What is a Skilled Worker Dependant Visa?

To be eligible for a Skilled Worker Dependant Visa, you must satisfy all of the following criteria:

1. Relationship to the main applicant: To be eligible for a skilled worker dependent visa, you must be the spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, or dependent child (under 18) of the main applicant with a valid skilled worker visa.
2. Financial requirement: Both the main applicant and any dependants applying must have sufficient savings to support themselves without recourse to public funds. The funds must have been held in your account for at least 28 days consecutively.
3. Tuberculosis (TB) test: Depending on your country of residence, you may need to undergo a TB test as part of the visa application process.

It’s important to note that there is no English language requirement for dependants at this point. However, subsequent applications in the immigration journey to residency and citizenship will require evidence of your English language proficiency.

The following documents are required when making an application. The exact requirements will vary based on your circumstances:

1. Valid passport: A valid passport should be submitted for each dependant family member applying for the visa. The passport should have at least six months of validity remaining.
2. Proof of relationship: Appropriate documentation must be provided to establish the relationship between the main applicant and each dependant. This could include marriage certificates, civil partnership certificates, or evidence of 2 years cohabitation for unmarried partners. The cohabitation documents should include documents from several sources covering the last two years. For dependant children, birth certificates or adoption certificates will be required. For children aged 16 years or over, proof of address should also be supplied to prove they live with the main applicant.
3. TB test results: If the dependants are from a country where a tuberculosis (TB) test is required, you would need to provide the TB test results from an approved clinic.
4. Financial documentation: You must provide evidence of meeting the financial requirement for maintenance funds. This can include bank statements or other financial documents showing that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and your dependants.

You must meet certain relationship requirements to qualify for a Skilled Worker Dependant Visa. The following individuals can apply as dependants:

1. Spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner: If you are married to or in a civil partnership with the main Skilled Worker Visa holder, you could apply as their dependant. Alternatively, if you had been living together in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least two years, you could apply also as an unmarried partner.
2. Children: The children of the main Skilled Worker Visa holder (including biological children, adopted children, and stepchildren) under 18 can apply as dependants. Children over 18 can also be included if they’re currently in the UK as your dependant.

The UKVI requires evidence to prove the relationship and we’ll look at these requirements later in this article.

The Skilled Worker Dependant visa offers several advantages to the visa holder, granting them various rights in terms of work, study, and general freedoms.

Visa holders can do the following:

• Engage in full-time or part-time employment with any employer without requiring sponsorship.
• Pursue education on a full-time or part-time basis at recognized schools, colleges, or universities in the UK.
• Enjoy the freedom to enter and exit the UK at their discretion.
• Apply for visa extensions to continue their stay in the UK.
• Qualify to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after residing continuously in the UK for five years.

It is important to consider certain limitations that apply to the visa, particularly regarding access to public funds:

• Generally, Dependant Skilled Worker Visa holders do not have access to most UK public funds, including welfare benefits and social housing.
• However, some exceptions exist, such as access to healthcare services provided by the National Health Service (NHS).

The fees for a Skilled Worker Dependant Visa are the same as for the main applicant:

Apart from the application fees, there are other additional fees associated with the application process:

1. Biometric appointment fee: These appointments can be scheduled online at no cost if booked well in advance. However, if you need to book a last-minute appointment, a fee of up to £250 may apply.
2. Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): Dependant Skilled Worker Visa holders must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). The current cost is £624 per year for each adult and £470 per year for each child under 18.

The clock starts ticking on the processing time once an application has been made online and biometric information has been provided at the scheduled appointment. From this point, most applications are assessed and processed within 3 weeks, considerably quicker than many other visa types. You may be able to expedite your application, and if applicable, this information will be provided to you by UKVI when you apply.