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Adult Dependent Relative visa

Residency Pathway PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa.

At a Glance

Processing Time

3-6 months

Application Fee

5,042 GBP

Stay Duration

5 years

Renewable

Yes

Job Offer

Not Required

Dependents

Not Specified

PR Pathway

Available

Remote Work

Not Required

Official Information

Living in United Kingdom

Cost of Living

2% cheaper than United States

Avg Salary£31,200

Quality of Life

176/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

The UK Adult Dependent Relative visa lets adults aged 18 or over who need long-term personal care due to age, illness, or disability join a close relative settled in the UK. The sponsor — a British or settled person — must be a parent, grandparent, sibling, or adult child and sign a 5-year care undertaking.

Successful applicants receive Indefinite Leave to Enter (immediate settlement), with the right to work and study. The fee is £3,635 from outside the UK; decisions usually take 12 weeks. Eligibility is strict: applicants must prove the required care cannot be obtained or afforded in their home country.

This visa is ideal for elderly or infirm adults whose only viable carer is a close relative already settled in the UK, and who can prove no adequate care exists in their home country.

Fee Breakdown

Adult Dependent Relative Visa Application Fee (Outside UK)	3,635 GBP
Adult Dependent Relative Visa Application Fee (Inside UK)	1,407 GBP

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant

5 years

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Must be 18 or older and require long-term personal care due to age, illness, or disability

Must prove that the required level of care is not available or affordable in the home country

Must be sponsored by a close relative (parent, grandparent, sibling, or child) who is a British citizen, settled in the UK, or has refugee/humanitarian protection

Sponsor must sign a 5-year undertaking to provide maintenance, accommodation, and care without recourse to public funds

KEY CRITERIA

Education

none or higher

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Allows family reunification for those requiring long-term care
Grants Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) if the sponsor is British or settled in the UK
Permits the holder to work and study in the UK

Worth Knowing

Extremely strict eligibility criteria with a high rate of refusal
Requires proof that care is unavailable or unaffordable in the applicant's home country
Sponsor must meet significant financial and accommodation obligations

Application Process

Gather evidence of medical needs, financial stability, and relationship to the sponsor

Complete the online application form from outside the UK

Pay the application fee and any applicable healthcare surcharge

Attend a biometric appointment at a visa application centre to submit fingerprints and photographs

Upload supporting documents and await a decision

Verified Claims (18)

Last verified May 31, 2026

Application Steps	Gather evidence of medical needs, financial stability, and relationship to the sponsor; Complete the…	gov.uk
Fee Breakdown	Adult Dependent Relative Visa Application Fee (Outside UK): 3635 GBP; Adult Dependent Relative Visa …	gov.uk
Fees	£3,635 (for applications from outside the UK)	gov.uk
Forms	—	gov.uk
Included Nationalities	—	gov.uk
Official Info	https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/adult-dependent-relative	gov.uk
Max Stay	Indefinite	gov.uk
Max Stay Estimate	type: days, initialDays: 1825, notes: Granted indefinite leave to enter (settlement) if applying fro…	gov.uk

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