Adult Dependent Relative visa
family visa · Official name: Adult Dependent Relative (Appendix Adult Dependent Relative, Immigration Rules)
A route for a parent, grandparent, brother, sister, son or daughter aged 18 or over who needs long-term personal care to do everyday tasks because of age, illness or disability, and who cannot get that care in their own country because it is not available or not affordable, even with the sponsor's money. The sponsor must be British, settled in the UK, have protection status, or be an EEA national with limited leave under Appendix EU. The sponsor must provide maintenance, accommodation and care without public funds and, for settlement, sign a 5-year maintenance undertaking. With a British or settled sponsor, the applicant is granted settlement on entry. Applications must be made from outside the UK, except to extend.
Life in United Kingdom
Money
3
Currency
British Pound
GBP
British Pound
Cost of living
92
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
20–45%
Income tax (national)
VAT 20% · social security 8%
Personal allowance GBP 12,570 (tapered away above GBP 100,000); 40% from GBP 50,271 and 45% above GBP 125,140. Scotland sets different bands and rates.
Living
1
Happiness
#27 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
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Who it’s for
Adults who need long-term personal care and have a close relative living permanently in the UK who can care for and support them.
Eligibility
Who can sponsor: a British citizen, a person settled in the UK, a person with protection status, or an EEA national with limited leave under Appendix EU
Your sponsor must be your adult relative in the UK, with British citizen, settled, protection or qualifying EEA status.
- Sponsor must be your son, daughter, parent, grandchild, brother or sister
- Sponsor must be aged 18 or over
- GOV.UK also lists Irish citizens and pre-settled status
- On a later application, the sponsor must be the same person
Official wording
The sponsor must be the applicant's son or daughter, parent, grandchild, brother or sister, be in the UK, and be a British citizen, settled in the UK, in the UK with protection status, or an EEA national with limited leave to enter or remain under paragraph EU3 of Appendix EU (GOV.UK also lists Irish citizens and pre-settled status). The sponsor must be aged 18 or over. On a later application, the sponsor must be the same person as before.
Age and relationship
You must be the sponsor's parent, grandparent, son, daughter, brother or sister, and aged 18 or over when you apply.
- Age is checked on the date of application
Official wording
The applicant must be the parent, grandparent, son or daughter, or brother or sister of the sponsor, and aged 18 or over on the date of application.
Long-term personal care
The applicant must need long-term personal care to perform everyday tasks because of age, illness or disability (GOV.UK: everyday personal and household tasks).
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirementCare not available or not affordable in the home country
- Document checklistOnline application (Join or accompany a family member) and Appendix 1
- FeesEntry clearance - Route to Settlement - other dependant relative
The full requirements are for members
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- 5 more requirements
- 7 documents
- 4 fees
- 7 steps
- Processing times and conditions
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Official sources
- GOV.UK - Immigration Rules Appendix Adult Dependent Relative (updated 8 Oct 2026; checked 22 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK - Family visas: Adult dependent relative (no date shown; checked 22 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK - Join family in the UK (no date shown; checked 22 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK - Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 October 2026 (updated 10 Sep 2026; checked 22 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK - Healthcare surcharge: who needs to pay (no date shown; checked 22 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK - Healthcare surcharge: how much you pay (no date shown; checked 22 Oct 2026)
Other routes to United Kingdom
- Visit & tourismStandard Visitor visa
- StudyStudent visa
- Work permitsGraduate visa
- Skilled migrationGlobal Talent visa
- Asylum & protectionClaim asylum in the UK
- CitizenshipBritish citizenship by naturalisation