Skip to content
Back
United KingdomFamilyLast checked October 22, 2026

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.

See requirements ↓

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.

Official rates, 2026/27 · headline only

Living

1

Happiness

6.7

#27 of 145 countries

World Happiness Report 2025

Your edge here Members

What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties

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

Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.

  • 5 more requirements
  • 7 documents
  • 4 fees
  • 7 steps
  • Processing times and conditions

Places to visit in United Kingdom

Attractions picked for you, based on your profile and interests.

Subscriber feature

Finding places for you…

Related guideHow do I plan a parent's visit abroad?

Official sources

Was this page helpful? Helpful Report a concern