How to Bring Your Dependants in UK on Skilled Worker Visa
Holders of the UK Skilled Worker visa may bring their spouse and/or dependents to the country with them if they meet certain eligibility criteria, allowing for the reunification of families in Britain when one member moves there for work.
Do you hold a UK Skilled Worker visa and want to apply to bring your dependents with you? Or is your spouse moving to the UK and you’d like to learn more. Speak to an expert immigration lawyer at Total Law on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 today.
Bring Your Dependants in UK with Skilled Worker Dependent visa
The Skilled Worker visa allows for foreign nationals to enter and work in the UK providing they have a job offer that:
- Is from a British employer approved by the Home Office
- Includes a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
- Fits a role on the ‘eligible occupation’ list
- Is paid a minimum salary, dependent on role type.
The UK Skilled Worker visa is intended to bring global professional talent to Britain for the benefit of its businesses and economies. To further attract such professionals, the Skilled Worker Dependant visa has been introduced to allow visa holders to bring along their spouse and/or dependents with them.
Visa applications must be filed separately for each dependent individual, and each must meet additional set eligibility requirements.
Where a partner or dependent is successful in obtaining a Skilled Worker Dependent visa, their visa will usually be valid for the duration of the primary visa holder’s permission. If a dependent has two parents who hold UK Skilled Worker visas, theirs will expire with whichever parent’s visa ends first.
Page Contents
- Bring Your Dependants in UK with Skilled Worker Dependent visa
- Eligibility Requirements for UK Skilled Worker Dependent Visa
- Financial Requirements for Skilled Worker Dependent Visa
- Documentation needed to prove eligibility as a dependent of a UK Skilled Worker visa holder
- Benefits and limitations of the UK Skilled Worker Visa Dependent visa
- Application process to be a dependent of a Skilled Worker visa UK holder
- Costs Associated with a UK Skilled Worker Dependent Visa
- How can Total Law help
- Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility Requirements for UK Skilled Worker Dependent Visa
There are set eligibility requirements in place for those wishing to obtain a Skilled Worker Dependent visa. Firstly, the relationship between the visa holder and the applicant must be:
- The husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner to the visa holder
- The minor (aged 18 or under) child of the visa holder; even if they have been born in the UK during the visa holder’s stay
- A child aged over 18 of the visa holder if they hold Leave To Enter or Leave To Remain in the UK.
If the Skilled Worker visa holder is employed as a care worker or senior care worker, dependants may only apply to join or stay with them if the following is true:
- The visa holder was employed on a Skilled Worker Visa before 11th March 2024; AND
- The Skilled Worker visa is still valid; OR
- The Skilled Worker visa is in the process of being extended with the visa holder’s current employer; OR
- The visa holder is switching to a new job within the same permitted occupation code under a Skilled Worker visa.
Where a partner of a Skilled Worker visa holder is legally married or in a civil partnership recognised in the UK, they are automatically considered a ‘spouse’ for visa application purposes. However, if this is not the case, they may still be able to apply providing that:
- They have been in a relationship with and living with the visa holder for at least two years at the time of application; OR
- They have been in a relationship with the visa holder for at least two years at the time of application but are unable to live together because:
- You’re working in different geographical locations
- You’re studying in different geographical locations
- Your relationship would not be accepted in your location and/or culture.
Where the dependant applicant is the child of a visa holder, they must:
- Not be married or in a civil partnership; AND
- Live with the visa holder, unless they are living away from home in full-time education.
Financial Requirements for Skilled Worker Dependent Visa
Aside from holding a valid relationship with the Skilled Worker visa holder, dependent family members must also be able to demonstrate that they have access to sufficient funds to support themselves while in the UK.
The £1,270 the primary Skilled Worker visa holder must have access to for their own visa application.
All funds must be proven to have been accessible for at least 28 days in a row within the month period prior to visa application, unless:
- All applying parties have already been in the UK under another valid visa for at least a year
- The primary visa holder’s employer agrees to cover the family’s costs for at least their first month in the UK, and confirms such on the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
Where applicants are already in the UK and have been so for over a year, they will not need to meet any eligibility criteria pertaining to finances.
Documentation needed to prove eligibility as a dependent of a UK Skilled Worker visa holder
To demonstrate eligibility, dependent family member applicants must provide sufficient supporting documentation alongside their application form. Supporting documents required are:
- A valid passport
- Two passport photos
- (For a partner) A marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate
- (For unmarried partners) Proof that both the applicant and UK Skilled Worker visa holder:
- Communicate regularly
- Live together (if they do)
- Support each other financially
- Care for any children they have together
- Spend time together as a couple.
