Adult Dependent Relative Visa UK: Requirements and Process
What you need to know
- •The applicant must need long-term personal care due to age, illness, or disability.
- •Care must be unavailable or unaffordable in their home country, even with financial help from the UK sponsor.
- •The visa leads directly to indefinite leave to enter (settlement).
- •Refusal rates are very high — professional legal advice is strongly recommended.
The adult dependent relative visa allows a parent, grandparent, or other adult relative to settle in the UK if they need long-term care that cannot be provided in their home country. The requirements are strict, evidence must be detailed, and the refusal rate is high. This guide explains the process honestly.
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Who Can Apply
The adult dependent relative route is set out in Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. You can apply if you are:
- A parent or grandparent aged 18 or over
- A son, daughter, sister, brother, uncle, or aunt aged 18 or over
Your UK-based sponsor must be a British citizen, hold indefinite leave to remain, or be present and settled in the UK. The sponsor must also be able to maintain and accommodate you without recourse to public funds.
The Core Requirement: Need for Long-Term Care
The central question the Home Office asks is whether your relative requires long-term personal care to perform everyday tasks (washing, dressing, cooking, eating) because of age, illness, or disability, and whether that care is:
- Not available in their home country, or
- Not affordable in their home country, even with financial support from the UK sponsor
This is where most applications fail. The Home Office will consider whether care could be arranged in the applicant's country — perhaps by hiring a carer, using local medical services, or moving to an area with better facilities. If there is any reasonable care option available, the application will likely be refused.
Evidence You Will Need
Building a strong application requires extensive evidence:
Medical Evidence
- A detailed medical report from the applicant's doctor explaining their condition, care needs, and prognosis
- Evidence of any specialist treatment or medication required
- An assessment of the applicant's ability to carry out everyday tasks independently
Country-of-Origin Evidence
- Evidence that appropriate care is not available locally (letters from care providers, hospital reports)
- Evidence of the cost of care and why it is unaffordable even with the sponsor's financial help
- Evidence of any other family members in the home country and why they cannot provide care
Sponsor Evidence
- Proof of the sponsor's immigration status in the UK
- Evidence the sponsor can accommodate and maintain the applicant without public funds
- The sponsor's relationship to the applicant (birth certificates, etc.)
The Application Process
The applicant must apply from outside the UK. The process is:
- Complete the online application on GOV.UK
- Pay the application fee (currently £3,250)
- Attend a biometrics appointment at a visa application centre
- Submit all supporting evidence
- Wait for a decision — processing times can be lengthy, often several months
If successful, the applicant receives indefinite leave to enter, meaning they arrive in the UK as a settled person. There is no probationary period. After 12 months of residence, they can apply for British citizenship.
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Why Refusal Rates Are So High
The adult dependent relative route has one of the highest refusal rates of any UK visa category. Common reasons include:
- The Home Office concludes that care is available in the applicant's home country, even if it is not ideal
- Insufficient medical evidence of the applicant's care needs
- The sponsor has not shown that they cannot fund care in the home country
- Other family members in the home country could potentially provide care
The Home Office takes a broad view of what constitutes "available care." Even if the care abroad is inferior to what could be provided in the UK, it may still be considered adequate.
If Your Application Is Refused
If refused, you have the right to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal. The appeal process allows an independent judge to review the decision. Some applicants have succeeded on appeal, particularly where the original decision did not properly consider the medical evidence or where Article 8 (right to family life) arguments are strong.
You may also consider administrative review if the refusal was based on a caseworker error, or seek legal advice about your options.
Alternative Options
Given the difficulty of this route, some families consider alternatives:
- Visit visas: Your relative can visit the UK for up to 6 months at a time, though they cannot settle or access public services.
- Funding care abroad: Sending money to fund care in the home country may be more practical, even if not ideal.
- Private medical insurance: Some families arrange private care packages in the home country.
Next Steps
Given the complexity and high refusal rate, professional legal advice is strongly recommended before applying. Gather comprehensive medical evidence and research the care options in your relative's home country thoroughly. An experienced immigration solicitor can assess your chances realistically before you commit to the application fee.
Related guides:
This guide is general information, not immigration advice. Immigration rules change frequently. For advice on your specific situation, consult an OISC-registered adviser or immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the latest rules.
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