A dependant visa is a different thing from a family visa. It is available to the partner and children of someone who already holds a particular visa, and which visa the main applicant holds decides whether it is available.
GOV.UK’s family-visa guidance says you cannot get a family visa if your family member is on a work or student visa. The dependant route is what applies in those cases.
Information checked against the sources listed below on 10 October 2026. Rules, fees and thresholds change; this is general information, not advice on your case, and does not assess whether you qualify.
What the official guidance says.
- Eligible partners and children can apply to join or stay with the holder of a Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Scale-up Worker, Global Talent or Innovator Founder visa, subject to each person’s own eligibility.
- Dependants can also be included for Creative Worker, Religious Worker, Minister of Religion, Charity Worker, Government Authorised Exchange, International Agreement and International Sportsperson visas, and for Global Business Mobility routes.
- Dependants can stay or join High Potential Individual and Graduate visa holders if eligible.
- Family members cannot be included on a Youth Mobility Scheme, India Young Professionals Scheme or Seasonal Worker visa. Family members of a Child Student cannot come as dependants.
- For Student visas GOV.UK says partners and children may be able to join; the rules are narrower than for most work routes and depend on the course, so check before making plans.
- Dependants need their own eVisa account and, once in the UK, may need to extend alongside the main applicant.
- The Marriage Visitor visa does not allow dependants.
What usually decides the outcome.
- The main applicant’s visa and whether it allows dependants.
- Each dependant’s relationship evidence, ages and nationalities.
- Whether dependants will apply with the main applicant or later.
- How dependants’ permission lines up with the main applicant’s expiry, extension and settlement dates.
- What happens to dependants if the main applicant’s job, course or relationship ends.
How we can help.
Depending on what you need, support can range from a first conversation to full representation. Ask for the scope of any work, and an explanation of our fees and separate government charges, in writing before you instruct the firm.
- Initial consultation and eligibility assessment. A conversation about your circumstances, the routes that may apply and the risks.
- Written advice and immigration planning. A considered view on your options and a plan that looks ahead to extensions, settlement or citizenship.
- Document and application checking. A review of an application or evidence you have prepared, before you submit it.
- Full application preparation and representation. Preparing and submitting the application, and dealing with the Home Office on your behalf.
- Responses to Home Office requests. Help answering requests for further information, interviews or evidence.
- Refusal analysis and next steps. Understanding why an application failed and whether to seek review, appeal, judicial review or make a fresh application.
Before you contact us
- Write a short summary of your circumstances and what you want to achieve.
- Note any decision dates, expiry dates or deadlines.
- Do not send passport numbers or sensitive documents in the first enquiry. We will explain how to share them securely.