UK Dependent Visa Guide for Indian Skilled Workers

Skilled Worker visa holders in the UK can bring their spouse, partner, and children as dependants — but from 22 July 2025, only workers in RQF Level 6 or above roles may do so. Each dependant must meet a financial maintenance requirement of £1,270 in savings held for 28 days (waivable if employer certifies on the CoS). This article covers the RQF6 eligibility rule, maintenance threshold, application process, dependants' rights to work and study, and ILR pathway.

UK Dependent Visa Guide for Indian Skilled Workers

Overview

If you hold a Skilled Worker visa in the UK, you may bring your spouse or civil partner and dependent children to live with you — but as of 22 July 2025, this right is restricted to Skilled Worker visa holders in roles at RQF Level 6 or above (graduate-level occupations). Workers in RQF Level 3–5 roles (sub-degree level) sponsored after that date cannot bring dependants. Bringing dependants is not automatic — it requires a separate visa application for each family member, and each applicant must meet a financial maintenance requirement. This article covers eligibility, the RQF6 skill level requirement, the maintenance threshold, application process, and what rights your family will have in the UK.

Who Can Come as a Dependant

Eligible dependants for Skilled Worker visa holders:

  • Spouse or civil partner (married or formally partnered)
  • Unmarried partner (if you have lived together for at least 2 years)
  • Dependent children under 18

Children aged 18 or over cannot apply as dependants on a parent's Skilled Worker visa — they must apply in their own right.

Not eligible as Skilled Worker dependants:

  • Parents or parents-in-law
  • Siblings
  • Other relatives

RQF Skill Level Requirement (from 22 July 2025)

From 22 July 2025, only Skilled Worker visa holders in roles at RQF Level 6 or above (typically degree-level occupations) may bring dependants. This applies to any Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) issued on or after that date.

[CAUTION_FLAG: The RQF Level 6 dependant restriction came into effect 22 July 2025 and applies to new CoS issued from that date; workers with CoS issued before 22 July 2025 are not affected; verify the current rules at GOV.UK "Skilled Worker visa: your partner and children" at the time of application as these rules may be subject to further change under the immigration white paper process]

Who is NOT affected: Skilled Worker visa holders already in the UK with dependants admitted before 22 July 2025 may keep their dependants and renew them under their existing visa, regardless of skill level.

Financial Maintenance Requirement

To apply for a dependant visa, each applicant (or the sponsor) must demonstrate the ability to maintain themselves in the UK without recourse to public funds. The financial maintenance requirement is:

£1,270 in personal savings, held for at least 28 consecutive days, with day 28 falling within 31 days before the date of application.

[CAUTION_FLAG: The £1,270 maintenance savings requirement is set by the Home Office and may be updated; verify the current amount at GOV.UK "Skilled Worker visa: your partner and children" before applying]

Waivers: The maintenance savings requirement may be waived if:

  • The sponsoring employer certifies maintenance on the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), confirming they will support the applicant for the first month; OR
  • The applicant has already been living lawfully in the UK for 12 or more consecutive months at the time of application

Note: this maintenance requirement applies per applicant and is separate from the IHS payment. There is no separate per-dependant income threshold on top of the standard Skilled Worker salary requirement.

Immigration Health Surcharge for Dependants

Each dependant must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of their visa application. The IHS is paid for the full duration of the visa at the time of application.

[DATAGAP: ukihsrateper_person:NON-CRITICAL — IHS rates are set by the Home Office and have been increased before; verify the current rate at GOV.UK "Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application" before calculating application costs]

The IHS for a dependant entitles them to use NHS services on the same basis as a UK-settled resident. Verify exact NHS entitlements separately (see healthcare.nhs_entitlements article).

Required Documents

Each dependant will need:

  • A valid passport (with at least 6 months' validity beyond the intended stay)
  • Evidence of the relationship to the main applicant:

- Spouse: marriage certificate (officially translated if not in English)

- Civil partner: civil partnership certificate

- Unmarried partner: evidence of 2-year cohabitation (utility bills, tenancy agreements, bank statements showing shared address)

- Children: birth certificate; adoption order if applicable

  • Photographs (biometric requirements)
  • Evidence of your (the sponsor's) Skilled Worker visa and salary

If your marriage was registered in India, you may need an apostille on the marriage certificate. The procedure involves the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India or an authorised apostille service.

