Skilled Worker Dependant Visa Solicitors — Fixed Fee From £950
Since July 2025, some Skilled Worker roles no longer allow new dependant applications. The date on your Certificate of Sponsorship determines everything — not your salary, not your skills.
If your CoS is dated on or after 22 July 2025 and your role falls below RQF Level 6 or appears on the Temporary Shortage List, your family’s application may be refused because the role does not permit dependants. UKVI is unlikely to fix that issue by asking for extra documents.
If the application is refused, the Home Office application fee is usually lost. The Immigration Health Surcharge is refunded if the visa is refused.
KQ Solicitors prepares Skilled Worker dependant visa applications for families in Luton and across the UK who need to get this right the first time. Fixed fee. SRA-regulated. We aim to respond the same day.
Quick answer: The Skilled Worker dependant visa — also called the PBS dependant visa or Tier 2 dependant visa — allows the spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, and children of a Skilled Worker visa holder to live, work, and study in the UK for the duration of the main applicant’s leave. Since July 2025, the right to bring dependants depends heavily on the occupation code and the date of the Certificate of Sponsorship.
What is the Skilled Worker Dependant Visa?
The Skilled Worker dependant visa is the route that allows family members of a Skilled Worker visa holder to join or remain with them in the UK. Many people still call it the Tier 2 dependant visa or PBS dependant visa because the Skilled Worker route replaced Tier 2 (General) in December 2020.
The visa allows dependants to live in the UK for the duration of the main applicant’s leave. Dependants may work for any employer in most roles and may study at any level. There is no separate sponsor requirement for dependants.
Anti-cannibalisation note: This page is the service page for dependant applications. The main Skilled Worker visa service is for main applicants, and extension issues sit on the separate Skilled Worker visa extension service.
Can You Bring Dependants? The July 2025 Restriction
This is the first question we answer at every consultation — because if the answer is no, nothing else matters. Since 22 July 2025, only some Skilled Worker visa holders can bring dependants. If your Certificate of Sponsorship is dated on or after 22 July 2025 and your role is medium-skilled or on the Temporary Shortage List, your family’s application may be refused because the role does not permit dependants.
| Situation | CoS issued on or after | Can bring dependants? |
|---|---|---|
| RQF Level 6+ standard Skilled Worker | 22 July 2025 | Yes |
| Temporary Shortage List roles | 22 July 2025 | No |
| Medium-skilled roles below RQF Level 6 | 22 July 2025 | No |
| Care workers — Health and Care route | 11 March 2024 | No |
Transitional protection: Skilled Worker holders who held leave under a medium-skilled or shortage occupation code before 22 July 2025 and have held it continuously since may retain dependant rights. Care workers who held Health and Care Worker leave before 11 March 2024 and have held it continuously since may similarly retain dependant rights.
Caseworker insight: The CoS date is the determining factor — not the visa grant date. If the CoS was issued on or after the restriction date and the role falls below RQF Level 6 or is on the Temporary Shortage List, the dependant application may be refused because the role does not permit dependants.
We Can Help If...
- You need to confirm whether your CoS date and occupation code permit dependants under the July 2025 rules.
- Your partner is an unmarried partner and you need the relationship evidence structured correctly under the November 2025 rule change.
- You have a child born in the UK who needs immigration permission before travel.
- You are unsure whether your employer has certified maintenance on the CoS and whether you still need bank statements.
- You need the GWF or UAN reference correctly linked to prevent the application being processed as unlinked.
- You are extending your Skilled Worker visa and need the dependant extension applications coordinated alongside yours.
- Your child is approaching 18 and you need to confirm age eligibility is assessed at application date, not decision date.
- You are a family of two, three, or four and want the full bundle prepared and submitted as a coordinated package.
Not sure whether your family can apply?
We will confirm whether your role and CoS date permit dependants, and tell you what the application involves before Home Office fees are paid.
Key Issues — What Goes Wrong and Why
The £0 Maintenance Trap
When a sponsor certifies maintenance on the CoS, the online application form may show £0 as the maintenance funds required. This is correct where the sponsor has actually certified maintenance. But if certification was not completed properly in the Sponsorship Management System, families can wrongly assume bank statements are not needed.
Caseworker insight: If maintenance funds are required, bank statements must cover a continuous 28-day holding period. Day 28 must fall within 31 days of the application date. Large deposits appearing immediately before the 28-day window with no prior account activity can raise funds-parking concerns.
