Apply for Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) Visa UK

The adult dependent relative (ADR) visa route is for relatives and family members, in particular parents and grandparents of British Citizens and settled persons who are in need of long-term personal care due to their age, illness and disability, and their caring needs can only be met by their family members in the UK. An application for an Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa is made in accordance with the requirements as set out in Appendix Adult Dependent Relative of the Immigration Rules.

According to UK Immigration Rules, the Adult Dependent Relative route is for a person aged 18 or over who is sponsored by a relative in the UK (who must be a British Citizen, settled in the UK, have protection status or be a specified EEA national who has permission under Appendix EU) and where the sponsor is able to maintain, accommodate and care for the applicant without reliance on public funds.

The applicant must require long-term personal care to perform everyday tasks due to age, illness or disability and that care must be either not available or not affordable in the country where the applicant is living. Where a couple, who are both the parents or grandparents of the sponsor, are applying as Adult Dependent Relatives, only one of them needs to require long-term personal care.

An Adult Dependent Relative is granted settlement if their sponsor is settled in the UK or is a British Citizen. In other cases, the Adult Dependent Relative is granted temporary permission, which expires on the same date as their sponsor’s temporary permission. Once in the UK, they can apply for settlement or further permission to stay in line with their sponsor’s permission.

Free Immigration Advice For Adult Dependent Relative Visa UK

Our specialist team of immigration solicitors can provide a one-off, 5-minute free online immigration advice regarding your application for an adult dependent relative visa in the UK. Ask our specialist team of immigration solicitors for free immigration advice, or book an appointment online for detailed advice and a consultation with one of our immigration solicitors regarding your application for an adult dependent relative visa in the UK.

Entry Clearance for Adult Dependent Relative Visa UK

You can apply for entry clearance for an adult-dependent relative (ADR) visa if you are in need of long-term personal care due to your age, illness or disability and you cannot perform any of your day-to-day tasks on your own without the help of someone else and further that there is no one else in the country of residence of the applicant to provide the required reasonable care. The refusal rate for entry clearance applications for an adult dependent relative (ADR) visa is quite high because the threshold for success is difficult to meet. Upon a successful entry clearance application, the applicant will be granted Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE).

You must apply for an adult dependent relative visa from outside the UK, as you cannot switch to this route from inside the UK. You’ll need the British citizen or settled person who will be looking after you (also called your ‘sponsor’) to complete and sign a sponsor form to confirm they will support you.

However, outside the immigration rules, it is possible to submit a discretionary leave application from inside the UK if you are physically, emotionally and financially dependent on your settled relative or family member in the UK.

Requirements For Entry Clearance For Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) Visa

The applicant should meet the following requirements for the grant of an Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa:

Applicant outside the UK: The applicant must be outside the UK at the time of submission of the entry clearance application for an Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa;

Valid application: The applicant must have made a valid application for entry clearance as an adult dependent relative;

Suitability requirement: The applicant must not fall for refusal under any of the grounds in Section S-EC: Suitability for entry clearance;

Relationship requirement: The applicant must be the-

• parent aged 18 years or over;
• grandparent;
• brother or sister aged 18 years or over; or
• son or daughter aged 18 years or over of a person (“the sponsor”) who is in the UK.

Sponsor's requirement: The sponsor must at the date of application be-

• aged 18 years or over; and
• a British Citizen in the UK; or
• present and settled in the UK; or
• in the UK with refugee leave or humanitarian protection; or
• in the UK with limited leave under Appendix EU, in accordance with paragraph GEN.1.3.(d)

Need for long-term personal care: The applicant or, if the applicant and their partner are the sponsor’s parents or grandparents, the applicant’s partner must, as a result of age, illness, or disability, require long-term personal care to perform everyday tasks.

Unable to obtain the required care: The applicant or, if the applicant and their partner are the sponsor’s parents or grandparents, the applicant’s partner, must be unable, even with the practical and financial help of the sponsor, to obtain the required level of care in the country where they are living, because-

• it is not available and there is no person in that country who can reasonably provide it; or
• it is not affordable.

Maintenance and accommodation requirement: The applicant must provide evidence that they can be adequately maintained, accommodated and cared for in the UK by the sponsor without recourse to public funds.

Sponsor's undertaking: If the applicant’s sponsor is a British Citizen or settled in the UK, the applicant must provide an undertaking signed by the sponsor confirming that the applicant will have no recourse to public funds and that the sponsor will be responsible for their maintenance, accommodation and care, for a period of 5 years from the date the applicant enters the UK if they are granted indefinite leave to enter.

An adult-dependent relative of a British citizen or a person present and settled in the UK

If all of the requirements of the relevant immigration rules are met, Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) will be granted.

Adult dependent relative of a person in the UK with refugee leave or humanitarian protection

If the applicant meets the requirements for entry clearance as an adult dependent relative and the sponsor has limited leave, the applicant will be granted limited leave to enter of a duration which will expire at the same time as the sponsor’s limited leave, and subject to a condition of no recourse to public funds.

This means that after a grant of entry clearance in this route, the same suitability and eligibility criteria that the adult dependent relative of a sponsor with refugee leave or humanitarian protection meets at entry clearance must be met for a further grant of limited leave in this route.

