Settlement for partners, children and other dependants
Updated 2 November 2026
After consultation the government moved away from making every dependant earn settlement individually. The final approach puts more weight on family unity and shared household contribution.
Partners
A partner who arrives with the main applicant can settle at the same time, provided they meet the relevant requirements. A partner who joins later must complete the same qualifying residence period from their own arrival. For example, if a partner joins two years after a main applicant on a five-year pathway, they can apply two years after the main applicant.
Couples can combine earnings to meet the minimum contribution requirement. The household threshold is £25,142.
Children under 18
Children under 18 can still settle with their parents. They are exempt from the income, government debt, English language and Life in the UK test requirements, but remain subject to suitability and criminality requirements.
Children and young adults who have spent seven years or the majority of their life in the UK remain on their existing settlement arrangements.
Young adults aged 18 to 24
Those who retain child-dependant status can settle alongside their family. They must meet the adult mandatory requirements but not the individual income requirement.
Adults aged 25 or over
Someone aged 25 or over when their family becomes eligible is expected to qualify independently or move onto a suitable route in their own right. This mainly affects young adults whose family is on a longer pathway.
Separate arrangements
Bereaved partners and victims of domestic abuse keep their existing arrangements and can apply for immediate settlement if eligible, though they must still meet suitability and character requirements.
Source: A Fairer Pathway to Settlement: Government Response to the Consultation (CP 1707), November 2026, chapters 5 and 6.
General information only. This is not immigration advice and is not affiliated with the Home Office or GOV.UK. Rules may change and guidance is still to come. For advice on your own case, speak to an OISC-regulated adviser or a solicitor.
More guides
- Earned settlement explained: the UK's new settlement rulesThe 3, 5, 10 and 20-year pathways and the mandatory requirements
- Earnings thresholds and the "best years" ruleThresholds, best years, household income and exemptions
- Which visa time counts towards settlementCounting routes, non-counting routes and the end of Long Residence
- Care workers and the transitional arrangementsThe one-off 5-year route, second chance and sponsor protections