UK Skilled Worker visa: partner and children requirements

Who can apply

Your partner and children can apply to join you in the UK. You must be able to prove your relationship status with your partner. If you are bringing an unmarried partner, you must prove you have been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply.^[1][2]

Your child must live with you, unless they are living away from home in full-time education. Your child must not be married or in a civil partnership.^[3][4]

What you need to show

Your partner and children must prove their identity as part of their application. They must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man until they receive a decision on their application.^[5][6]

Documents you must provide

Your partner and children must provide evidence of their relationship to you when they apply. If you and your partner are not living together, you must prove that you have an ongoing commitment to each other. You must also provide evidence of your child's address. Your partner and children will need your application number when they apply.^{[7][8][9][10]}

If you have a child born in the UK, you must provide a full UK birth certificate showing the names of both parents. Your partner and children must also take their passport with them if they have an appointment at a visa application centre.^[11][12]

Costs and money

Each family member must complete a separate application and pay the visa fee.^[13]

Your partner and children must have a certain amount of money available to support themselves while they are in the UK. Specifically, they must have £285 available for your partner, £315 available for one child, and £200 available for each additional child.^{[14][15][16][17][18]}

You, your partner, or your child must have these required funds available for at least 28 consecutive days. The 28th day of having the required funds must fall within 31 days of applying for the visa.^[19][20][21]

Timing

Your partner and children must apply for their visas before they travel to the UK. If you have a child born in the UK, you must apply for their dependant visa before they turn 18 if they want to stay in the UK. You must also apply for your child's dependant visa if you want to travel in and out of the UK with them.^[22][23][24]

Your partner and children will usually get a decision within 3 weeks when applying from outside the UK. If they apply from inside the UK, they will usually get a decision within 8 weeks.^{[25][26][27][28]}

Checklist

• Prove your relationship status with your partner.^[1]
• Show you have lived with an unmarried partner for at least 2 years.^[2]
• Ensure your child is not married or in a civil partnership.^[4]
• Keep the required savings in your account for 28 days in a row.^[19]
• Get your main application number ready for your family's applications.^[10]
• Provide a full UK birth certificate for any child born in the UK.^[11]

Questions people ask

This explains what one official page says. It is not legal advice, and the page itself is the authority. Rules change; the wire reports it when they do.