The UK government has issued official guidance on the work visa types under which holders can bring dependant family members to Britain.
The list includes over 20 immigration pathways, ranging from Skilled Worker and Global Talent, to Temporary Work categories such as Charity Worker and Religious Worker.
For example, dependants who already have legitimate and independent permission to be in the UK, such as under the EUSS, may not need to apply as a dependant under these regulations.
The UK government has published official immigration guidance on the work visa categories which permit holders to bring dependant family members to live with them in Britain.
This guidance, on the gov.uk website, brings together the dependant provisions from the relevant appendices to the Immigration provisions and has effect for a wide range of work paths from 2026.
Work Visa Types With Family Dependants
The following groups of workers on visas to the UK may bring dependant family members to Britain.
- Skilled Worker (and its predecessor, Tier 2 (General) .
- Global business mobility routes (and antecedent intra-company transfer routes) – Senior or Specialist Worker.
- Graduate Trainee under the Global Business Mobility routes (and the preceding Intra-Company Graduate Trainee route).
- UK Expansion Worker.
- Service Provider.
- The Detached Worker.
- T2 Minister of Religion (and the previous Tier 2 Minister of Religion).
- International Sportsperson (including former Tier 2 and Tier 5 sporting worker routes).
- Overseas Enterprise Representative.
- Ancestry UK.
- Global Talent (formerly Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent)).
- Individual with High Potential.
- Innovator Creator.
- Initiation.
- Up-scaling.
- Creative Worker (Temporary Work routes, and earlier creative worker routes under Tier 5).
- Religious Worker in the Temporary Work categories (including previous Tier 5 Religious Worker categories).
- Charity Worker in the Temporary Work routes (and preceding Tier 5 Charity Worker routes).
- Government Authorised Exchange under the Temporary Work routes (and preceding Tier 5 Government Authorised Exchange routes).
- International Agreement under the Temporary Work routes (including the former Tier 5 International Agreement routes).
When a Dependant Does Not Need to Apply
The administration recognised one major exemption to the dependant application requirement.
Where an existing family member has lawful leave to remain in the UK in their own right, distinct from the main applicant, for example under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), that individual may not need to file a new application as a dependant under these conditions.
This guidance is for immigration officers to assist them in considering applications for dependants linked to each of the employment pathways referred to in this guidance. The bracketed letters in the source document refer to the relevant rule appendices for each category.