Adult Dependent Relative

Overview

The Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) route allows certain adult family members of people living in the UK to join them where they require long-term personal care because of age, illness or disability.

The route is subject to strict requirements. The applicant must normally show that the required level of care is not available or not affordable in the country where they are living, even with financial help from their UK sponsor. The UK sponsor must also be able to provide adequate maintenance, accommodation and care without the applicant relying on public funds.

Who Can Apply?

The applicant must generally be one of the following relatives of the UK sponsor:

• Parent
• Grandparent
• Son or daughter aged 18 or over
• Brother or sister aged 18 or over

The UK sponsor must generally be:

• A British citizen
• A person settled in the UK
• A person in the UK with protection status
• Certain EEA nationals with limited permission under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Key Eligibility Requirements

Long-Term Personal Care:

The applicant must require long-term personal care to perform everyday tasks because of age, illness or disability.

Care in the Applicant’s Home Country:

For an application for entry clearance, the applicant must show that they cannot obtain the required level of care in the country where they live because:

• The necessary care is not available and there is no person who can reasonably provide it; or
• The care is not affordable.

Financial and Care Requirement:

The UK sponsor must be able to provide adequate:

• Maintenance
• Accommodation
• Care

without the applicant relying on public funds. The sponsor must provide evidence of sufficient income or cash savings in accordance with the Immigration Rules.

Maintenance Undertaking:

The sponsor must sign a maintenance undertaking confirming responsibility for the applicant’s maintenance, accommodation and care and confirming that the applicant will not have access to public funds.

For an applicant who is granted settlement, the undertaking generally covers 5 years from the date the applicant arrives in the UK.

Application Process

Online Application:

• An applicant outside the UK must apply online for entry clearance as an Adult Dependent Relative.
• The applicant must obtain entry clearance before travelling to the UK.

Supporting Documents:

Documents may include:

• Valid passport or travel document
• Evidence of the relationship with the UK sponsor
• Medical or care evidence showing the need for long-term personal care
• Evidence concerning the availability and affordability of care in the applicant’s country of residence
• Sponsor’s financial evidence
• Evidence of accommodation and proposed care arrangements
• Signed maintenance undertaking

The Home Office may require additional evidence depending on the circumstances.

Biometrics:

The applicant will normally need to provide biometric information as part of the application process.

Decision:

Processing times can vary depending on the circumstances of the application and whether additional checks or evidence are required.

Visa Duration and Settlement

The outcome depends on the sponsor’s immigration status.

British Citizen or Settled Sponsor:

If the sponsor is a British citizen or settled in the UK, an applicant applying from outside the UK who meets the ADR requirements is granted settlement rather than temporary permission.

Sponsor with Temporary Permission:

Where the sponsor has temporary immigration permission, the Adult Dependent Relative is generally granted temporary permission that expires on the same date as the sponsor’s permission.

Where an ADR is already in the UK with temporary permission and the sponsor later qualifies for settlement, the ADR may be able to apply for settlement provided the relevant requirements are met.

Work and Study

Where an Adult Dependent Relative is granted temporary permission, the conditions allow the applicant to:

• Work, including self-employment and voluntary work
• Study, subject to any applicable ATAS requirements

However, the applicant is generally subject to a no recourse to public funds condition.

Important Considerations

Strict Eligibility Requirements:

The Adult Dependent Relative route has strict requirements. Being an elderly parent or dependent family member alone does not automatically qualify an applicant.

Care Evidence:

Applicants should provide strong evidence demonstrating the type and level of personal care required and why that care cannot reasonably be obtained in their country of residence.

Financial Evidence:

There is no simple fixed £29,000 or £18,600 minimum income threshold for an ADR application. Instead, the sponsor must demonstrate that they can adequately maintain, accommodate and care for the applicant without reliance on public funds, using the specified financial evidence rules.

No Recourse to Public Funds:

The sponsor must undertake responsibility for the applicant’s maintenance, accommodation and care. If public funds are received during the period covered by the undertaking, the UK Government may seek to recover those funds from the sponsor.

Partner of an Applicant:

There are specific rules allowing the partner of an applicant who is the sponsor’s parent or grandparent to apply as an Adult Dependent Relative in certain circumstances. Where both parents or grandparents of the sponsor apply together, only one of them needs to require long-term personal care.

Latest Updates

The Home Office continues to maintain the Adult Dependent Relative route under Appendix Adult Dependent Relative. The current Immigration Rules were updated on 3 August 2026, including changes concerning immigration-law compliance and overstaying provisions.

Applicants should therefore check the current Immigration Rules before applying, particularly because the ADR route has detailed requirements concerning dependency, care, sponsorship, finances and settlement.

Written on: 28 August 2026