UK Adult Dependent Relative Visa

What is the Adult Dependent Relative Visa?

The Adult Dependent Relative visa allows elderly or disabled family members to join close relatives in the UK for long-term or permanent care. It is intended for those who, due to age, illness, or disability, require daily personal care that their UK-based sponsor can only reasonably provide.

Eligible applicants include parents, siblings, adult children, or grandparents aged 18 or over, dependent on a British citizen, someone settled in the UK, a refugee or humanitarian protection status, or someone with limited leave under Appendix EU.

This route has one of the highest visa refusal rates and is only granted in exceptional cases. Applicants must prove that no adequate care is available in their home country and that the UK-based relative can support and accommodate them without access to public funds.

Who Qualifies as a Dependent Relative

To apply as an Adult Dependent Relative, the applicant must have a direct and close relationship with the sponsor, someone living in the UK. The applicant must be the sponsor's parent, grandparent, son, daughter, brother, or sister.

If someone is applying to come to the UK as a parent or grandparent, they must not have a husband, wife, or partner — unless that person is also applying to go to the UK with them at the same time.

The sponsor must have:

• British citizenship
• Settled in the UK (with Indefinite Leave to Remain or permanent residence)
• Leave to stay in the UK with refugee or humanitarian protection status
• Pre-settled Status or Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme

What Qualifies as Dependent

To qualify as an Adult Dependent Relative, the applicant — or their partner, if applying as a parent or grandparent — must require long-term personal care due to age, illness, or disability. This care must be essential for everyday tasks such as washing, dressing, or eating.

For those applying from outside the UK, it must also be shown that the necessary care is either:

• Unavailable in their home country, and no one else can reasonably provide it
• Unaffordable even with financial support from the UK-based sponsor.

The applicant must not be able to get the care they need in their home country, even if the sponsor tries to help with money or support.

The criteria are strict, and applicants must provide clear medical and practical evidence of their care needs and the lack of viable alternatives in their current country.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for an Adult Dependent Relative visa, the applicant and the sponsor must be at least 18 years old at the time of application.

The applicant must:

• Have a qualifying family relationship with the sponsor (parent, grandparent, son, daughter, brother, or sister).
• Not have a profound criminal conviction or fall for refusal under other general grounds.

The sponsor must:

• Meet the residency or status requirements.
• Confirm they will provide care, accommodation, and financial support for at least five years, or for the full length of the visa, without relying on public funds.

Relationship Requirements

The applicant must be related to the sponsor as either a:

• parent
• grandparent
• son
• daughter
• brother
• sister

Financial Requirements

The sponsor must take full responsibility for the applicant’s UK maintenance, accommodation, and care.

Suppose the sponsor is a British citizen, and the applicant is granted indefinite leave to enter. In that case, they must provide evidence that they can meet these responsibilities for at least five years from the date the applicant arrives in the UK.

This includes showing that the applicant can be adequately maintained, accommodated, and cared for without public funds.

Dependency Requirement

To qualify for an Adult Dependent Relative visa, the applicant must show they rely on their UK-based sponsor for physical, financial, or emotional support.

Most cases focus on physical dependency, which means the applicant cannot manage everyday tasks like washing, dressing, or cooking due to age, illness, or disability. This must be supported by independent medical evidence confirming the need for long-term personal care.

The dependency may arise suddenly — for example, after a serious accident — or develop gradually over time due to worsening health.

Accommodation Requirement

The applicant must have a place to live in the UK owned or solely occupied by the sponsor. The home must not become overcrowded or breach UK public health or housing standards by adding the applicant.

The Entry Clearance Officer must be satisfied that the sponsor can provide adequate accommodation, maintenance, and care without the applicant needing public funds.

Support must come from the sponsor or a combination of the sponsor’s and applicant’s resources. Third-party promises of support are not accepted, as they depend on changing circumstances.

Documentation Requirements

The documents needed will vary depending on your specific circumstances. However, key evidence typically includes:

• Medical evidence: A detailed report confirming the applicant's need for long-term personal care due to age, illness, or disability.
• Evidence of lack of care in home country: Letters from local health authorities or professionals explaining why adequate care is unavailable or unaffordable.
• Country reports and cultural context: Reports highlighting the availability of care, medical infrastructure, and cultural factors affecting care options (e.g. gender roles).
• Proof of relationship: Birth or adoption certificates confirming the familial link between the applicant and sponsor.
• Sponsor’s status and financial ability: Documents confirming the sponsor’s immigration status and ability to support the applicant, such as:
  • Bank statements and payslips (last 6 months)
  • Evidence of income from savings, shares, or bonds
  • Mortgage or tenancy agreement
  • Insurance cover where relevant
  • Details of regular expenses and other dependents
• Planned care arrangements: Information on how care will be provided in the UK and how its cost will be covered.
• Signed undertaking: A formal declaration that the applicant will not access public funds.

Each case is assessed individually, so strong, case-specific evidence is essential.

Fees

Applying for an Adult Dependent Relative visa involves the following fees from 9 April 2025:

• Application fee (outside the UK): £3,413
• Application fee (inside the UK): £1,321
• Immigration Health Surcharge: £1,035 per year

The health surcharge grants access to NHS services during your stay. All fees are payable at the time of application.

How to Apply for an Adult Dependent Relative Visa

Application for the UK adult dependent relative visa is to be done online.

Duration & Conditions of Stay

The length of your stay in the UK as an Adult Dependent Relative depends on your sponsor’s immigration status:

Sponsor is British, Irish, or Settled:

• You will be granted indefinite leave to enter, meaning your stay is unlimited. You do not need to apply for an extension or settlement later.

Sponsor has Protection Status

• Your permission to stay will match the length of your sponsor’s status. You must apply to extend your visa or settle simultaneously as your sponsor.

Sponsor has Pre-Settled Status:

• You can stay as long as your sponsor remains in the UK. They must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021. You will need to apply to extend or settle when your sponsor does.

Human Rights and Unjustifiably Harsh Consequences

Suppose you do not meet the specific suitability or eligibility requirements, but a refusal would result in unjustifiably harsh consequences for you or your family. In that case, we may argue that the application should be considered under Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights exceptionally.

Refused Adult Dependent Relative Visa

Adult Dependent Relative visas are granted only in exceptional cases where all eligibility criteria are fully met. Refusals are common and may be based on reasons such as:

• The Home Office believes care is available or affordable in the applicant’s home country
• The applicant has other relatives or individuals who could reasonably provide care
• The applicant does not have genuine long-term care needs
• The sponsor lacks sufficient financial resources or suitable accommodation

If your application is refused, the Home Office will outline your options in the decision letter, including appealing to the First-tier Immigration Tribunal.

In some cases, submitting a new application that resolves the issues identified in the refusal may be more practical.

Get Support With Visa Applications

The Adult Dependent Relative visa is one of the most difficult UK immigration routes, with a high refusal rate and strict eligibility requirements. Understanding whether you qualify and preparing the right evidence can be challenging without expert guidance.

If you're planning to apply or have received a refusal and want to explore your options, contact our team for clear, professional advice on your next steps.