Dependent & Family Visa

A dependent or family visa lets you bring — or join — your closest family in another country: a spouse or partner, and dependent children. It is one of the most emotionally important visa categories, and one where applications are judged on a single thing above all others: is the relationship genuine?

Every destination knows that family routes are also the routes people misuse. So a dependent visa file is not really about paperwork — it is about evidence. A real marriage with a thin file can be doubted; a well-documented relationship is approved.

This guide compares the main family routes Indians use in 2026 — spousal sponsorship for Canada, Australia and the UK, Ireland's Join Family visa, and Schengen family reunification — then covers who counts as a dependant, the process, the documents, the reasons applications are refused, and the costs.

Compare the main family visa routes

| Country | Route | Who you can bring | Typical processing | |---|---|---|---| | Canada | Spousal / partner sponsorship | Spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, dependent children | Often around 12 months | | Australia | Partner visa (309/100 or 820/801) | Spouse or de facto partner, then dependent children | Long — often well over a year | | United Kingdom | Spouse / partner visa | Spouse or partner, dependent children | Around 8 to 12 weeks | | Ireland | Join Family visa | Spouse, dependent children | Varies with the sponsor's status | | Schengen country | Family reunification (national long-stay visa) | Spouse, dependent children | Varies by country |

Verified from IRCC — Family sponsorship · checked 2026-05-16

Verified from GOV.UK — Family visas · checked 2026-05-16

Who counts as a dependant

Two groups of family members can usually be included.

A spouse or partner. This means a legally married spouse, and in several countries a common-law or de facto partner — someone you have lived with in a genuine relationship for a qualifying period. Engaged couples have their own routes in some countries.

Dependent children. Children below a set age who depend on you financially and are unmarried. The exact age limit varies by country and is checked at the date of application, so a child close to the limit should be included without delay.

Parents and grandparents are generally not dependants on these routes — they have separate programmes, such as Canada's Super Visa. Always confirm the current definition for your destination before assuming who can be included.

The application process, step by step

1. Confirm the sponsor's eligibility

   Check that the sponsor's citizenship, residence or visa status allows them to bring family.

2. Confirm the relationship qualifies

   Make sure the marriage or partnership, and each child, meet the country's definition of a dependant.

3. Meet the income or maintenance test

   Where required — notably the UK — confirm the sponsor meets the minimum income and accommodation rules.

4. Gather relationship evidence

   Assemble proof the relationship is genuine and continuing — this is the heart of the file.

5. Complete language and medical steps

   Sit any required English test, and complete medical examinations and police clearances.

6. Submit the application and pay fees

   Lodge the application, pay the visa fee and any health surcharge, and give biometrics.

7. Respond to any interview or request

   Answer additional questions or attend an interview honestly and consistently.

8. Wait for the decision

   Wait for the visa before making travel or relocation plans.

Documents every family visa file needs

1. Valid passports — for the applicant and every dependent child.
2. Marriage certificate — or proof of a registered or qualifying partnership.
3. Sponsor's status proof — citizenship, PR, or the sponsor's qualifying visa.
4. Relationship evidence — photographs across time, chat and call history, joint finances, travel together, and statements from family.
5. Children's documents — birth certificates linking them to both parents.
6. Financial documents — income proof meeting the country's maintenance or income test.
7. Accommodation proof — where the family will live.
8. English test results — where the route requires them.
9. Police clearance certificates — from India and other countries of long residence.
10. Medical examination — for each applicant, by an approved physician.

Why family visa applications get refused — and the fix

Doubt over a genuine relationship. Thin evidence makes officers suspect a marriage of convenience. The fix: document the relationship deeply — its history, not just the wedding day.

The sponsor falls short of the income test. Common on the UK route, which sets a minimum income that has risen in recent years. The fix: confirm the sponsor clearly meets the current threshold before applying.

Gaps in relationship history. A marriage with no evidence of contact or shared life between key dates. The fix: show the relationship as a continuous story — messages, visits, joint decisions.

Inconsistent answers. The couple gives different accounts of how they met or live. The fix: prepare honestly and consistently; never rehearse a script.

Incomplete documents for children. A child added late, or without proof of dependency. The fix: include every child from the start with full documents.

An undeclared past refusal. Hiding an earlier refusal damages credibility badly. The fix: declare everything and explain it.

The costs you should plan for

Family visas can be expensive. Plan for the government application fee — which on the Australian partner route in particular is high — plus biometrics, medical examinations, police clearances, English tests where required, translations and courier.

Some countries add a health surcharge that must be paid for the length of the visa. And because these routes can take many months, budget for a realistic period of living apart, or of one partner not yet able to work.

How Lifeset Overseas handles dependent and family visas

We are a licensed visa consultancy in Patiala, Punjab. Family files carry real emotional weight, and we treat them carefully — because a refusal here separates a family.

We assess honestly whether the relationship and the sponsor's status genuinely qualify, help build relationship evidence into a clear and convincing story, and confirm any income test is met before a rupee is spent on fees. You get one consultant from the first call to the decision, a fixed, disclosed fee, and refusal-recovery help if an earlier application failed. See the country detail on our Canada dependent visa page.

Dependent visa FAQs

Who can I bring on a dependent or family visa? Usually your spouse or qualifying partner and your dependent children. Parents and grandparents are generally not included — they have separate routes such as Canada's Super Visa.

What proves a genuine relationship? A continuous record — photographs over time, call and message history, joint bank accounts or assets, travel together, and how you have made life decisions as a couple. Depth and consistency matter more than any single document.

Can my partner sponsor me if we are not married? In Canada and Australia, yes — a genuine common-law or de facto relationship of a qualifying length can be sponsored. Other countries lean more toward registered marriage. Check your destination's rule.

Is there an income requirement? On some routes, yes — the UK in particular sets a minimum income the sponsor must meet, and it has risen in recent years. Canada's spousal route focuses more on the relationship than on an income test.

How long does a family visa take? It varies widely — roughly a few months for the UK, around a year for Canada, and often well over a year for Australia's partner visa. Plan for a long timeline.

Can my children come with me? Yes — dependent children below the country's age limit and unmarried can be included. Apply while a child is comfortably within the age limit, since it is checked at application.

Can my spouse work on a dependent visa? Often yes, but it depends on the country and the visa. Many family and partner visas allow work; some attach conditions. Confirm the specific visa's work rights.

What is a marriage of convenience? A relationship entered into only to obtain a visa. Officers screen hard for it — which is why a genuine couple still needs to evidence their relationship thoroughly.

Will a past visa refusal affect a family application? It must be declared. Declared and explained, it is not a barrier; concealed, it seriously damages credibility.

Should we apply from India or from inside the country? Both options exist for some routes — Canada and Australia have inland and outland streams. The right choice depends on where the couple is living and the processing differences; take advice before deciding.