Skilled Worker visa
Your partner and children
Your partner and children can also apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible. They’ll need to complete separate applications.
If their application is successful, their visa will end on the same date as yours.
Your relationship
A dependant partner or child is any of the following:
- your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner
- your child under 18 - including if they were born in the UK during your stay
- your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as your dependant
You’ll need to provide evidence of your relationship when you apply.
Your partner
You must be able to prove that either:
- you’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK
- you’ve been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply
If your child is 16 or over
They must:
- live with you (unless they’re in full-time education at boarding school, college or university)
- not be married, in a civil partnership or have any children
- be financially supported by you
If your child lives with you, you’ll need to provide evidence of their address such as:
- a bank statement
- credit card bills
- driving licence
- NHS registration document
- an official letter from their university or college
Money they need to support themselves
Your partner and children must have a certain amount of money available to support themselves while they’re in the UK.
You - or your partner or child - will need:
- £285 for your partner
- £315 for one child
- £200 for each additional child
Example
You - or your partner or child - would need to have £600 to bring your partner and one child with you to the UK (£285 for your partner and £315 for your child).
You would also need to have £1,270 available to support yourself for your own application.
You - or your partner or child - will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of you or them applying for this visa.
You’ll usually need to show proof of this when they apply, unless either:
- you have all been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months
- your employer can cover your family’s costs during your first month in the UK - this must be confirmed on your certificate of sponsorship
If your partner or child is applying at a different time to you, they’ll only need to prove they have enough money to support themselves if they have been in the UK for less than 1 year.
Apply from outside the UK
Your partner and children must either:
Each family member will need to complete a separate application and pay the visa fee. They must apply before they travel to the UK.
They’ll also need your application number - you’ll get this when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You’ll find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.
Proving their identity
As part of an application, your partner and children will need to prove their identity.
They’ll either:
- have their fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre - this is to get a biometric residence permit
- use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan their identity document - they’ll also create or sign in to their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
They’ll be told what they need to do when they apply.
If they do need an appointment:
- the visa application centre may need to keep their passport and documents while they process their application
- they may have to travel to get to their nearest centre (this could be in another country)
How long it takes to get a decision
Once they’ve applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.
They may be able to pay to get a faster decision - they’ll be told if they can when they apply.
Apply from inside the UK (extend or switch their visa)
If you extend or switch your visa, your partner or child’s current visa will still be valid until its original end date. Your partner or child need to apply to extend or switch their visa, either:
- at the same time as you
- at any time before their current visa expires
This includes children who have turned 18 during your stay.
Your partner or children cannot apply to switch to your Skilled Worker visa as your dependants if they are currently in the UK:
- on a visit visa
- on a short-term student visa
- on a Parent of a Child Student visa
- on a seasonal worker visa
- on a domestic worker in a private household visa
- on immigration bail
- because they were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds
How to apply
The application form will tell you if you can include your partner and children in your application or whether they need to apply separately.
If your partner or child apply separately, they’ll need to either:
They’ll need your application number - you’ll get this when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You’ll find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.
Proving their identity
As part of their application, your partner and children will need to prove their identity. They’ll either:
- have their fingerprints and photograph taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point - this is to get a biometric residence permit
- use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan their identity document - they’ll also create or sign in to their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
They’ll be told what they need to do when they apply.
They must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until they get a decision. Their application will be withdrawn if they do.
How long it takes to get a decision
Once they’ve applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks.
They may be able to pay to get a faster decision - they’ll be told if they can when they apply.
Children born in the UK
If you have a child while you’re in the UK, they do not automatically become a British citizen.
You must apply for your child’s dependant visa if you want to travel in and out of the UK with them.
The form you fill in depends on if:
You’ll need to provide a full UK birth certificate for each child, showing the names of both parents.
You must apply for their dependant visa before they turn 18 if they want to stay in the UK.
What your partner or child can and cannot do
Your partner or child can:
- work, except as a sportsperson or coach
- study
- travel abroad and return to the UK
- apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) if they’ve lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the other eligibility requirements
They cannot apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension.
If their application is successful, they’ll get a full list of what they can and cannot do.