PBS Dependant Visa UK 2025

A PBS Dependant Visa UK, also known as a Family Member of a PBS Migrant Visa, allows eligible family members of individuals holding or applying for a UK visa under the points-based system (PBS) to join them in the UK.

The “primary applicant” or “visa holder” must already be a permanent resident in the UK with a points-based visa, such as those for students, healthcare professionals, or skilled workers, or be in the process of applying for one.

This guide will walk you through the meaning of a PBS Dependant Visa and the steps required to apply.

Ready to apply for a PBS Dependant Visa? Contact us for expert guidance and ensure your application is processed smoothly!

What is a PBS Dependant Visa UK?

One of the UK’s Family visas is the PBS dependant visa, which lets the children or partner of someone who already lives in the UK live, work, and pursue education there.

When it comes to UK visas, a PBS dependant Visa UK is:

• The main applicant’s spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, or same-sex partner who has or wants to get one of the qualifying visa options.
• A person who does not yet qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain but is married to or in a relationship with a person who does have UK Indefinite Leave to Remain or British citizenship and who last had leave through one of the qualifying visa paths.
• The child is under 18 years old and has a parent with UK ILR or British citizenship. The parent who doesn’t qualify for indefinite leave to remain last held leave as a PBS dependant on or after July 9, 2012, and the child left under one of the qualifying paths. For additional information regarding dependent children, please refer to the table below.

Sponsored migrant family members can’t get a PBS dependant visa in the UK if they were last given permission to enter or leave as a tourist, or if they were last given permission to leave as a short-term student, parent of a short-term student, or child of a short-term student.

Visas Accompanied By Dependants

You can use this PBS migrant visa as long as the main visa holder’s permit is still valid.

This is the list of visas that the main visa holder must have:

• Health and Care Worker Visa
• Skilled Worker Visa
• Senior or Specialist Worker Visa
• High Potential Individual Visa
• International Sportsperson Visa
• Innovator Visa
• Global Talent Visa
• Graduate Visa
• Minister of Religion Visa
• UK Expansion Worker Visa
• Start-up visa
• Graduate Trainee Visa
• Service Supplier Visa
• UK Ancestry Visa
• Investor Visa
• Entrepreneur Visa (Tier 1)
• Temporary Work Visas
• British National (Overseas) Visa
• Turkish Worker Visa
• Turkish Businessperson Visa

Note that because of a change in the rules announced in July 2023, people with student visas whose courses start after January 1, 2025, cannot bring dependents with them unless they are in a postgraduate research project.

Who can apply for PBS Dependant Visa UK?

People who are in a civil partnership with or the child of someone with a legal points-based system visa can get a PBS Dependant Visa.

Important: If you want the Home Office to grant you leave to stay as a civil partner, you must be:

• If you are 18 years or older and 
• In a marriage or same-sex civil union recognised in the UK,
• Been legally married to your partner for at least two years.

For a child family member, you need to be:

• Not yet 18 years old and not living on their own,
• Older than 18 but still under the control of your parents,
• Not married and not in a civil union,
• Living with your parent or going to school somewhere else in the UK
• Not having kids.
• Keep in mind that a kid applicant can get a PBS dependant visa if their sole living parent is already in the UK legally.

Documents Required for PBS Dependant Visa

You need to have the following things ready when you apply for a PBS dependant visa:

• A valid passport
• Certificate of marriage
• Proof of birth if you are a child
• Bank records for individuals
• The result of a tuberculosis test if you are from a place where it is common
• Certificate of criminal record
• Proof of a civil partnership or same-sex relationship if you are not married (for example, utility bills, joint accounts, and properties you own together).
• Letter from your child’s school letting them in if you live in the UK
• Healthcare surcharge payment proof.

What are the requirements of PBS Visa UK?

First, you have to show that you are related to a PBS main applicant or visa holder (your “sponsor”) in one of the following ways:

• Spouse if you are married officially and both of you are at least 18 years old.
• A partner who is not married and has lived with the PBS visa user for at least two years continuously.
• The child who is single and younger than 18 years old when the first visa application is submitted.

