If you are a Skilled Worker in an RQF 6+ job, your partner and children under 18 can join you as dependants, paying the same visa fee as you plus the Immigration Health Surcharge. Care workers, people in RQF 3–5 jobs on the shortage lists and most students cannot bring new dependants. British citizens and settled people use the separate spouse visa with a £29,000 income rule.
| Your visa | Partner and children? |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker, RQF 6+ job | Yes: partner and children under 18 |
| Skilled Worker, RQF 3–5 job on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List | No new dependants since 22 Jul 2025, unless you have been continuously in a medium-skilled Skilled Worker job since before that date, or the child was born in the UK |
| Health and Care Worker as a care worker or senior care worker (6135/6136) | No new dependants since 11 Mar 2024, unless continuously employed as a care worker on a Skilled Worker visa since before that date, or the child was born in the UK |
| Student | Only government-sponsored students on courses over 6 months, or PhD/doctoral or research-based postgraduate courses of 9 months or more |
| Graduate | Only people who were already your dependants on your Student visa (plus a child born in the UK) |
| India Young Professionals Scheme | No dependants; you cannot have children under 18 who live with you or whom you support |
A partner means a husband, wife, civil partner, or unmarried partner you have lived with for at least 2 years. A child must be under 18 when first applying, or already in the UK as your dependant. Children aged 16 or 17 must not be living an independent life (for example married or working full-time and living elsewhere).
Not sure which category your job is in? Check the occupation code on your Certificate of Sponsorship and use the UK visa checker.
Each dependant pays the same visa fee as you and gets a visa ending on the same date as yours. Fees in force since 8 April 2026 (unchanged in the 8 October 2026 table):
On top, the IHS is £1,035 per year for an adult and £776 per year for a child under 18, paid upfront for the whole visa.
Example: a Skilled Worker on a 3-year visa from India brings a wife and one child. Partner: £819 + (£1,035 × 3) = £3,924. Child: £819 + (£776 × 3) = £3,147. Total about £7,071 (roughly ₹8.9 lakh at ₹126 per pound), before VFS optional services and TB tests. Model your own case with the sponsorship cost calculator.
On Skilled Worker and similar work routes, dependants must show funds of £285 for a partner, £315 for the first child and £200 for each additional child. The money must be held for 28 consecutive days, and day 28 must fall within 31 days of the application date. It can be in your account or your partner's.
You do not need to show it if you have been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months, or if your A-rated sponsor certifies maintenance on your Certificate of Sponsorship. Ask HR whether the CoS includes this; many large sponsors tick it.
Student dependants (where allowed) need far more: £845 a month in London or £680 outside London, for up to 9 months.
If your partner is a British citizen, has indefinite leave to remain or settled status, the route is the family visa (Appendix FM), not a dependant visa. Main rules in force:
Earlier announced increases to £34,500 and £38,700 have not been introduced. No new income threshold has been laid as of 15 October 2026.
An apostille is not normally required for UK visa applications, but keep originals ready. See the UK document checklist.
Dependants can apply with you or later. Applying together from India keeps things simple and makes their visas start at the same time. Later applications are fine, but the visa still ends when yours does, so you pay for less time. Decisions outside the UK are usually within about 3 weeks; plan for longer in summer.
Once here, a dependant partner can work in most jobs and study. Children can go to state schools free. The family uses the NHS like you. Each person gets their own eVisa and UKVI account (see eVisa and share codes). Time as a dependant usually counts towards the partner's own settlement when you apply for ILR together.
Yes, if your job is RQF 6 or above. If it is an RQF 3–5 job on the ISL or TSL, or a care worker role, new dependants are not allowed except in limited transitional cases.
The same as the main applicant's fee, for example £819 for up to 3 years from outside the UK, plus IHS of £1,035 a year for an adult or £776 for a child.
Yes, a Skilled Worker's partner can work in most jobs and study, without needing a sponsor.
No. The £29,000 rule applies to the spouse visa for partners of British citizens or settled people. Skilled Worker dependants show £285 for a partner unless exempt.
No. Dependants are partners and children under 18. Parents usually visit on a Standard Visitor visa.
Checked against these sources on 14 October 2026. Rules and fees change; confirm with the authority before you apply.
