What is the Adult Dependent Relative visa?
The Adult Dependent Relative visa, often referred to as the Elderly Dependant Relative visa, is part of the family visa scheme and enables an individual to come to the UK to be cared for by a British or Irish citizen or a person who is settled here.
To make a successful Adult Dependent Relative visa application, applicants must be in need of long-term care, and this must not be available in their home country.
The UK Adult Dependent Relative visa enables holders to remain indefinitely.
Can I bring my brother or sister to the UK permanently?
Yes, bringing a sibling to the UK under an Adult Dependent visa is possible, but it must be shown that they are in need of care and meet the strict eligibility criteria. For example, if your brother or sister is over 18 and has a severe disability or medical condition that requires care, and no such care is available in their home country, they may be eligible.
It is important to bear in mind that the success rate for such cases is generally lower compared to applications involving elderly parents. That being said, the elderly dependent visa UK success rate is also extremely low. For this reason, if you are considering bringing a sibling to the UK, speak to an immigration solicitor who can help you build a compelling case to demonstrate that they need to come to the UK to be cared for by you.
What is the success rate for the Elderly/Adult Dependent Visa in the UK?
The elderly dependent visa UK success rate is extremely low, with around 96% of cases being refused between 2017 and 2020. The approval rate is so low because many applicants struggle to meet the strict financial and care requirements set by the Home Office. ECOs are often able to find evidence of another family member or a person who is able to provide care in the applicant’s home country.
What are the fees for the Adult Dependent Relative visa?
As of September 2024, the Adult Dependent Relative visa fee is as follows:
- If the UK-based family member has permission to stay as a refugee or with humanitarian protection, the fee is £404 if applying from outside the UK or £1,258 if applying from inside the UK
- For all other applications under this route, the fee is £3,250 if applying from outside the UK or £1,258 if applying from inside the UK.
In addition, applicants may need to pay the healthcare surcharge for the Adult Dependent visa. This allows them to access healthcare in the UK. This is currently set at £5,175 for those staying for 5 years.
Can I sponsor my brother to go to the UK?
You may be able to sponsor your brother to come to the UK through the ILR for adult dependent relative route, but the chances of success are slim without a robust case. If your brother is over 18 and severely dependent on you for care due to a medical condition or disability, and if there is no alternative care available in their country, they may be able to secure a visa. We recommend speaking to an immigration lawyer who can help you sponsor your brother to come to the UK under the Adult Dependent visa.
Can I bring my elderly parents to the UK?
Yes, the Adult Dependent Relative visa is most commonly used to bring elderly parents to the UK. If your elderly mother or father (or both) is in need of long-term care from you and it is not available in their home country, then you may be able to bring them to the UK under the settlement adult relative category. It is important to understand that the application process for an Adult Dependent visa is complex and lengthy, and the requirements are stringent.
To bring your elderly mother or father to the UK, you will need to demonstrate to the Home Office that:
- You are a British or Irish national, or you have indefinite leave to remain (or EUSS settled status)
- Your elderly parent is in need of long-term personal care.
- The care they require cannot be provided in their home country, either due to a lack of facilities or prohibitive costs and
- You, as the sponsor, can provide accommodation and financial support without resorting to public funds.
What evidence is needed for the UK Adult Dependent Relative visa?
To make a successful application for a UK Adult Dependent Relative Visa, both the applicant and the sponsor must provide suitable evidence that:
- The sponsor is a British or Irish national or is settled operantly in the UK (e.g. passport or birth certificate)
- The applicant is a close family member (parent, grandparent, sibling, or child) of the UK sponsor (e.g. birth certificate)
- The applicant requires long-term personal care due to age, illness, or disability, and this care cannot be provided in their home country (e.g. medical records and correspondence from a local government agency that no suitable care is available).
- The UK-based sponsor must prove they can financially support and accommodate the relative without relying on public funds (e.g. bank statements)
How long does it take to process the Adult Dependent Relative visa?
The Home Office states that it processes Adult Dependent Relative visas within 12 weeks if submitted from outside the UK; however, the actual times can be much longer. This is because the Home Office almost always asks for more documents, medical assessments, and financial evidence to support the application. From our experience, applications under this category take, on average, between 6 and 12 months.
Can I bring my cousin to the UK permanently?
Unfortunately, bringing a cousin to the UK under the Adult Dependent Relative Visa is not possible. The Adult Dependent visa UK is only available for parents, grandparents, siblings, and children. However, there may be alternative visa routes, such as work or study visas, that could allow a cousin to move to the UK. So, if you are really thinking, can I bring my cousin to the UK permanently, the answer is unfortunately NO under the ADR route.
What is the ‘Settlement Adult Relative’ category in UK immigration?
The ‘Settlement Adult Relative’ category allows a relative coming to the UK to be cared for by a family member to settle permanently without any time restrictions.
How much is the Home Office fee for the ADR visa
The Adult Dependent Relative visa fee costs £2,885 for each person applying.
What are the eligibility requirements for the ADR visa?
To qualify for an Adult Dependent Relative, the applicant must:
- Be over the age of 18
- Have a close relative (called a ‘sponsor’) such as a parent, grandparent, sibling, or child who is settled in the UK or a British citizen and is able to meet their long-term care needs
- Demonstrate that they require long-term care due to illness, disability, or age. This may include help with performing everyday tasks, for example, washing, dressing and cooking
- Not have access to the care they need in the country where they live, even with the practical and financial help of the sponsor. This may be because it is not available or unaffordable.
- Have a sponsor who can financially support and accommodate their dependent relative without relying on public funds (e.g. disability benefits).
The Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) considering your application will check that no other person is available to provide the care needed where you live, including a son, daughter, brother, sister, parent, grandchild, or grandparent. They will also check whether a wider family member, friend, neighbour, or another person can reasonably provide the care required (e.g. home help or a care home). They will also consider whether the applicant has multiple people who can pool resources to care for them in their home country.
