able to use your savings to meet the requirement. The dependent’s savings can be accounted for, but only the sponsor’s salary will be considered if applying from outside the UK. If you apply inside the UK (switching from another visa), the dependents salary can contribute to the minimum income threshold.

The financial requirements may differ if the following apply:

• your partner is getting certain disability or carer’s benefits
• you first applied as a partner before 11 April 2024 and you’re extending that visa – this includes if you first applied as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner

Identity Requirement

Bangladeshi citizens seeking to join their family members who live in the UK must prove their identity. To prove your identity, you may need to do either of the following:

• Use the ID Check app of UK Immigration to scan your identity document and even access your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.
• Submit your fingerprints and photograph (biometric information) at a visa application centre to obtain a biometric residence permit.

Documents Required for a UK Dependent Visa

Bangladeshi citizens are required to provide certain documents to support their application for a UK Dependent visa.

The specific documents that may be required of you largely depend on how you’re related to your family member who resides in the UK and the visa type they hold.

Bangladeshi citizens seeking to obtain a Dependent visa will need to bring the following documents:

• A passport or any other valid travel document.
• Bank statements show that you already have the required funds to meet the financial threshold for at least the last 28 days.
• A visa application and consulate fee receipt.
• Proof of your relationship with the UK-based sponsor, such as a birth certificate (for your child), marriage certificate (for your spouse or partner) or certificate of civil partnership.
• The Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). This is typically issued to the main visa holder (UK-based sponsor) to join the applications together.
• Evidence of no criminal record in Bangladesh. You must obtain a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from a respective police station in Bangladesh. However, if you are currently not abroad, your next of kin can obtain the PCC on your behalf at the nearest police station to your Bangladeshi home address. The PCC must prove that you have not engaged in any crime and don’t have criminal charges against you. Most importantly, your PCC must prove to the UK government that you will not pose a threat to law and order when you enter the UK.
• Proof of your tuberculosis test, if required.
• Proof of accommodation.
• Evidence of dependence, such as proof of attendance at a university or boarding school. You may also prove that you live with the main visa holder.

Note that the above-mentioned required documents are not exhaustive as your situation may require you to provide additional supporting documents.

Ensure the documents you are required to submit are in English. For this reason, you must ensure that all documents in a foreign language are translated by an authorised translator and duly notarised.

Application Process 

Bangladeshi citizens who want to obtain a UK Dependent visa can obtain it in two ways namely, by applying from outside the UK and applying from inside the UK (if you have already entered the UK).

Therefore, you must take a certain step-by-step guide to enter the UK and join your family member as a dependent from Bangladesh. The UK Dependent visa application process includes:

1. Fill Out Your Application Form

Ensure you fill out the correct application form to apply for a Dependant visa. The reason is that application forms designed for dependent children differ from those for dependent partners.

While filling out your application, ensure you enter your correct details and provide your UK-based family member’s unique application number (typically found on your family member’s emails and letters about their application from the Home Office) or family linking code to connect your application.

2. Pay Your Relevant Fees

You are required to pay certain fees while applying for your Dependent visa online. The fees may include, visa application fees, consular fees, healthcare surcharge fees, priority service fees, etc. You may be required to pay via your debit or credit card.

The fees differ depending on which Dependent visa you are applying for.

• When joining your partner, parent or child (applying from outside the UK) – £1,938
• When joining your partner, parent or child (applying from inside the UK) – £1,321
• Adults, who have temporary protection status, who need to be looked after by a relative (applying from outside the UK) – £424
• Adults, who have temporary protection status, who need to be looked after by a relative (applying from inside the UK) – £1,321
• Adults, who have do not have temporary protection status, who need to be looked after by a relative (applying from outside the UK) – £3,250
• Adults, who have do not have temporary protection status, who need to be looked after by a relative (applying from outside the UK) – £1,258

Each dependant must pay the visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, which grants access to the UK’s National Health Service. The surcharge is charged per year of the visa and can be a significant cost for families

Gather and Upload the Required Documents

Get all the required documents to support your application. The documents you will be required to provide depend on the visa type your UK-based sponsor holds in the UK.

4. Schedule an Appointment

Bangladeshi citizens are required to book and attend an appointment at their nearest Visa Application Centre (VAC). At the appointment, you will be interviewed by the UK immigration authorities to know if your answers align with the documents you have provided.

Additionally, at the appointment, you will be required to submit your biometric information (fingerprints and photographs).

5. Collect Your Visa

After the assessment of your applications, and the UK immigration authorities are satisfied with all the documents you have provided, you will be issued your visa. Thereafter, you must go and pick up your visa packet.

If you are applying for a dependent visa for the first time, you may not know the right form to pick or how to fill it out and complete your application appropriately.

Our expert immigration lawyers are readily available to guide you in filling out your application form. Call us today on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or contact us online.

Before leaving for the UK, some Bangladeshi migrants are required to attend a pre-departure orientation session. These are designed to help workers and their families prepare for living abroad, explaining rights, responsibilities, and support available.

Applicants normally need to register in advance, present their passport and visa approval, attend a counselling or briefing session, and receive a certificate of completion. This certificate may be checked during airport departure controls or at airline check-in.

Dependents may also be required to attend, depending on the rules at the time of travel. It is important to confirm this requirement early to avoid delays.

Anyone applying for a UK visa from Bangladesh that lasts more than six months must complete a TB test at an approved clinic.
Approved centres are located in Dhaka, Sylhet, and Chattogram. Applicants must book directly with the clinic, pay the set fee, and bring their passport. Adults and children over 11 are usually tested, and younger children may also be screened if needed.

TB certificates are valid for six months. If the visa decision is delayed beyond this period, a fresh test will be required. Tests carried out at non-approved clinics will not be accepted and will result in refusal.

UKVI often refuses dependent visa applications from Bangladesh for issues that can be avoided with careful preparation. Common reasons include:

• Bank statements that do not meet financial rules
• Insufficient evidence of marriage, partnership, or dependency
• TB tests from non-approved clinics
• Submitting English test certificates from providers not recognised by UKVI
• Failing to link the eVisa to a UKVI account after approval
• Overlooking the restrictions on care workers, medium-skilled roles, and the shift to RQF level 6 eligibility

  Checking requirements carefully before applying is the best way to avoid costly refusals.