Dependant Visa UK from Philippines

If you are a Filipino citizen legally residing in the UK, you may be able to apply for your spouse and children to join you. In order to join you in the UK, they will generally need to obtain a Dependant visa.

There are a number of work routes through which your family may be able to join you in the UK, including if you are in the UK with a Skilled Worker visa, a Global Business Mobility visa, a T2 Minister of Religion visa, or a UK Ancestry visa. It is generally not possible to be joined by your family if you are on a Temporary Work visa.

It is no longer possible for most students to be joined by their family members under this route (except in the case of PhD students or postgraduate researchers). Additionally, it is no longer possible for care workers to be joined by their Dependants.

Note that a UK Dependant visa is not the same thing as a UK Family visa. If you are a British citizen or permanently settled in the UK, the UK Family visa is likely to be a better fit for you.

Page Contents

• Dependant Visa UK: Overview
• UK Dependant Visa Requirements
• How To Apply For A Dependant Visa UK
• What Documents Do I Need to Provide?
• Processing Time and Fees for the UK Dependant Visa
• What Can and Can’t My Family Members Do On A Dependant Visa?
• UK e-Visa
• What to Know and Appointments to Prepare for 
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

If you are in the UK on an eligible visa, your family members may be able to join you. Valid visas include the Skilled Worker visa, Global Business Mobility visas, and Ancestry visas.

If you are on one of these visa types, you may be able to be joined by the following family members:

• Your spouse/unmarried partner
• Your minor child(ren). If your children were born in the UK during your stay, they are still eligible for this route
• Your adult child(ren), who is/are already in the UK as your Dependant

The eligibility requirements differ based on whether the application is for your partner or child(ren). In the case of your partner, one of the following criteria will need to apply:

• You and your partner are married or have a civil partnership
• At the time of application, you and your partner have been living together for at least 2 years
• You and your partner have been in a relationship for at least 2 years but were unable to live together (for example due to cultural considerations or if you worked/studied in different areas). In this case, you will need to prove that you were still in a relationship, for example evidence of regular communication, financial support, mutual caring for shared children, or evidence of time spent together (e.g. at events/holidays)

In the case of your child(ren), they must satisfy the following criteria in order to be eligible:

• Reside with you (unless in full-time education which is away from the home, e.g. boarding school)
• Be neither married nor in a civil partnership

In the case of your partner and your child(ren), you will also need to provide evidence that they have sufficient financial means to support themselves during their time in the UK. The necessary amounts are

• £315 for your partner
• £315 for one child
• £200 for each additional child

This money must have been consistently available for at least 28 days prior to the start of the application.

Applications for Dependant visas should be submitted online, via the government website. The applicants may also be asked to attend an appointment at a UK visa application center in order to give their biometric information. In the case of the Philippines, these centers can be found in Cebu and Manila.

Once the application has been completed, it will then be processed. If a visa is granted, this can then be used to enter the UK. The visa will generally be valid for the duration of the legal stay of the family member whom the applicants are joining in the UK.

Note that a separate application will be required for each family member. Each individual must also pay a separate application fee.

Whilst the exact documents required for a UK Dependant visa will depend on the family relationship in question, a combination of the following documents is likely to be necessary:

• Passport
• Proof of family relationship (e.g. birth certificate, marriage certificate, records of living together, etc.)
• Proof of sufficient financial means to support the applicant (e.g. bank statement)
• Proof of address

The more evidence of your relationship which you are able to provide, the more likely it is that your application will be successful.

The processing time for a UK Dependant visa is generally 3 weeks. However, this may take longer if there are any errors with the application or if further information is needed. Additionally, applications may take longer to process if a high number of other applications are also being processed simultaneously. Minimize delays by making sure that all applications are completed correctly and that any additional requested information is provided promptly.

The cost of the application fee varies depending on the type of visa under which the dependant is applying and whether or not the role in question falls under a shortage occupation. However, the fee will generally range from around £500- £1800. Applicants will also need to pay the annual health surcharge, which allows them to use the UK’s national health service. This ranges from £776 to £1035 per year, depending on the applicant’s circumstances.

Once your family members have successfully obtained their Dependant visas, there are a number of activities in which they can engage. These are as follows:

• Working in the UK (except as a sportsperson or coach)
• Studying in the UK
• Leaving and returning to the UK

After they have lived in the UK for 5 years, they will also be able to apply for permanent settlement, known in the UK as ‘indefinite leave to remain’. This means that they can live in the UK permanently, without immigration restrictions, and may also choose to apply for British citizenship.

However, the Dependant visa will only be valid for the duration of the legal stay of the family member in the UK who they are joining. As such, holders of the Dependant visa are not authorized to stay in the UK in their own right, independently of the family member who they have joined. If they wish to do so, they must instead apply for a different type of UK visa.

Dependants generally have the right to work in the UK, with no restrictions on type of employment, except they cannot work as a professional sportsperson.

They may also study at school, college, or university without needing a separate student visa. However, universities may charge international tuition fees until settlement or citizenship is obtained.

Common reasons for refusal include:

• missing or incorrect financial documents
• TB certificates from unapproved clinics
• relationship evidence that is incomplete or poorly translated
• expired bank statements or documents not in English

If refused, the options depend on the route:

• Family visas usually allow a full appeal to the Immigration Tribunal.
• Skilled Worker dependants can normally request an Administrative Review if they believe a casework error was made.

Deadlines are short, usually 14–28 days. Acting quickly is essential.

How Long Until You Can Settle in the UK?

Dependants can eventually apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). ILR gives permanent rights in the UK, including access to public funds. After holding ILR for 12 months, many applicants apply for British citizenship.

• Family visa dependants qualify after five continuous years, if the relationship and financial requirements are still met.
• Skilled Worker dependants apply for ILR when the main Skilled Worker becomes eligible, usually after five years.

Anyone applying for a UK visa that lasts more than six months must complete a tuberculosis (TB) test in the Philippines. The UK only accepts results from clinics approved by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The main facility is the IOM clinic in Manila, with limited regional branches. Results from private hospitals or other laboratories will be rejected.

How it works

• Book online with IOM; appointments fill quickly.
• The cost is usually ₱3,500–₱4,000.
• Bring your valid passport on the day.
• The TB certificate is valid for six months.

Applying too early can cause issues if the certificate expires before your visa is decided. Always time the test carefully.

Once the online application is submitted and fees paid, you must book a biometrics appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC). These are managed by VFS Global, with locations in Manila and Cebu.

Manila offers more services and appointments, while Cebu may be easier for those based outside Luzon.

What to expect

At the appointment you will:

• give fingerprints and a photo
• present your passport and TB certificate
• submit supporting evidence or arrange document scanning

VFS also offers optional “premium” services such as faster processing, on-site document checking, or courier delivery. Fees vary, so check the VFS website before booking.