Self-Sponsorship works through the Skilled Worker visa route. Once you've got that visa sorted, the question becomes whether your partner and children can join you as dependants. But the rules changed significantly in July 2025, so the qualification criteria have become more restrictive.

Who Qualifies as Your Dependant

The Home Office has a specific definition. This isn't about who you support financially. It's about the legal relationships that immigration law recognises.

Your spouse or civil partner qualifies. If you're not married, your unmarried partner can apply, but you need to prove you've been together in a relationship similar to marriage for at least two years. The Home Office checks this carefully. Joint tenancy agreements, shared bills, joint bank statements, and evidence you've been genuinely cohabiting.

If your child turns 18 during your visa period, that's usually fine. But if they're already 18 when you apply, they can't come as your dependant unless they're already in the UK as your dependant from a previous visa.

The Skill Level Restriction

From 22 July 2025, only Skilled Worker visa holders in jobs at RQF Level 6 or above can bring dependants. RQF Level 6 means graduate-level roles. Below this? Your family can't join you.

There's transitional protection if you held Skilled Worker status before July 2025. You can still sponsor dependants when extending, even in roles below Level 6, as long as you've maintained continuous status. Fresh applications after July 2025 in medium-skilled roles? Family cannot join you in the UK.

The Money You'll Need

Each family member needs their own application and fees. The financial requirement tests whether you can support your family without benefits. You show specific amounts held in your account for 28 consecutive days, ending within 31 days before applying.

For yourself: £1,270

Your partner: additional £285

First child: additional £315

Each additional child: an additional £200 each

A family of four needs £2,070 in the account for that 28-day period.

Healthcare Surcharge Hits Hard

The Immigration Health Surcharge is where costs stack up. Each person pays £1,035 per year for the full visa length, upfront. A 3-year visa for a family of four means £12,420 in healthcare surcharge alone. The charge is non-refundable even if you don't use NHS services.

What Your Family Can Do Here

Once granted, dependants have full freedom. Your partner can work any job, including self-employment, without needing sponsorship. Children attend state schools for free, and everyone can access NHS services. You can travel in and out of the UK, but you need to track long absences for the settlement route.

The Path to Settlement

Dependant visas match your visa end date. When you extend, they extend. After five years, they can apply for settlement alongside you. The continuous residence test matters, though. Being outside the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period can break continuous residence, so families need to carefully track absences.

What Goes Wrong

A Y & J Solicitors sees these patterns repeatedly:

  • Two year cohabitation needs continuous evidence, not just six months of joint bills
  • The 28-day financial rule catches people who move money in the last minute or let the balance dip
  • The SOC code is more important than job title
  • Family applications must link correctly through your GWF number, or they will be processed separately

Timeline and Costs

From outside the UK, dependent applications take around three weeks. Inside the UK, expect eight weeks.

The money side catches people off guard. Between visa fees, the healthcare surcharge, and proving you've got maintenance funds sitting there, you're often looking at five figures for a family of four. If your application gets refused, you're paying all that again to reapply.

A Y & J Solicitors have handled over 5,000 immigration cases. The family element of self-sponsorship is where small mistakes become expensive ones. The skill level requirements changed recently, and relationship proof must cover the required time periods with the appropriate documents. Getting someone who knows these applications to check your approach before you submit saves you from finding out you got something wrong after you've already paid thousands in fees.

Get Expert Self Sponsorship Support

Planning self-sponsorship with family? A Y & J Solicitors offers end-to-end application guidance on the Self-Sponsorship process, including bringing your family through dependent visas. We help you with eligibility assessment, evidence preparation, and application strategy. Book a free call with A Y & J Solicitors to discuss your situation and plan correctly from the start.