Dependant visa for partner and children

This is an important question, but the answer depends heavily on your own immigration status in the UK. The rules for bringing dependants vary significantly depending on which route you are on, so let me set out the main scenarios.

If you are a British citizen or have settled status (indefinite leave to remain):

Your partner and children may be able to apply under the family visa route (Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules). The key requirements for a partner visa include that your relationship is genuine and subsisting, that you are legally married, in a civil partnership, or have been living together in a relationship akin to marriage for at least two years, and that you meet the minimum income requirement. As of April 2024, the minimum income threshold was raised to £29,000, with a further planned increase to £38,700 at a date yet to be confirmed. You should check the current threshold carefully as it may have changed since this guidance was prepared. There are also requirements around adequate accommodation and English language ability.

If you are on a work visa such as a Skilled Worker visa:

Your dependants (partner and children under 18) can usually apply to join you, provided you are earning at least the relevant salary threshold and can demonstrate you can maintain them without recourse to public funds. Each dependant will need to pay the immigration health surcharge and the visa application fee.

If you are on a student visa:

Only students on courses at postgraduate level (RQF Level 7 or above) that are at least nine months long, or on a government-sponsored course of any duration, are normally permitted to bring dependants. Undergraduate and many other students cannot bring dependants at all.

If you have refugee status or humanitarian protection:

You may be eligible to apply for family reunion, which allows your partner and children under 18 to join you. The rules for refugee family reunion are more generous in some respects, as there is no minimum income requirement, no English language requirement, and no immigration health surcharge. The application is free. However, the family members must have been part of your family unit before you left your country of origin.

Key factors that will affect the answer in your case:

1. Your current immigration status in the UK.
2. Whether you are married, in a civil partnership, or cohabiting with your partner.
3. How many children you have, their ages, and whether they are your biological or adopted children.
4. Your income and savings.
5. Whether your partner and children are currently outside or inside the UK.
6. The nationalities of your partner and children.

Practical next steps:

1. Confirm your own immigration status and which visa route you are on, as this determines which set of rules applies.
2. Check the current minimum income threshold on the GOV.UK website, as it has been subject to recent changes.
3. Gather evidence of your relationship, such as marriage certificates, joint financial documents, photographs, and correspondence.
4. Gather evidence of your income, including payslips, bank statements, and your employer's confirmation letter if applicable.
5. Consider the costs involved, as each dependant will usually need to pay a visa application fee and the immigration health surcharge, which can amount to several thousand pounds per person.

If you let me know your specific immigration status and circumstances, I can give you much more tailored guidance on which rules apply and what your realistic prospects are.