Table Of Contents
- Who can apply as a dependent
- Recent changes introduced in the UK dependent visa rules
- Changes to the dependents of Skilled Workers
- Changes to the dependents of Care and Senior Care Workers
- Changes to the dependent partner on a Student visa
- Changes to the dependent partner on a Graduate visa
- Summary
Usually, your ‘partner’ and ‘children’, if eligible, can apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if you are applying or already hold visas such as Skilled Worker visa, work visas on GBM (Global Business Mobility) route, Temporary Work visas, Student visa, or Graduate visa.
Who can apply as a dependent?
A dependent partner must be your spouse (husband/wife), civil partner, or an unmarried partner in a durable relationship of at least 2 years.
Your dependent child/children must be under 18 (including if they were born in the UK during your stay).
A dependent child may also be 18 or over if they currently have leave to enter or remain in the UK as the dependent child of their parent (s).
There are additional requirements to meet when someone applies as a dependent.
You will be required to provide evidence of your relationship to your dependant when you apply.
Recent changes introduced in the UK dependent visa rules
Since the UK Home Office released the White Paper on 12 May 2025, which proposed several changes to UK immigration rules, many of them have been introduced. Some of these changes have a direct effect on people applying as dependents.
Here are the recent changes introduced in the UK dependent visa rules.
1. Changes to the dependents of Skilled Workers
From 22 July 2025, fresh Skilled Worker visa applicants with medium-skilled jobs (RQF 3-5 levels) cannot bring their dependents to the UK.
From 22 July 2025, a person can only apply for a fresh UK Skilled Worker visa if their job is at the Skill Level of RQF 6 (Graduate Level) or above. Along with the rise in Skill Level, a rise in salary level has also been introduced. The new standard salary threshold applicable from 22 July 2025 is £41,700.
However, ISL (Immigration Salary List) still exists. It provides a list of occupations deemed to be in shortage and therefore eligible for certain skill levels (jobs on this list include occupations at RQF 3-5 levels) and salary discounts (less than £41,700) for applicants. But the ISL is now time-limited, which means people can apply for jobs on this list only if their employer issues CoS (Certificates of Sponsorship) before 31 December 2026.
A separate TSL (Temporary Shortage List) has also been introduced for other specific occupations between RQF 3-5 levels. The TSL outlines occupations for which CoS can be issued to new applicants despite being below the RQF 6 level, but only where it is issued before 31 December 2026.
If you are applying for a fresh Skilled Worker route and being sponsored for any occupation in either the ISL or the TSL, you will not be eligible to bring your dependents to the UK.
If you have a ‘medium-skilled’ job (not a care worker or a senior care worker)
If your job is medium-skilled, your partner and children may still be able to apply to join you or stay in the UK as your dependents if one of the following applies:
• You have been continually employed in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa and in a ‘medium-skilled’ job since before 22 July 2025
• You are applying for a child born in the UK
• You are the sole living parent responsible for your child, and you are applying for permission for your child to stay in the UK
• The other parent of your child is also sponsored for a ‘medium-skilled’ job, and you are applying for permission for your child to stay in the UK
• You are switching to this visa or extending your visa as a prison officer (occupation code 3314), and you are applying for permission for your partner or child to stay in the UK
2. Changes to the dependents of Care and Senior Care Workers
From 11 March 2024, new care worker and senior care worker applicants can no longer bring.
Further, from 22 July 2025, employers can no longer recruit new care workers (SOC 6135) and senior care workers (SOC 6136) directly from overseas.
Dependants may still qualify if the lead applicant has been continuously employed as a care worker in the UK since before 11 March 2024, or the child was born in the UK.
Existing dependants already in the UK can usually extend their visas under transitional protections.
3. Changes to the dependent partner on a Student visa
From 16 July 2025, the applicant applying as a dependent partner under the student route must be a partner of someone who:
(a) has permission to stay on the Student route; or
(b) is, at the same time, applying for (and is granted) entry clearance to the UK or permission to stay here on the Student route.”
4. Changes to the dependent partner on a Graduate visa
From 16 July 2025, the applicant applying as a dependent partner under the Graduate route must be a partner of someone who:
(a) has permission to stay on the Graduate route; or
(b) is, at the same time, applying for (and is granted) entry clearance to the UK or permission to stay here on the Graduate route.”
Summary
The UK dependent visa rules have become much stricter in 2025 and 2026.
The biggest impacts are on dependents of Students and Graduates, lower-skilled Skilled Worker visa holders face stricter rules on sponsoring family members, and the care and senior care worker visa has closed for new applicants.
Families already in the UK before the changes may still benefit from transitional protections and extension rights.
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