The GWF Linking Failure
The GWF reference or UAN must be entered in the correct field of the dependant application. Applying at the same time does not always guarantee that the applications are correctly linked. Where linking fails, UKVI may process the applications as unconnected.
The November 2025 Cohabitation Change
Since late 2025, unmarried partners no longer need to have lived together for 2 years in every case. But the evidential burden for proving a genuine and durable relationship remains significant.
The UK-Born Child Trap
A child born in the UK during a Skilled Worker visa holder’s stay does not automatically become British unless one parent is British or settled. If neither parent is British or settled, the child may need to apply as a Skilled Worker dependant to have valid immigration permission.
The Job Loss Risk
If the main applicant loses their Skilled Worker role, dependants’ visas may be curtailed alongside the main applicant’s visa. The entire family may need to find a new sponsor, switch routes, or leave the UK within the curtailment period.
Skilled Worker Dependant Visa Fees — Updated April 2026
KQ Solicitors Fixed Fees
| Family size | KQ Fee |
|---|---|
| 1 dependant application | From £950 |
| Family of 3 — 2 adult dependants + 1 child | £2,500 |
| Family of 4 — 2 adult dependants + 2 children | £3,000 |
| Additional children | £500 per child |
Home Office Fees Per Person — From 8 April 2026
| Route | Outside UK | Inside UK |
|---|---|---|
| Standard dependant — up to 3 years | £819 | £943 |
| Standard dependant — over 3 years | £1,618 | £1,865 |
| Health and Care Worker dependant — up to 3 years | £324 | £324 |
| Health and Care Worker dependant — over 3 years | £628 | £628 |
Immigration Health Surcharge
- Adults: £1,035 per year — paid upfront for the full visa period.
- Children under 18: £776 per year.
- IHS is refunded in full if the visa is refused.
- Home Office application fees are usually not refunded after refusal.
Example — Family of Three, Standard Route, 3-Year Visa, Inside UK
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| KQ Solicitors fee | £2,500 |
| Home Office fee — adult dependant × 2 | £1,886 |
| Home Office fee — child | £943 |
| IHS — adult × 2 at £1,035 × 3 years | £6,210 |
| IHS — child at £776 × 3 years | £2,328 |
| Estimated total | £13,867 |
Fees can change. Always verify the current fee on GOV.UK before submitting. IHS is not payable at ILR stage.
What Our Service Includes
- Initial assessment — we confirm CoS date and occupation code eligibility under the July 2025 rules, identify maintenance fund requirements, and tell you honestly what the application involves before any Home Office fees are paid.
- Document checking — we review every document, check GWF or UAN linking, verify maintenance fund evidence, cross-check relationship dates, and flag inconsistencies before submission.
- Application preparation — we prepare the full application for each dependant, covering every section correctly and ensuring all applications tell one consistent story.
- Document uploading — we submit the finalised bundle so nothing is missed, mislinked, or submitted with a date discrepancy.
No hidden costs. No hourly billing. Home Office fees are paid separately by you directly to UKVI.
How We Work — Your Process With KQ Solicitors
- Free consultation — you explain your family circumstances, and we confirm eligibility under the July 2025 rules.
- Eligibility and risk assessment — we check CoS date, occupation code, maintenance fund requirements, GWF linking risk, and document issues before fees are paid.
- Personalised document checklist — you receive a list of exactly what we need for each dependant.
- Document review — we cross-reference dates between linked applications and tell you what needs correcting.
- Application preparation — we prepare the full application for each family member and enter the GWF or UAN reference correctly.
- Submission and confirmation — we upload everything to UKVI and confirm receipt for each application.
Processing Times — 2026
| Service | Target Time |
|---|---|
| Standard — outside UK | Usually around 3 weeks |
| Standard — inside UK | Usually around 8 weeks |
| Priority — outside UK | Around 5 working days, where available |
| Super priority — where available | Next working day, where available |
Some in-country applications can take longer, especially where UKVI treats the case as complex or asks for further checks. If your application receives an “exceptionally complex issues” email, this is not always a sign that something is wrong. Do not cancel and reapply without advice.
Section 3C leave: A valid, in-time in-country application can continue the dependant’s existing leave while the decision is pending. Work and study rights usually continue. Leaving the Common Travel Area while the application is pending can cause the application to be treated as withdrawn.
