Professional support for adult dependent relatives who need long-term personal care from a close family member living permanently in the UK.
Review whether the care needs, sponsor status, financial support and overseas care evidence are strong enough before applying.
The Adult Dependent Relative Visa is a UK family visa route for adults who need long-term personal care from a close relative living permanently in the UK. It is mainly used where an adult parent, grandparent, brother, sister, son or daughter needs care because of illness, disability or age, and that care cannot reasonably be provided in the country where they live.
This is one of the most evidence-sensitive family visa routes. Decision-makers examine the applicant’s daily care needs, the medical and practical reasons why care is required, whether care is available or affordable in the applicant’s country of residence, and whether the UK-based relative can provide adequate accommodation, care and financial support without relying on public funds.
At Access Global, we help families assess whether this route is realistic before they commit to the application. We review the care evidence, medical background, financial position, relationship evidence and practical care plan so that the application is presented clearly and carefully.
The applicant must be aged 18 or over and must need long-term care to carry out everyday personal and household tasks because of illness, disability or age. The care need must be real, ongoing and supported by credible evidence.
The UK-based relative must be a parent, grandchild, brother, sister, son or daughter who is living permanently in the UK. The relative must usually be British or Irish, settled in the UK, hold qualifying pre-settled status where they started living in the UK before 1 January 2021, or have protection status in the UK.
The application must also show that the required care is not available or affordable in the country where the applicant lives. This is often the most difficult part of the route and should be supported with clear medical, social, financial and practical evidence.
The strongest applications explain the applicant’s day-to-day care needs in practical terms. This may include help with washing, dressing, eating, mobility, medication, household tasks, medical appointments, supervision, emotional support and safety.
Medical evidence alone is not always enough. The application should also explain how the condition affects ordinary daily living, what support is currently being provided, why that arrangement cannot continue, and why the UK relative is the person who can provide or arrange appropriate long-term care.
Where local care services exist, the evidence should address why they are not suitable, available or affordable in the applicant’s circumstances. This usually needs careful preparation rather than a general statement that the applicant prefers to live with family in the UK.
The Adult Dependent Relative route is not assessed using the standard spouse or partner minimum income threshold. The current route position requires the UK sponsor to show that they can accommodate, care for and financially support the applicant without relying on public funds.
The assessment considers the sponsor’s income, housing costs and care costs. This means the financial evidence should be tailored to the family’s actual circumstances, including accommodation, living costs, care arrangements, employment or pension income, savings, and any support required after arrival in the UK.
For this route, the financial test is not simply about showing a fixed savings figure. The application must show a credible and sustainable care and support plan.
The exact evidence depends on the applicant’s health, care needs, country of residence, current care arrangements and the UK sponsor’s financial and housing position. A strong application normally needs a carefully structured evidence bundle rather than a long unfiltered document list.
The key evidence themes are identity, relationship to the UK sponsor, medical and care needs, why care is not available or affordable overseas, the sponsor’s status in the UK, accommodation, finances, care planning and any required translations or TB evidence.
Our document check service helps identify weak or missing evidence before submission, including gaps in medical records, unclear care arrangements, insufficient financial evidence, and evidence that does not directly answer the route requirements.
We can review your evidence bundle and identify gaps in care evidence, financial support, accommodation and sponsor documents before the application is filed.
The Adult Dependent Relative application fee depends on the sponsor’s immigration status and whether the application is made from outside the UK or as an extension from inside the UK.
For an adult who needs to be looked after by a relative, The current fee position includes a fee of £452 where the UK relative has temporary protection status and the application is made from outside the UK. In other cases, the current outside-UK application fee is £3,635. The current inside-UK application fee is £1,407.
Healthcare surcharge, biometric, document scanning, priority services and other third-party costs may apply depending on the applicant’s circumstances and the type of permission being granted. Costs should always be checked before submission because visa fees can change.
| Scenario | Current fee / timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Outside UK – sponsor has temporary protection status | £452 | Current fee for this adult dependent relative scenario. |
| Outside UK – other qualifying sponsor statuses | £3,635 | Current fee where the sponsor is not in the temporary protection-status fee category. |
| Inside UK extension | £1,407 | Current fee for an in-country extension where this route applies. |
| Decision time | Usually 12 weeks outside UK / 8 weeks inside UK | Times can vary where evidence is complex or verification is needed. |
Whether an extension is needed depends on the status of the relative in the UK. If the UK relative is British, Irish or settled, the adult dependent relative’s stay is usually unlimited and they do not need to apply to extend or settle.