- Proof of address – usually a bank statement, driving licence, utility bill, or official letter from an educational establishment
- (For children) A birth certificate or adoption certificate demonstrating the relationship between applicant and Skilled Worker visa holder.
Benefits and limitations of the UK Skilled Worker Visa Dependent visa
Dependents of Skilled Worker Visa holders do not adopt the same benefits and limitations as the primary visa holder. Dependents may:
- Work in the UK (except as a sportsperson or coach, which incurs a different visa type)
- Study in the UK
- Travel out of and then return to the UK
- Apply for permanent settlement in the UK (Indefinite Leave to Remain) once they have lived in the country for a minimum of five years and provided they meet all other eligibility requirements.
However, dependents may not:
- Apply for any state benefits (public funds)
- Apply for a British State Pension.
- Upon a successful Skilled Worker Dependent visa application, a full list of limitations and benefits will be provided.
Application process to be a dependent of a Skilled Worker visa UK holder
Overview
In some cases, dependents may be able to apply at the same time as the Skilled Worker visa applicant. Whether or not this is an option will be denoted during their online application process.
To apply to be a dependent of one or more Skilled Worker visa holders separately to the original application, the process depends on where the applicant is at the time of application.
If the applicant is already in the UK, they must:
Collate supporting documents
To avoid delay in the Skilled Worker Dependent visa application process, all evidential documents should be collated ahead of time.
Apply online with the Skilled Workers’ Unique Application Number (UAN)
The applicant (or in the case of a minor child, the parent, guardian or carer) applies online, referring to the Skilled Workers’ UAN to link their applications together. The first dependent family member applicant will receive a ‘family linking code’ with their application. This can be used on subsequent family member applications to link them all together.
Prove their identity
The applicant must prove their identity either online through the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app, or attend a UK Visa Application Centre (VAC) to present the documents in person.
Await visa decision
A visa decision will be provided to the applicant and the Skilled Worker visa holder in writing once it has been reached.
Applicants already in the UK must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until they get a decision. If they do, their application will be automatically cancelled.
If the applicant is outside of the UK, they must:
Collate supporting documents
As with all UK visa applications, all supporting documents must be collated ahead of the formal visa application being filed.
Apply online with the Skilled Workers’ UAN
The applicant (or in the case of a minor child, the parent, guardian or carer) applies online, referring to the Skilled Workers’ UAN to link their applications together.
Book an appointment at a UK Visa Application Centre
Once the online application has been filed, the applicant (or in the case of a minor child, the parent, guardian or carer) must book an appointment at their local Visa Application Centre. Appointments must be booked in advance, with no walk in service available.
The applicant attends their local Visa Application Centre for a formal interview. They should take with them their identification and all supporting documents for the application. Biometric information such as fingerprints and photographs may be taken.
Await visa decision
A visa decision will be provided to the applicant and the Skilled Worker visa holder in writing once it has been reached.
On average, it takes eight weeks from application for a visa decision to be received. However, the application process may be paused at any time should further documents, information or evidence be requested by immigration authorities.
Costs Associated with a UK Skilled Worker Dependent Visa
Dependents applying to join their family members who have permission to enter the UK via the Skilled Worker visa route must pay an application fee for their own visa. As of November 2024, these are as follows:
- £769 where the original Skilled Worker visa is valid for three years or less
- £1,519 where the original Skilled Worker visa is valid for over three years
- £304 where the original Skilled Worker is a Care Worker or Senior Carer and has a visa valid for three years or less
- £590 where the original Skilled Worker is a Care Worker or Senior Carer and has a visa valid for over three years
- It should be noted that these application fees do not include indirect costs such as travel costs, copying and printing fees or postage.
How can Total Law help
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
The holder of a Skilled Worker visa UK may bring their dependent family members with them provided each individual meets the appropriate eligibility criteria. Skilled Worker visa applicants may apply for their family members’ UK visas at the same time as their own visa application or separately thereafter.
Dependents of Skilled Workers in the UK are entitled to work in the country, so providing they fit the eligibility requirements and have a UK employer who is willing to sponsor them, they too may apply for a Skilled Worker visa.
The HIS is the Immigration Health Surcharge; an annual fee paid to the UK’s National Health Service by each visa holder. As of November 2024, this fee £1035 per annum per adult and £776 per annum per child. Where a visa is valid for six months or less, only half of the annual fee will be payable.
Dependents of Skilled Worker visa holders are under no obligation to demonstrate English language proficiency in order to enter the country. However, if they are aged between 18-65 and wish to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, they will need to meet a basic English language requirement. The Skilled Worker visa holder themselves will need to meet at least a Level B1 in English, which will form part of their own visa eligibility criteria.
