Family on Skilled Worker visa — spouse rights, school, NHS
Spouses and partners of a Skilled Worker visa holder have full work rights in the UK without a separate sponsor — including self-employment and business. Children get access to state school from day one — the school cannot ask for immigration documents when you apply. All family members can register with a GP for free. Important exception: care worker and senior care worker (from 11 March 2024) and workers on the Temporary Shortage List cannot bring dependants on new visas.
Who can be a dependant
On a Skilled Worker visa there are two types of dependants:
- Spouse or civil partner — officially registered
- Unmarried partner — if you can prove a relationship of 2+ years
- Children under 18 — including adopted children; some exceptions for children 18+ in certain situations
Cannot be dependants: parents, brothers/sisters, adult children (except special cases).
Care Worker / Senior Care Worker (from 11 March 2024): workers on a Health & Care visa with the codes care worker/senior care worker cannot bring dependants on new visas from 11 March 2024. Only grandfathering: those who were sponsored before this date keep the right to bring dependants when they extend.
Temporary Shortage List (TSL) from 22 July 2025: workers hired for jobs on the TSL cannot bring dependants. The TSL is valid until 31 December 2026, except for care codes (until 22 July 2028).
Work rights for spouse/partner
A dependant spouse or partner of a Skilled Worker visa holder gets unrestricted right to work in the UK. This means:
- Work in any job in any sector
- Full-time or part-time — no limit on hours
- Self-employment — freelance, contract work
- Start a business, be a company director
- Change employer without telling the Home Office
- Sportsperson / coach — special rules (separate visa category)
- No minimum salary from the Home Office — but the employer must follow the National Minimum Wage
There is no salary threshold of £41,700 (like for the main Skilled Worker holder) for a dependant spouse — they work under normal UK labour market rules.
Children — state school from day one
Children who are dependants of a Skilled Worker visa holder have the same right to state school as British citizens — from the first day of arrival.
| Level | Age | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Primary school | 4–11 years | Free |
| Secondary school | 11–16 years | Free |
| Sixth form / College | 16–18 years | Free |
| University | 18+ | Depends on status: home fees (ILR/citizenship) or international |
University fees for children on a dependant Skilled Worker visa are international rates (usually £15,000–£35,000/year), until they get ILR or citizenship. Source: gov.uk Schools admissions — applications from overseas children.
GP and NHS for the whole family
All family members — including dependant children — can register with a GP for free from the first day of arrival.
After registration:
- You get an NHS Number
- Full access: GP appointments, referrals to specialists, emergency care, hospital treatment
- Prescription charges follow standard NHS rates (children under 16 get free prescriptions)
Dependants pay IHS (see below) — but they get full NHS access like UK residents. Source: NHS.uk — How to register with a GP surgery.
IHS for the family — what you pay and for what
IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) is paid when you submit each dependant application:
| Category | IHS rate / year |
|---|---|
| Adult dependant (spouse/partner) | £1,035 |
| Child dependant (<18 years) | £776 |
| Health & Care Worker visa (main + dependants) | Exempt |
IHS is paid in full when you apply — before the application is decided. If your visa is refused, you get a full IHS refund. Detailed breakdown of costs: Skilled Worker visa costs →
What is NRPF — what the family cannot get
Skilled Worker visa holders and their dependants have the status «No Recourse to Public Funds» (NRPF).
- Universal Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Child Benefit
- Council Tax Reduction
- Income Support
- NHS healthcare (through IHS)
- State schools — completely free
- Public libraries, parks
- Emergency services
- Free school meals if the family has low income*
* Free school meals for children of a Skilled Worker visa holder when the family has low income — technically this is not considered «public funds» in the strict immigration law sense and is available in some cases. Source: gov.uk Public funds definition + gov.uk free school meals eligibility.
Path to ILR for the family
Dependants can apply for ILR at the same time as the main worker, if they have also completed 5 years of continuous residence in the UK.
- The ILR clock for a spouse/partner starts when they get their dependant visa — not from the date of the main worker's visa
- Children usually get ILR together with one parent if they meet the residence conditions
- The 180-day absence rule applies to each family member separately
More about the ILR timeline and Earned Settlement proposals: ILR after Skilled Worker visa →