Eligibility Under Article 8 ECHR For An Adult Dependent Relative

If the applicant does not meet all the suitability requirements for the grant of Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as an Adult Dependent Relative (ADR), but the decision maker is satisfied that refusal of the application would breach Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention, because it would result in unjustifiably harsh consequences for the applicant or their family, the applicant will meet the Article 8 ECHR eligibility requirement. As a result of meeting the requirements of Article 8 ECHR, the applicant will be granted limited leave to enter or remain for 30 months under the 10-year route to settlement.

How To Apply for an Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) Visa Entry Clearance?

The step-by-step process to apply for an Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa from outside the UK is as follows:

1. Complete the application form online for the Adult Dependent Relative Visa UK on the UKVI website.
2. Submit your completed application form for an Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa online by paying the application fee for an Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa in the UK.
3. Book an appointment with the UK visa application centre to enrol your biometrics and hand in your passport so that your Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa can be processed in the UK.
4. Upload all supporting documents online in PDF format before you attend your biometrics enrolment appointment so that they can be considered for the Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa application.
5. Wait for a decision on your Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa entry clearance application, which will be made within 30 working days if you apply through Priority Service or within 60 working days if you apply through standard service.

Processing Time For Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) Visa Entry Clearance

An application for Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa entry clearance will normally be decided within 60 working days if the application is made under standard service and within 30 working days if an application is made using Priority Service. The UKVI Home Office would charge an additional £500 fee to consider an application under the Priority Service. The processing time of the application starts from the biometrics enrolment date. The Home Office UKVI can take longer than the normal processing time where the Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa entry clearance application is complex and/or requires further enquiries by the Home Office UKVI.

Can I Use Priority Service For Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) Visa Entry Clearance?

To get a faster decision on your Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa entry clearance application, you can submit your Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa entry clearance through Priority Service. Our specialist team of fast-track immigration solicitors can prepare and submit your Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa entry clearance application through Priority Visa Service to get you a decision on your Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa entry clearance within 30 working days. The Home Office UKVI charges £500 extra for providing Priority Service for Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa applications.

Discretionary Leave To Remain (DLR) From Inside The UK

The elderly dependent parents and other relatives of a British Citizen or settled person can submit a human rights application for Discretionary Leave to Remain (DLR) outside the Immigration Rules if they can establish that they are dependent on their UK sponsor beyond normal emotional ties and that requiring them to leave the UK would be disproportionate interference in their private and family life.

Dependency Beyond Normal Emotional Ties

The UK courts have held that there is family life established between elderly parents and dependent relatives if they are dependent on their British or settled sponsor beyond normal emotional ties. As there is no specific provision within Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules for an in-country application by elderly dependent parents or relatives, such an application can only be made outside the Immigration Rules based on family life established between the applicants and their sponsor. Dependence beyond normal emotional ties can only be established where the applicant is physically dependent on the sponsor due to the applicant's age, illness or disability. Factors such as the mental health issues of the applicant and the need for emotional support from the UK sponsor are crucial for success in such applications.

Grant Of Discretionary Leave

The successful application will result in the applicants being granted Discretionary Leave to Remain (DLR) outside the Rules for 30 months under the 10-year Discretionary Leave route.

ILR As Adult Dependent Relative (ADR)

You can apply for ILR as an adult dependent relative (ADR) if you were granted limited leave to remain in the UK as an Adult Dependant Relative (ADR) and your sponsor (refugee or person with humanitarian protection leave) has now become settled (obtained ILR) or has applied for ILR.

Requirements for ILR as an Adult Dependent Relative (ADR)

The applicant should meet the following requirements to qualify for ILR as an Adult Dependent Relative (ADR):

The applicant in the UK: The applicant must be in the UK at the time of the ILR application;

Valid application: The applicant must have made a valid application for indefinite leave to remain as an adult dependent relative;

Suitability requirement: The applicant must not fall for refusal under any of the grounds in Section S-ILR: Suitability-indefinite leave to remain;

Immigration status requirement: The applicant must be in the UK with valid leave to remain as an adult dependent relative (except that, where paragraph 39E of these Rules applies, any current period of overstaying will be disregarded).

Sponsor's requirement: The applicant’s sponsor must at the date of application be:

• present and settled in the UK; or
• in the UK with refugee leave or as a person with humanitarian protection, or in the UK with limited leave under Appendix EU in accordance with paragraph GEN.1.3.(d), and have made an application for indefinite leave to remain.

Maintenance and accommodation requirement: The applicant must provide evidence that they can be adequately maintained, accommodated and cared for in the UK by the sponsor without recourse to public funds.

Sponsor's undertaking: The applicant must provide an undertaking signed by the sponsor confirming that the applicant will have no recourse to public funds and that the sponsor will be responsible for their maintenance, accommodation and care, for a period ending 5 years from the date the applicant entered the UK with limited leave as an adult dependent relative.

How Can I Challenge The Refusal of an Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) Visa?

