For most professionals, a career move to the United Kingdom is only truly successful if their family can join them. The UK’s "Dependant Visa" category allows partners and children of Skilled Worker visa holders to live, work, and study in the country. However, with the 2026 immigration updates, the financial and administrative requirements have become more stringent. At Recruitroo, we prioritise "family-first" relocation, ensuring that your loved ones’ applications are processed with the same precision as your own.
Who Qualifies as a Dependant?
Under the current Home Office guidelines, only specific family members are eligible to join you under your Skilled Worker sponsorship. These include your husband, wife, civil partner, or an unmarried partner (provided you can prove a "genuine and durable" relationship of at least two years). Children must be under the age of 18 at the time of the initial application. Once a child turns 18 while in the UK, they can often extend their stay, but new applications for adult children are rarely approved unless there are exceptional circumstances involving long-term dependency.
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Relationship Evidence: You must provide marriage certificates or, for unmarried partners, joint utility bills, tenancy agreements, and bank statements covering a two-year period.
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Work Rights: Dependant partners have near-full access to the UK labour market, meaning they can work for almost any employer without needing their own separate sponsorship.
Financial Requirements and Maintenance
The Home Office requires proof that you can support your family without relying on "public funds" (state benefits). For 2026, the maintenance requirements for a Skilled Worker's family are:
- Partner: £285 available in a bank account for 28 consecutive days.
- First Child: £315 available for 28 consecutive days.
- Additional Children: £200 for each subsequent child.
- Sponsor Certification: Many A-rated sponsors (like those on the Recruitroo platform) can "certify maintenance" on the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), removing the need for you to show personal bank statements.
The Cost of Relocation
It is important to budget for the significant upfront costs. Each dependant must pay the visa application fee (which varies depending on the length of the visa) and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). In 2026, the IHS for an adult dependant is approximately £1,035 per year, while children benefit from a slightly reduced rate of £776. For a family of four on a three-year visa, these costs can exceed £10,000, making it a critical part of your contract negotiations.
Expert Advice: "When calculating your relocation budget, remember that the IHS must be paid upfront for the full duration of the visa. If your employer offers a relocation allowance, clarify if this covers family visa fees or just the primary applicant's." — Sarah O'Brien, Talent Acquisition Lead.
How Recruitroo Supports Your Family
We believe that a happy family leads to a productive employee. Recruitroo provides specialized "Family Packs" for our candidates, which include school search assistance and guides on how to access local childcare. We also facilitate introductions to partner networks where spouses can find career opportunities in their own right, ensuring the whole family settles into their new British life with ease.
Planning a family move to the UK? Book a demo with our experts to discuss sponsorship. Explore family-friendly roles at Recruitroo.com/candidates.