If the UK relative has qualifying pre-settled status or protection status, the adult dependent relative can usually stay as long as the relative stays and may need to extend or settle when the UK relative does.
Extension cases should be prepared with updated care, accommodation and financial evidence, especially if the applicant’s care needs, household arrangements or sponsor’s circumstances have changed.
| Scenario | Current fee / timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Outside UK – sponsor has temporary protection status | £452 | Current fee for this adult dependent relative scenario. |
| Outside UK – other qualifying sponsor statuses | £3,635 | Current fee where the sponsor is not in the temporary protection-status fee category. |
| Inside UK extension | £1,407 | Current fee for an in-country extension where this route applies. |
| Decision time | Usually 12 weeks outside UK / 8 weeks inside UK | Times can vary where evidence is complex or verification is needed. |
For applicants joining a British, Irish or settled relative, the grant may be unlimited, which means a separate extension or settlement application may not be required for this route.
Where the adult dependent relative is on temporary permission because the UK relative has pre-settled status or protection status, settlement timing may depend on the sponsor’s route and status. An adult dependent relative may be eligible for indefinite leave to remain where they have permission as an adult dependent relative and the relative looking after them is settled or settling in the UK.
The ILR guidance also confirms that adult dependent relatives do not need to prove English language or pass the Life in the UK Test for this settlement route.
We can review the applicant’s care needs, sponsor position, overseas care evidence and financial support plan before the application is submitted.
An adult aged 18 or over may apply if they need long-term care from a qualifying close relative in the UK because of illness, disability or age, and they can show that the care they need is not available or affordable in the country where they live.
You can normally apply from outside the UK only, unless you are applying to extend existing permission on this route.
The UK sponsor must be a parent, grandchild, brother, sister, son or daughter who is living permanently in the UK and has a qualifying status such as British or Irish citizenship, settlement, qualifying pre-settled status or protection status.
No fixed partner-style income threshold is listed for this route. The sponsor must show that they can support, accommodate and care for the applicant without public funds. The caseworker considers income, housing costs and care costs.
No. Someone applying as an adult coming to be cared for by a relative does not need to prove knowledge of English.
The most important evidence usually covers the medical condition, daily care needs, lack of suitable or affordable care overseas, family relationship, sponsor status, accommodation, finances and a credible UK care plan.
currently lists £3,635 for most outside-UK Adult Dependent Relative applications, £452 where the UK relative has temporary protection status, and £1,407 for an inside-UK application or extension.
Outside-UK applications usually take around 12 weeks and inside-UK applications usually take around 8 weeks. Complex cases may take longer.
It depends on the UK relative’s status. Where the relative is British, Irish or settled, the adult dependent relative’s stay is usually unlimited. Where the relative has pre-settled or protection status, extension or settlement may be needed when the relative extends or settles.
Yes, in relevant cases. A person may be eligible for ILR if they have a family visa as an adult dependent relative and the relative looking after them is settled or settling in the UK.
No. Adult Dependent Relatives do not need to prove English language or pass the Life in the UK Test for this settlement route.
The route has a high evidential threshold. The application must show not only that care is needed, but also that suitable care is not available or affordable overseas and that the UK sponsor can provide support without public funds.
Explore linked family visa, settlement, IHS and citizenship topics that may be relevant to long-term UK planning.
Practical support for sponsor duties, reporting, records and Home Office compliance risk.
For parents applying to live with or care for a child in the UK.
For children applying to join or remain with a parent in the UK.
Plan settlement timing, sponsor status and long-term residence strategy.
For parents applying to live with or care for a child in the UK.
Consider naturalisation or registration options after settlement where available.
Adult Dependent Relative applications require careful preparation because decision-makers will examine the care need, sponsor support, overseas care position and financial evidence in detail.
