UK Adult Dependent Relative
United Kingdom
Residency
Could you qualify?
Answer a few quick questions to see which global citizenship and residency pathways fit your background. It's free, and takes just a few minutes.
See if you're a match →The UK Adult Dependent Relative visa is for an adult who needs long-term personal care from a close relative living permanently in the UK. It is a demanding route and generally requires showing that needed care is not available or affordable in the applicant's country.
- Type
- Family residence
- Sponsor
- People joining a qualifying family member in the United Kingdom
- Core requirements
- Relationship records and the sponsor's status
- What to know
- Approval can depend on official judgment or program space
Summary
The UK Adult Dependent Relative route is for an adult who needs long-term personal care from a close relative living permanently in the UK. It is a narrow and demanding route because the applicant must usually show that the needed care is not available or affordable in their current country.
This route is most relevant for serious age, illness, or disability care situations. It is not a general parent, grandparent, or sibling reunification route.
Eligibility
You may be a fit if:
- You are 18 or older.
- You need long-term personal care for everyday tasks because of age, illness, or disability.
- The care you need is not available or affordable where you live.
- The UK relative is a qualifying close relative, such as a parent, grandchild, sibling, son, or daughter.
- The UK relative is British, Irish, settled, has qualifying EUSS status, or has protection status.
- The UK relative can accommodate, maintain, and care for you without relying on public funds.
- You apply from outside the UK, unless extending an existing Adult Dependent Relative visa.
What This Route Allows
If approved, the route can allow the adult dependent relative to live in the UK with care from the sponsoring relative. The sponsor's status sets the length of permission and settlement position.
What This Route Is Not
- A general route for retired parents.
- A route based only on wanting family support.
- A route for care that is reasonably available and affordable in the applicant's current country.
- An easy family-reunification route.
Next Steps
- Confirm the UK relative's status and relationship.
- Gather medical and care-needs evidence.
- Document why care is unavailable or unaffordable where the applicant lives.
- Show the UK relative can house, support, and care for the applicant.
- Prepare the application from outside the UK unless extending existing permission.