Common Mistakes That Cause Refusals
| Mistake | Why it causes problems | How we help |
|---|---|---|
| Applying when CoS post-dates the July 2025 restriction | The role may not permit dependants, leading to refusal. | We check CoS date and occupation code before fees are paid. |
| £0 maintenance default submitted without bank statements | Refusal risk where funds were actually required. | We confirm employer certification status before submission. |
| GWF or UAN not entered in the designated field | Applications may be processed as unlinked. | We enter and verify the reference correctly. |
| Date inconsistency between main and dependant applications | Raises doubt across the full submission. | We cross-check every date across all linked applications. |
| Unmarried partner without sufficient alternative evidence | Gaps in evidence may create relationship credibility concerns. | We identify which evidence types are needed. |
| Child born in UK submitted without dependant application | The child may lack valid immigration permission and face travel or re-entry problems. | We flag this and prepare the application before travel. |
| Bank statements dated more than 31 days before application | Invalid even if the 28-day holding period is correct. | We check all statement dates before uploading. |
| Missing criminal record certificate for relevant roles | Refusal risk for dependant partners in some medical, education and social care routes. | We identify whether this applies before submission. |
When Should You Speak to a Solicitor?
Not every dependant application needs a solicitor. If your CoS is clearly above RQF Level 6, your employer has certified maintenance, your relationship evidence is straightforward, and your family structure is simple, a carefully self-prepared application may be possible.
- Your CoS is dated on or after 22 July 2025 and you are unsure whether your occupation code permits dependants.
- Your employer may not have certified maintenance on the CoS.
- You have an unmarried partner application following the November 2025 rule change.
- You have a child born in the UK who has not yet applied for a dependant visa.
- You are coordinating applications for multiple family members and need the GWF linking done correctly.
- Your child is 16 or over and needs cross-referenced dependency evidence.
- Your role is in a medical, education or social care sector that may require a criminal record certificate from your partner.
When This Service May Not Be Right For You
If your CoS is clearly eligible, your family structure is straightforward, your employer has certified maintenance, and you have clean consistent documentation, you may not need full legal representation. GOV.UK guidance covers the process for standard cases.
We would rather tell you that than charge you for work you do not need. If after your free consultation we think you can handle it yourself, we will tell you.
Ready to Apply? Talk to KQ Solicitors
A Skilled Worker dependant visa is not a formality. One wrong CoS date can mean the role does not permit dependants. One mislinked GWF number can cause the application to be processed separately. One £0 maintenance assumption can leave the funds evidence missing.
Protect your family’s dependant application before UKVI checks it.
From £950 fixed fee for a single dependant. £2,500 for a family of three. £3,000 for a family of four.
Frequently Asked Questions
PBS dependant visa is the legacy name for the Skilled Worker dependant visa — the route allowing family members of a Skilled Worker visa holder to live, work, and study in the UK. PBS stands for Points Based System. Many people still use the old phrase, but the current application is made under the Skilled Worker dependant rules.
Only in limited transitional cases. If you held Health and Care Worker leave before 11 March 2024 and have held it continuously since, dependant rights may still be available. New Health and Care Worker sponsorship from 11 March 2024 generally does not permit new dependant applications for care workers.
Not automatically. Unless one parent is British or settled, a child born in the UK during a Skilled Worker visa does not automatically become British. The child may need to apply as a Skilled Worker dependant to have valid immigration permission, especially before travel.
No, if your employer is A-rated and has actually certified maintenance in the Sponsorship Management System. But confirm this has been done before assuming you are exempt. The certification covers the first month only. It does not prove you can support your family for the full visa period.
KQ Solicitors charges £2,500 for a family of three and £3,000 for a family of four. Home Office fees vary by route and visa length. IHS is £1,035 per adult per year and £776 per child per year. A family of three on a standard 3-year visa inside the UK should budget approximately £13,867 in combined Home Office fees, IHS, and KQ legal fees before any priority service costs.
If the main applicant’s Skilled Worker leave is curtailed, dependants’ leave may also be curtailed. The family may need to find a new sponsor, switch routes, or leave the UK within the curtailment period. Dependants do not usually get a separate protected grace period.
Yes, if it is continuous and unbroken. A dependant usually needs to complete their own qualifying period and meet their own ILR requirements. Any gap in lawful leave can break the qualifying period.
Yes, Skilled Worker dependants usually have broad work rights. They can normally work for any employer in most roles without needing sponsorship. Restrictions can apply in limited roles, so always check the visa conditions after grant.