Application Process

Dependant applications are submitted online at GOV.UK (apply for a UK visa at visa-and-immigration.service.gov.uk). Each dependant requires a separate application and fee.

Steps:

  1. Complete the online application form for each dependant
  2. Pay the visa application fee and IHS
  3. Book a biometric appointment at a UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services) centre in India — typically VFS Global-run locations in major Indian cities
  4. Attend the appointment to provide fingerprints and photograph
  5. Submit supporting documents (physical or upload depending on appointment type)

[CAUTION_FLAG: UKVCAS appointment availability and processing timelines for dependant applications vary by location and application volume; check current processing times at GOV.UK "Check how long it takes to get a visa" before planning travel]

Rights Granted to Dependants

Once a dependant visa is granted:

Right to live in the UK: Full right to reside for the duration of the visa.

Right to work: Dependants on a Skilled Worker dependant visa generally have the right to work in the UK without restriction. They do not need a separate work permit. They can take any employment — no sponsor requirement.

[CAUTION_FLAG: Work rights for dependants may be subject to conditions based on the main applicant's visa route and specific circumstances; verify at GOV.UK "Skilled Worker visa: your partner and children" before accepting employment]

Right to study: Dependants may study in the UK without a separate Student visa, subject to any conditions on their visa.

NHS access: Dependants who have paid the IHS are entitled to NHS services on the same basis as UK residents.

ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) for Dependants

A dependant may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) at the same time or after the main Skilled Worker visa holder. The dependant must have resided in the UK for the qualifying continuous residence period (typically 5 years) and meet the English language requirement and Life in the UK test.

[CAUTION_FLAG: ILR eligibility conditions and qualifying periods for dependants may change; verify at GOV.UK "Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR): overview" at the time of application]

If the main applicant's Skilled Worker visa is curtailed or cancelled, the dependant's visa status is also affected. Dependants do not hold an independent right to remain if the main applicant's visa is withdrawn.

India-Side Implications

Children born in the UK: Children born in the UK to Indian parents on Skilled Worker and dependant visas are not automatically British citizens. They acquire Indian citizenship at birth (under the Citizenship Act 1955, a child born to an Indian parent is an Indian citizen). The child should be registered with the Indian High Commission for an Indian passport promptly.

[CAUTION_FLAG: UK-born children's citizenship rights depend on the parents' immigration status at the time of birth; verify the specific implications at GOV.UK "Citizenship" and the Indian High Commission website]

NRE/NRO accounts for dependants: Dependant visa holders residing in the UK are NRIs under FEMA. They may open or maintain NRE/NRO accounts in India. NRE account interest is not tax-exempt in the UK for UK tax residents (NRE interest must be declared to HMRC).

OCI card: If dependant family members do not already hold an OCI card, they may apply through the Indian High Commission in London or via designated VFS Global centres in the UK.

Key Takeaways

  • From 22 July 2025, only Skilled Worker visa holders in RQF Level 6+ (degree-level) roles may bring dependants — those in RQF 3–5 roles with CoS issued on/after that date cannot bring dependants.
  • The financial maintenance requirement per dependant applicant is £1,270 in savings held for 28 days — this can be waived if the employer certifies on the CoS or the applicant has lived lawfully in the UK for 12+ months.
  • Each dependant must pay the IHS upfront for the full visa duration — budget for this as part of the total application cost.
  • Dependants have the right to live and work in the UK without a separate work permit.
  • If your Skilled Worker visa is curtailed or cancelled, your dependants' visas are directly affected.
  • Children born in the UK to Indian parents on Skilled Worker visas are not automatically British — register with the Indian High Commission for an Indian passport.
  • Dependants are NRIs under FEMA; NRE interest must still be declared to HMRC as UK income.