Financial Requirements for PBS Visa

Dependent applicants may need to show proof of at least some money to back up their application unless the route requires proof of enough money for housing and maintenance, or if you are applying for permission to stay and have been living in the UK legally for at least 12 months at the time of application.

This amount will depend on the main applicant’s route. Dependents will need to show that they can support themselves while in the UK if they choose the Skilled Worker route, for example:

• £285 as a couple
• £315 for each kid
• £200 for every extra child

It must have been possible to get the money for at least 28 days in a row. You or they must have applied for this visa at least 31 days before Day 28.

Additionally, it is not possible to get maintenance confirmed by a sponsor for family members of individuals who have established or been granted British citizenship. Instead, they must always provide evidence of financial funds.

How to Apply for PBS Dependant Visa UK?

Family members who want to come to the UK on a PBS dependant visa must apply for the visa separately and pay the fees before they leave.

To finish this application, they will need the main visa holder’s application number. This is called a Unique Application Number (UAN) or a Global Web Form (GWF).

Apply Outside the UK

If you want to apply for a PBS migrant visa from outside the UK, you’ll have to prove your identity:

• Going to the visa application centre closest to you to get your fingerprints and picture taken. Get a biometric residence card with this.
• Check out UK Immigration: Check your ID. An application used to scan identification papers. You need a UKVI account in order to use this app.
• Once the Home Office verifies your identity, you can proceed to the next step.

It takes about three weeks to hear back. You can pay more to make a decision faster.

Applying Inside the UK

In order to apply for a points-based system visa in the UK, you have two options:

• You can get your picture and fingerprints taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point.
• Check out UK Immigration: Check your ID. A programme that is used to scan identification papers. You need a UKVI account in order to use this app.

The Home Office’s decision-making process takes eight weeks.

Just call 02033844389 or send us an email to speak with an immigration lawyer about your needs.

What may UK PBS dependants do?

While you are in the UK with leave to enter or remain as a PBS dependent, you will be able to:

• Full-time or part-time work, such as paid work, self-employment, or volunteer work, with one exception (see below).
• You can study full-time or part-time, as long as you meet the ATAS requirement. However, you won’t be able to study certain subjects according to Appendix ATAS of the Immigration Rules unless you have an ATAS certificate before you start the course.
• You can leave and come back to the UK while your visa is still valid.
• Request a visa extension.
• As long as you are not a Tier 4 General Student PBS dependent, you can apply for UK indefinite leave to stay once you have met the residency requirement.

However, you won’t be able to:

• Get public benefits
• Work as a professional athlete, unless the main application has permission to do so through a UK Ancestry visa. 

PBS Dependant Visa Extension

When filing for an extension on a PBS dependant visa, you must do so either before the visa expires or at the same time as the main visa holder.

If you want to extend your points-based system visa, you still have to meet the same requirements as when you first applied.

When you ask for an extension, you have to be in the UK still.

You have to fill out the application online.

What Happens If Your Application for a PBS Dependent Visa Is Rejected?

The Home Office can turn down a PBS dependant visa for many reasons.

There are a few possible explanations for these reasons: the child does not fulfil the dependent requirement, your application was incomplete, or you failed to provide more information after 7 days of notice. The Home Office may also be unable to assess the sincerity of your relationship.

You have the option to submit a fresh application, obtain a judicial or administrative review, or seek a different type of UK visa based on the rationale behind your refusal.

How to Apply for ILR via PBS Dependant Visa?

People who depend on PBS can get Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after living in the UK continuously for a certain number of years.

How long you have to stay in the UK before you can get ILR depends on the type of permit held by the main visa user.

If you have a main PBS visa and want to stay in the country permanently, you must have:

• Lived in the UK for a while,
• Not violated any immigration or crime laws during that time,
• During your time in the UK, you haven’t spent more than 180 days outside the country,
• Passed the Life in the UK test. 
• Showed you have good English (B1).
• You will need to pay £2,389 as an application fee in order to get Indefinite leave to stay.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)