The rules around dependants for Health and Care Worker visas changed on 11 March 2024. These changes affect who can include family members in their visa applications and under what circumstances they can stay in the UK or apply for an extension.
👨👩👧 Who Can Still Bring Dependants?
If you applied before 11 March 2024 and included dependants (your spouse/partner or children under 18), don’t worry - they can:
✅ Stay in the UK
✅ Extend their visa
✅ Switch to another eligible visa route
❌ What Changed After 11 March 2024?
If your application was submitted on or after 11 March 2024, the rules are much stricter:
Care Workers and Senior Care Workers (SOC 6135 and 6136) can no longer bring dependants, unless they qualify for an exemption (see below).
This includes people switching into this visa (e.g. from Student or Graduate visas).
✅ Who Is Exempt From These New Rules?
You may still be able to include dependants if:
You were already on a Skilled Worker visa (SOC 6135 or 6136) before 11 March 2024
You are the sole surviving parent of a child
You have a child born in the UK
If you qualify under one of these exemptions, you can still bring or extend dependants under the usual rules.
🛂 Child Dependants Still Need a Passport
Being eligible to include a child as a dependant is not the same as having the right documents to apply. Every dependant, including a child, must make their own application, and a child dependant must hold a valid passport in order to apply.
This applies even where the child was born in the UK and even where a previous dependant application was granted using only a UK birth certificate. A UK birth certificate and a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) are not a substitute for a passport at the application stage.
If your child does not currently hold a passport, start the passport application with your embassy as early as possible, because the dependant application cannot be submitted until the passport is available. If the child's leave is close to expiry, tell your Borderless caseworker straight away so the timeline can be managed.
🧾 What Happens if You Change Visa?
If the main applicant switches to a visa that doesn’t allow dependants, existing dependant visas will remain valid until they expire, but can’t be extended.
These changes do not apply to other Skilled Worker roles (non-care roles). If you’re in a different job type:
✅ You can still include your partner and children as dependants
✅ The rules haven’t changed for you
🧮 Need Help Understanding Your Situation?
This table outlines who is eligible to bring partners and children as dependants on a Health and Care Worker visa, based on their personal situation and when they applied.
Main Applicant Scenario | Partner Dependent | Child Dependent (Born Overseas) | Child Dependent (Born in the UK) |
Main applicant is overseas, and applies for a new care worker visa after 11/03/2024 | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
Main applicant is overseas, and applied for a new care worker visa before 11/03/2024 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Main applicant is in the UK on a care visa (SOC 6145/6146), and switched sponsors before 11/03/2024 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Main applicant is in the UK on a care visa (SOC 6145/6146), and switched sponsors after 11/03/2024 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Main applicant was working as a nurse, and now switching to a care role (SOC 6145/6146) after 11/03/2024 | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Main applicant was working as a nurse, and switched to a care role (SOC 6145/6146) before 11/03/2024 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Main applicant is on a Student visa, and finishes studies after 11/03/2024. They want to switch to a care visa. | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Main applicant was on a Student visa and switched to care visa before 11/03/2024 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Main applicant was a carer (6145), and promoted to senior carer (6146) after 11/03/2024 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Main applicant is on a dependent or graduate visa and switches to a care visa before 11/03/2024 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Main applicant is on a dependent or graduate visa and switches to a care visa after 11/03/2024 | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |