As the UK government continues to update and refine its immigration rules, understanding the rights of your family members — especially your children and partner — is essential when planning to move to or remain in the country.
For many Nigerian families, navigating the UK’s complex immigration system can be challenging. Whether you are applying for a Skilled Worker visa, extending your current visa, or bringing your family from Nigeria or another country, it is vital to know your options and responsibilities.
Here is a comprehensive guide to child and family immigration in the UK, based on the latest official guidance — and what Nigerian applicants and their dependants should consider in 2025.
Who Counts as a Dependant?
The UK government defines a “dependant” as:
- Your husband, wife, civil partner, or unmarried partner
- Your child under 18, including a child born in the UK during your stay
- Your child over 18, if they already have permission to be in the UK as your dependant
Each dependant must complete a separate application to join or remain with you in the UK.
Important: If you are applying as a care worker or senior care worker, additional restrictions apply (see below).
Visa Duration for Dependants
- Your partner or child’s visa will generally end on the same date as yours.
- If both parents have visas with different end dates, the child’s visa will expire on the earliest parent’s visa date.
Proving Your Relationship
You will need to provide evidence of your relationship to your dependants:
For your partner:
- Proof of marriage or civil partnership recognised in the UK, or
- Proof of living together in a relationship for at least 2 years, or
- If not living together (due to work, study, or cultural reasons), evidence of an ongoing committed relationship (regular communication, financial support, time spent together).
For your child immigration:
- Evidence that your child lives with you (unless they are in full-time education away from home).
- Proof they are not married or in a civil partnership.
- Acceptable documents include bank statements, credit card bills, driving licence, NHS registration, or official letters from their educational institution.
Applying from Outside the UK
Your partner and children must apply before they travel to the UK:
- Apply online as a partner or child outside the UK.
- Each family member completes a separate application and pays the relevant fee.
- They will need your application number (GWF or UAN), and optionally a family linking code.
Proving Identity:
Applicants will either:
- Use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to scan their identity document, or
- Attend an in-person appointment at a visa application centre to provide fingerprints and photos.
Processing Time:
- 3 weeks from when they complete their application, identity check, and provide supporting documents.
- In some cases, a priority service may be available for faster processing.
Applying from Inside the UK (Extending or Switching Visas)
If you extend or switch your visa, your partner or child must also apply to extend or switch their visa before their current visa expires.
They can apply at the same time as you, or separately — but they must apply before the visa ends.
Restrictions:
Partners or children currently in the UK on certain visas cannot switch to your Skilled Worker visa as dependants. This includes those on:
- Visitor visa
- Short-term student visa
- Parent of a Child Student visa
- Seasonal worker visa
- Domestic worker in a private household visa
- Immigration bail
- Exceptional permission outside the immigration rules
For Student visa holders:
They may switch only if they have:
- Completed their sponsored course, or
- Studied for at least 24 months toward a PhD.
Processing Time:
- 8 weeks for a standard decision.
- Priority options may be available.
Travel warning: Once they apply, your partner or child must not travel outside the UK until a decision is made, or their application will be withdrawn.
Special Rules for Care Workers
If you are a care worker or senior care worker, the rules are stricter:
- Your partner or child can only apply as dependants if you were employed in this role before 11 March 2024 and you:
- Remain on a Skilled Worker visa,
- Are extending your visa with the same employer, or
- Are changing jobs within the same occupation code.
If you switch from another visa to a Skilled Worker visa as a care worker after March 2024, your dependants generally cannot apply to join you.
Children Born in the UK
If you have a child while in the UK, they do not automatically become a British citizen.
You must apply for a child dependant visa if you wish to:
- Travel in and out of the UK with them.
- Allow them to remain in the UK legally.
Applications can be made:
- Inside the UK
- Outside the UK
You must provide a full UK birth certificate showing both parents’ names.
Apply before the child turns 18 to maintain their dependant status.
What Your Partner or Child Can Do in the UK
If their application is approved, your partner or child can:
- Work (except as a sportsperson or coach)
- Study
- Travel abroad and return to the UK
- Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 5 years (if eligible)
However, they cannot:
- Access most UK benefits (public funds)
- Claim the State Pension
A full list of permitted and prohibited activities will be provided in their visa approval letter.
For many Nigerians moving to the UK on Skilled Worker or other eligible visas, understanding the rules around child and family immigration is crucial.
Planning ahead and preparing strong evidence of your relationships and financial resources will help avoid delays and refusals.
Always check the latest UK government guidance or consult an immigration professional if your situation is complex.
At New Daily Prime, we will continue to provide clear updates and advice to help Nigerian families thrive and stay connected — wherever life takes them.
