How to Bring Your Family to the UK in 2025: A Complete Guide to Dependent Visas

The UK remains one of the most sought-after destinations for skilled professionals, students, and entrepreneurs. But beyond the career and academic opportunities, a crucial concern for many is: how to bring their family members to live with them in the UK. Whether you're in the UK on a work visa, student visa, or settlement route, 2025 offers several visa pathways to reunite with your spouse, children, or even elderly parents. This article is a comprehensive guide to UK dependent visas in 2025, breaking down eligibility, required documentation, costs, application procedures, and specific challenges applicants may face.

Who qualifies as a dependent?
Under UK immigration rules in 2025, dependents are typically defined as:

• Spouse or civil partner
• Unmarried partner (must show at least 2 years of cohabitation)
• Children under 18
• In limited cases, children over 18 if already in the UK as dependents
• Elderly parents (only under Adult Dependent Relative visa – very strict)

Who can bring dependents to the UK?
Only individuals holding certain types of UK visas are allowed to sponsor family members. These include:

• Skilled Worker Visa holders
• Student Visa holders (only postgraduate and government-sponsored students)
• Global Talent Visa holders
• Innovator Founder or Start-up Visa holders
• Health and Care Worker Visa holders
• British citizens and settled persons (under family reunion or settlement categories)

Eligibility for dependents of Skilled Workers
If you're in the UK under a Skilled Worker visa, your partner and children can join you if:

• You are earning the minimum salary threshold set by the UKVI (currently £26,200/year or £10.75/hour, but subject to updates in 2025)
• You can support them financially without public funds
• You have proof of your relationship and accommodation

Key documents required:

• Marriage or civil partnership certificate
• Birth certificates of children
• Proof of cohabitation (for unmarried partners)
• Tenancy agreement or proof of accommodation
• Maintenance funds (if your employer doesn’t certify support):
  • £285 for partner
  • £315 for the first child
  • £200 for each additional child

Application process:
Dependents must apply online for a visa from outside the UK (or inside in certain switching cases), provide biometrics, and attend a visa appointment. Visa duration matches the main applicant’s visa.

Cost in 2025 (estimated):

• Visa fee per dependent: around £719
• IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge): £1,035 per year per person

Who can bring family?
Only postgraduate students (Master’s or PhD) and those sponsored by a government can bring dependents. Undergraduate students cannot bring dependents unless under exceptional circumstances.

Requirements:

• Course duration must be at least 9 months
• Proof of relationship with spouse or children
• Financial proof:
  • £845 per month for each dependent if in London
  • £680 per month if outside London (for up to 9 months)

Important tip:
Financial documents must cover at least 28 consecutive days, ending within 31 days of application. This is a common rejection reason.

Restrictions for dependents:

• Spouses can work (except as professional sportspersons)
• Children can study in UK schools without additional visa
• No access to public funds

These high-skill immigration routes allow full rights to bring spouses and children. The process is similar to Skilled Worker visas but with more flexibility.

Advantages include:

• No salary requirement
• Visa duration flexibility
• Fast-track routes to settlement (ILR)

Required documents:
Same as Skilled Worker, but relationship and financial proof may be less strict depending on endorsement body.

If you are a British citizen or settled in the UK (ILR holder), you can bring your family on Family Visas. These include:

• Spouse or partner visa
• Child visa
• Parent visa (only if the UK sponsor is under 18)

Spouse Visa Requirements (2025):

• Proof of genuine relationship (marriage certificate + proof of cohabitation)
• Minimum income threshold of £29,000 per year (increased from £18,600 in April 2024)
• English language requirement (A1 CEFR minimum for first application)
• Accommodation proof
• Stay valid for 2.5 years, extendable and leads to ILR after 5 years

Financial requirement exceptions:
If you receive certain disability or carer benefits, you may be exempt from the income threshold.

Cost in 2025 (approx.):

• Application fee: £1,846 (outside UK), £1,048 (inside UK)
• IHS: £1,035 per year

This route is intended for parents or elderly relatives who need long-term care and cannot access it in their home country.

Very strict criteria:

• The dependent must require long-term personal care
• Care must be unavailable or unaffordable in their home country
• Sponsor must be a British citizen or settled person
• No recourse to public funds is allowed

Approval rates are very low due to high burden of proof. Most applications are rejected unless exceptional circumstances exist.

1. Insufficient financial proof
Failing to meet maintenance or salary thresholds is one of the top rejection reasons. Always calculate exact financial requirements.

2. Incomplete relationship evidence
For unmarried partners or new marriages, not showing enough cohabitation proof or communication history can lead to visa refusal.

3. Expired or mismatched documents
Ensure all marriage certificates, tenancy agreements, and payslips are valid and consistent.

4. Inadequate child custody proof
If you are a single parent applying to bring your child, you must show sole or legal custody rights.

Typical processing time:

• Outside UK: 15 working days (standard), 5 working days (priority, if available)
• Inside UK (switching or extending): 8 weeks standard, 1-day premium service available

Next steps after visa approval:

• Dependents will receive a vignette (30-day entry visa)
• Upon arrival, they must collect their Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) within 10 days

After arrival rights:

• Access to education (children)
• Ability to work (spouses/partners, except tourist or visitor dependents)
• Path to settlement depending on the visa route of the main applicant

Conclusion

Bringing your family to the UK in 2025 involves careful planning, especially around finances, relationship documentation, and eligibility criteria based on your visa type. While the rules may seem complex, understanding the specific route—whether it’s Skilled Worker, Student, Global Talent, or Family Settlement—makes the process manageable. Always check the latest Home Office guidelines and prepare early to avoid delays or refusals. Family reunification is possible, but only if approached with diligence and complete documentation.

If you are planning your family’s relocation to the UK, take the time to get your paperwork right, save up for the necessary costs, and anticipate application processing timelines. A well-prepared application is your best chance to reunite with your loved ones in one of the most globally connected countries in the world.