How to calculate dependent visa for UK permanent residence? Can my spouse and children get it together after 5 years?

There are 4 hard conditions for applying for permanent residence relying on a visa, none of them can be missing.

1) Number of days out of the country: no more than 180 days in any 12 months. is calculated according to Appendix Continuous Residence, which is a rolling window, not a natural year. The reader at the beginning stumbled here. Note: This article also applies to dependent visa holders. There is no saying that "accompanying family members can be more relaxed".

2) English: Currently B1 (listening and speaking), will be promoted to B2 from March 26, 2027. The original text of the rules is very clear: if the application date is on or after March 26, 2027, B2 is required. For spouses who take care of the children full-time and don’t usually work, it is most likely to put off this task until the last minute and realize that they are unprepared.

3)Life in the UK Test. must be taken by everyone aged 18 to 64, including spouses.

4) Cost: One per person, no discount. ILR The application fee is charged per person, four for a family of four. The specific amount is subject to the current announcement of GOV.UK. Do not use the figures from two years ago as a budget.

Children under 18 years old do not need to take English and Life in the UK when applying as a dependent.

Three situations where relying on a visa to transfer to permanent residence are most likely to overturn

Type 1: The relationship breaks down. If the marriage or partnership ends (widows and domestic violence have other arrangements) and the dependent visa loses its basis of existence, the Ministry of Home Affairs will initiate a curtailment, usually giving 60 days to leave the country or transfer to a status in your own name. Once you switch to a new path, the permanent residence clock starts over from zero - the four and a half years you spent as a dependant will not be taken away.

This is the most vulnerable part of relying on a visa, and it is also a reality that many people dare not face. If there are already problems in the relationship, the sooner you understand your options, the better: victims of domestic violence have an independent application path, and children who have lived in the UK for 7 years or have lived legally for 10 years may also have other options.

The second type: the main applicant raises the problem himself first. If the main applicant of loses his job, is curtailed, or changes sponsor, there will be a visa gap, and the dependents will be affected. The main applicant's renewal gap may also interrupt your "continuous residence".

Type 3: The child turns 18 halfway through. children can still renew their visas as dependents when they reach adulthood, but they must meet the conditions of "not living independently"; if the children go to college, move out, and become financially independent, the identity planning must be redesigned in advance and cannot wait until the day of application for permanent residence.

How will the UK permanent residence reform (Earned Settlement) affect dependent visas?

This is the most asked question right now. Let me start with the conclusion: As of August 2026, the core rules of earned settlement in have not yet been implemented.

The timeline is this: the Home Office opened the public consultation on "A Fairer Pathway to Settlement" on November 20, 2025, and closed on February 12, 2026, with more than 200,000 responses received. It was originally planned to be phased in from April 2026, but was later postponed; the Home Secretary said the main changes could be introduced in autumn 2026. The Home Affairs Committee of the House of Commons released a review report in April 2026, and the relevant committee of the House of Lords also sharply criticized "retroactive application".

The two most critical points for dependent family members in the consultation document ( note: this is a proposal, not the current law):

First, the baseline period is planned to be extended from 5 years to 10 years, which can be added or subtracted according to contribution; second, adult dependents may need to meet the standard "on their own terms", and will no longer automatically settle with the main applicant. This means that the family may not obtain permanent residence on the same day in the future.

Therefore, the most rational approach now is not to panic, but to hold the hand on this 5-year path steadily and quickly - those who have already met the conditions under the current rules, don't delay.

4 things dependent visa holders should do now

① Pull up your entry and exit records separately. Don’t look at the main applicant’s, look at your own. Passport stamps, air tickets, and eGates records are all checked, made into a form, and self-examined according to a 12-month rolling window. It is best to do this step now, not one month before submitting the application.

② English and Life in the UK were passed one year in advance. is especially suitable for spouses who take care of the family full time and don’t speak much English on a daily basis. The threshold for B2 will take effect after March 26, 2027. If you can use B1 before then, don’t wait.

③ Confirm whether the time of the main applicant and yours match. If the main applicant arrived in the UK earlier than you and you arrived half a year later than him, then you cannot submit the application on the same day. Either wait, or let the main applicant get ILR first, and you can submit it separately later.

④ If there are historical breakpoints, find someone to look at it as soon as possible. has changed identities, had a visa gap, traveled abroad beyond the allowed limit, or had a change in relationship status. There is no standard answer to these situations, and it depends on the specific materials. If you're not sure, you can spend £5 on justiscript.com to get a written reply from a practicing British lawyer to a specific question within 24 hours, in either Chinese or English. It's much more reliable than asking around in a group and hearing hearsay.

In addition, matters such as the number of entry and exit days and the expiration date of permanent residence, which require actuarial calculations, can be calculated to the day using the 永居计算器 APP. You can use it by clicking on the menu bar at the bottom of this official account.

Written at the end: Relying on a visa does not mean waiting passively

The word "dependence" can easily give people an illusion - as if their identity is given by others and they can only wait.

But judging from the trend of the rules in recent years, it is quite the opposite: the policy is treating every family member as an independent individual. The earlier establishes the awareness of "I have my own line", the greater the room will be when encountering changes in the future.

Five years is not a short time. Now that you've come this far, don't stumble on the last step. 🌱

This article is for reference only. Please consult a licensed attorney for specific questions. The policy is subject to the latest announcement of GOV.UK.

[Data source] gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-skilled-worker | gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-continuous-residence | gov.uk/government/consultations/earned-settlement

💬 Let’s chat in the comment area: Are you or your family in the UK on a dependent visa? How long was the longest trip abroad in five years? Did you panic at that time?

You are also welcome to tell us about the aspect where you are most stuck - whether it is English, the number of days spent abroad, or the timing of the main applicant. If you find it useful, add this article to your collection, and check it out again before submitting it for permanent residence.

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