Family & dependant visas
Most countries let close family join someone who already lives there, holds a work or study visa, or is a citizen. The rules vary widely — some cover spouses and civil/unmarried partners, others only married couples; most cover dependent children, and some extend to parents or ancestry-based routes. Two things matter almost everywhere: proving a genuine relationship, and meeting a minimum-income or maintenance requirement.
How dependants usually work
- • A main visa holder (worker, student, investor) can usually bring a spouse/partner and children as dependants on the same route.
- • A settled resident or citizen sponsors a partner or family member through a dedicated family route.
- • Expect an income or maintenance threshold, evidence of a genuine relationship, and often an English-language requirement for partners.
- • Dependants' permission is usually tied to the main applicant's — it ends if theirs does.
