8. Family members
Your family members (‘dependants’) can come with you when you come to the UK on this visa. Your family members must have a visa if they’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
A ‘dependant’ is any of the following:
- your husband, wife or partner
- your child under 18
- your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as a dependant
Read the guidance on dependant applications before you apply.
They’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much they’ll have to pay before they apply.
They must complete their visa application by 5 July if they’ve already paid the immigration health surcharge or they might have to pay it twice. They’ll get a refund for their first payment.
Savings
You must show that your dependants can be supported while they’re in the UK.
Each dependant must have £630 available to them whether they apply with you or separately. This is in addition to the £945 you must have to support yourself.
You must have proof you have the money, and that it’s been in your bank account or your dependant’s bank account for at least 90 days before you or they apply.
Example
You must have £2,205 if you want to bring your partner and one child with you to the UK (£945 to support yourself plus £630 for your partner and £630 for your child).
You won’t need evidence of your savings if you have a:
- fully approved (‘A-rated’) sponsor
- certificate of sponsorship stating that your sponsor will give each of your dependants at least £630 to cover their costs for a month if they need it
Dependants applying from outside the UK
Your family members must apply online.
They’ll need to have their fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre to get a biometric residence permit as part of their application.
They’ll have to collect their biometric residence permit within 30 days of when they said they’d arrive in the UK.
They may be able to get their visa faster or other services depending on what country they’re in - check with the visa application centre.
North Korea
Your family members can’t apply online if they’re applying from North Korea.
Each family member will need to make their own application. They must:
- download the application form and guidance - they can read the guidance if they need help filling in the form
- read the instructions to find out where they need to take their completed form
Dependants applying in the UK on their own
Your dependants can apply to extend or switch their visas to stay with you if they’re already in the UK.
Your family members can apply online if they’re your:
- partner
- child
They can also ask to use the priority service.
You can get a same-day decision at a premium service centre.
It’s best for your dependants to apply at the same time as you but they can apply at a later date.
Your family members can’t apply in the UK as your dependant if they hold a visitor visa.
Biometric information
Each person applying must also provide their biometric information (fingerprints and a photo).
They can give biometric information at:
- certain Post Office branches if they applied online (this costs £19.20)
- a premium service centre if they applied in person
They’ll get a biometric residence permit if their application is successful.
Children born while you’re in the UK
If you have children while you’re in the UK, you can apply for permission for them to stay.
You must do this if you want to travel in and out of the UK with your child.
When you apply you must send a full UK birth certificate showing the names of both of your child’s parents.
9. Taking a second job
You’ll need to make a new Tier 2 (General) visa application if you want to do a second job that isn’t in the same profession as your main job or isn’t voluntary work.
You can do a second job (up to 20 hours a week) if it’s on the shortage listwithout making a new application.
You’ll need to be sponsored by your second employer and get a new certificate of sponsorship if you make a new application.
You can’t:
- apply until you’ve started work with your first sponsor
- start work with your second sponsor until your application has been approved
How to apply
Read the guidance before you apply online.
You can get a same-day decision at a premium service centre. You must book an appointment in advance as part of your online application.
You must be in the UK to apply.
Documents you must provide
You’ll need to provide some documents with your application.
You must also include a letter with your application explaining that you want to change your current permission to stay.
Your letter must state:
- your name
- your date of birth
- your current certificate of sponsorship reference number
- the date when your current permission to stay runs out
