Bringing family

Who counts as a dependant

On the Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visas, some family members can apply to join or stay with the main visa holder. The Home Office calls them "dependants".

A dependant can be:

• a husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner, aged 18 or over
• a child under 18, including a child born in the UK
• a child over 18 who already has permission to be in the UK as a dependant

Each family member applies separately. A dependant's visa usually ends on the same date as the main visa holder's. If a child's parents have visas with different end dates, the child's visa ends on the earlier date.

The care worker rule since March 2024

Since 11 March 2024, care workers and senior care workers have not been able to bring new dependants. This covers two occupation codes: 6135 (care workers and home carers) and 6136 (senior care workers).

The rule does not affect everyone. A partner or child can still apply if the care worker has done this work without a break since before 11 March 2024. This means being employed in the UK as a care worker or senior care worker, on a Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa.

Some children can also apply, whatever the date:

• a child born in the UK
• a child already in the UK, if the care worker is the only living parent responsible for them
• a child already in the UK, if their other parent is also sponsored as a care worker or senior care worker

Some people switch to the Health and Care Worker visa as a care worker or senior care worker. Their partner or children cannot switch as their dependants.

Other jobs

The rules allow dependants for jobs in Tables 1, 2 and 3 of the list of eligible jobs. GOV.UK calls these "higher skilled" jobs. Registered nurse and midwife roles are in Table 3.

A similar rule has applied since 22 July 2025 to jobs listed as "medium skilled". People continually employed in a medium skilled job on these visas since before 22 July 2025 can still bring dependants. The same exceptions for children apply.

Proving the relationship

Partners need to show one of these:

• a marriage or civil partnership recognised in the UK
• they have lived together in a relationship for at least 2 years
• they have been in a relationship for at least 2 years but cannot live together, for example because of work or study

Couples who do not live together are expected to show an ongoing commitment. GOV.UK examples include regular contact, money support, shared childcare and time together.

Children are expected to live with the parent, unless they are away in full-time education. They cannot be married or in a civil partnership. GOV.UK lists examples of address evidence, such as a bank statement or an NHS registration document.

Some health, care and education jobs have an extra check. A partner applying from outside the UK may need a criminal record certificate. This covers countries they lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years, as an adult.

Fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge

Each family member pays their own application fee. At the time of writing (October 2026), the fees per person are:

• Health and Care Worker visa: £324 for up to 3 years, or £628 for more than 3 years
• Skilled Worker visa, applying from outside the UK: £819 for up to 3 years, or £1,618 for more than 3 years
• Skilled Worker visa, applying from inside the UK: £943 for up to 3 years, or £1,865 for more than 3 years

Lower Skilled Worker fees apply if the job is on the Immigration Salary List. On the Skilled Worker visa, a family member who joins later pays the fee for the same length of stay as the main visa holder.

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a payment for using the NHS. Health and Care Worker visa holders and their dependants do not pay it. Skilled Worker dependants usually do. At the time of writing (October 2026), it is £1,035 a year for adults, and £776 a year for children under 18 when they apply.

Money to support the family

There is also a financial requirement. This means showing there is money for each dependant. At the time of writing (October 2026), the amounts are:

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

This is on top of the £1,270 for the main visa holder. The money has to be held for 28 days in a row. Day 28 has to be within 31 days of the application.

Proof is usually not needed if everyone has been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months. It is also not needed if the employer agrees to cover the family's first month of costs. The employer confirms this on the certificate of sponsorship (CoS). A CoS is the record a sponsoring employer gives a worker, with details of the job.

Children born in the UK

A child born in the UK to parents on these visas does not automatically become a British citizen. GOV.UK says a dependant visa is needed to travel in and out of the UK with the child. It also needs to be in place before the child turns 18 for them to stay. The application uses a full UK birth certificate showing both parents' names.

What dependants can do

Dependants can:

• work, except as a professional sportsperson or sports coach
• study
• travel abroad and come back to the UK

They cannot claim most benefits, which the rules call "public funds". Each dependant has their own eVisa and UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.

These rules depend on dates, job codes and each family's history. A regulated immigration adviser can look at an individual situation.