UK Dependant Visa for Health and Care Workers 2026: Rules, Costs and Steps

A Health and Care Worker visa holder can usually bring a partner and children under 18 to the UK as dependants. Each dependant applies separately, pays the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, and must show the relationship, adequate accommodation, and enough funds to support themselves.

The dependant visa is normally granted for the same period as the main visa, and it ends if the main visa ends or is cancelled. Dependants can work and study in most cases, but they must apply from outside the UK or switch inside the UK only if their current visa allows it. The rules change from time to time, so always check current official guidance before applying.

A dependant partner is a spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner who has lived with the main applicant in a relationship similar to marriage for at least two years. The relationship must be genuine and subsisting, and the Home Office may ask for evidence such as a marriage certificate, joint bills, or proof of shared address.

A dependant child is usually under 18 at the time of application and must not be living an independent life. That means the child is not married, not in a civil partnership, and still depends on the parent for support. Children over 18 are generally not accepted as new dependants, except in narrow cases where they were already dependants and remain dependent.

The main applicant must show that the family can support itself without public funds. The exact funds required depend on the number of dependants and the length of stay, and the Home Office publishes the current maintenance amounts. In many Health and Care cases the sponsor certifies maintenance, which can remove the need for the applicant to show personal savings, but this must be confirmed in the certificate of sponsorship.

Accommodation must be adequate and not overcrowded. That does not mean you need a large house, but you should be able to show where the family will live, for example a tenancy agreement or a letter from the landlord. If the sponsor provides accommodation, get that confirmed in writing before the dependants apply.

Each dependant pays an application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, known as the IHS. The visa fee for a Health and Care dependant is typically a few hundred pounds, with the exact amount depending on whether the visa is for up to three years or longer. The IHS is charged per year of the visa and is typically around one thousand pounds per adult per year, with a lower rate for children, though rates are reviewed and can change.

These costs add up quickly for a family, so budget for every dependant before applying. The IHS must be paid as part of the online application, and the total is calculated automatically. If the application is refused, the IHS is usually refunded, while the visa fee is generally not refunded.

Each dependant completes a separate online application on the official UK visa website, linked to the main applicant's visa. They will need a valid passport, the main applicant's certificate of sponsorship number, proof of relationship, proof of funds or sponsor certification, and, for adult dependants, evidence of English language ability.

After submitting the form and paying the fees, dependants book a biometrics appointment at a visa application centre and submit their documents. Processing times vary by country, typically a few weeks for a straightforward case, though priority services may be available at extra cost. Dependants should not book non-refundable travel until the visa is granted.

The most common refusals are weak relationship evidence, missing financial documents, and English test results that do not meet the required level. Another frequent cause is applying before the main applicant's visa is granted, or submitting a certificate of sponsorship number that does not match the main applicant's record.

To reduce the risk, check every document against the official checklist, use the same names and dates across all forms, and keep the evidence recent. If a previous application was refused, read the refusal notice carefully and address each point before reapplying, rather than submitting the same documents again.

If you are a healthcare worker planning to move to the UK and you want to bring your family with you, apply through SteadStaff at steadstaff.com. Share your profession, your sponsorship status, and your family details, and the team can match you with UK healthcare employers who sponsor Health and Care Worker visas and explain the dependant process for your situation.

SteadStaff does not guarantee placement or a visa outcome. Every visa decision rests with UK Visas and Immigration, and the rules can change. What SteadStaff does is connect qualified healthcare workers with real employers and help them prepare the documents those employers and the visa process require.