If your UK visa entry clearance for an adult dependent relative (ADR) visa has been refused and you believe that the reasons for refusal are unjustified and not in accordance with relevant laws and facts, you can file an entry clearance appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) within 28 days of the refusal decision. Our specialist team of immigration appeal lawyers can provide the required legal advice and representation for your entry clearance appeal against the refusal of your adult dependent relative (ADR) visa.

Our team of specialist immigration lawyers can assess the refusal decision on your UK visa entry clearance application free of charge and advise you whether you have any valid grounds to challenge the refusal. We will quote a fixed fee to provide legal representation to challenge the refusal of your UK visa entry clearance application if our experienced team of immigration solicitors and lawyers find valid grounds to do so by way of an entry clearance appeal.

If you want a free assessment of the reasons for the refusal of your UK visa entry clearance application, email the refusal letter to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

How We Can Help

Our specialist team of family visa solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representation on a fixed-fee basis in relation to your application for an adult dependent relative (ADR) visa in the UK. Our fixed fee for your immigration application for an adult dependent relative (ADR) visa in the UK will cover all the work of our family visa solicitors on your immigration application until a decision is made by the Home Office UKVI on your application. The casework to be carried out by our family visa solicitors in relation to your immigration application will entail the following:

Advice on requirements: Our family visa solicitors will advise you on the relevant requirements you must meet for your immigration application for an adult dependent relative (ADR) visa to succeed.

Advice on documents: Our immigration lawyers will prepare and email you a comprehensive list of supporting documents to be submitted in support of your immigration application for an adult dependent relative (ADR) visa for the UK;

Assessment of documents: Our immigration lawyers will assess your documents to ensure that all documents you provide in support of your application for an adult dependent relative (ADR) visa in the UK comply with the immigration rules.

Completing the application form: Our immigration lawyers will complete the relevant form for your adult dependent relative (ADR) visa application.

Booking an appointment with the application centre: After you submit your immigration application online, our immigration lawyers will book an appointment with the application centre for you to enrol your biometrics.

Preparing detailed personal statements: Our family visa solicitors will prepare detailed personal statements for the applicant and any other relevant family members who provide care to the applicant, explaining the need for care due to age, illness, or disability.

Preparing a detailed cover letter: Our specialist family visa solicitors will prepare a detailed cover letter in support of the immigration application for an adult-dependent relative (ADR) visa UK to explain all the relevant legal requirements for the approval of the application for an adult-dependent relative (ADR) visa UK.

Uploading documents online: Before the biometrics enrolment date, our immigration lawyers will upload all supporting documents for the immigration application for an adult dependent relative (ADR) visa.

Follow-up work: Our immigration lawyers will handle all follow-up until the UKVI at the Home Office decides on the immigration application for an adult dependent relative (ADR) visa for the UK.

Our Team of Specialist Immigration Solicitors for Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) Visa

Our ADR visa solicitors are specialists in entry clearance applications for adult dependent relative visas from outside the UK. As one of the best ADR visa solicitors, we have an excellent track record of helping clients obtain an adult dependent relative visa. Our highly experienced and fully qualified ADR visa solicitors can provide fast, friendly, reliable, and fixed-fee immigration advice and legal representation for your ADR visa entry clearance application from outside the UK. 

The high quality of UK visa and immigration legal services provided by our best team of immigration lawyers is evident in the 5-star Google Reviews rating from 99% of our clients. Our London-based immigration solicitors are available 7 days a week, 365 days a year, offering unwavering dedication and exceptional legal support for a wide range of UK visa and immigration cases. Our team of highly regarded immigration solicitors brings together more than 6 decades of collective, specialised expertise in successfully handling UK visa and immigration applications.

Meet Our Team of Immigration Solicitors in London

At Premium Solicitors, our strength lies in the expertise, dedication, and unwavering commitment of our ADR visa solicitors in London. We understand that immigration matters are life-changing events, and our team is here to guide you through every step of the ADR visa process with professionalism and care. 

Our team comprises a diverse group of ADR visa solicitors, each bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table. We are united by a shared goal: to deliver the highest level of legal support and advocacy tailored to your immigration needs.

Our team of expert ADR visa solicitors and lawyers is proficient in English, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Marathi, Farsi, Italian, and German, enabling us to communicate effectively with you regarding your immigration matters.

Schedule Your Consultation With Our ADR Visa Solicitors

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Our Fixed Fees For Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) Visa Applications

Our fixed fees for Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa applications are as given in the fee table below:

Our Service	Our Fixed Fees Range
Full service for Entry Clearance for Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) to cover all the work until the decision by the Entry Clearance Officer (ECO)	From £2,000 to £3,000 (no VAT)
Full service for Discretionary Leave to Remain (DLR) from inside the UK to cover our work until the decision on your application	From £2,000 + VAT to £3,000 + VAT
Full service for ILR as an Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) to cover our work until the decision on your application	From £1,500 + VAT to £2,000 + VAT

The agreed fixed fee will depend on the complexity of the application and the volume of casework involved. In addition to our fixed fee, the applicant must also pay the UKVI Home Office fees for the application.

Get a Fixed Fee Quote for Your Application

FAQs - Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) Visa UK

The following are the various Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about an application for an Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa UK:

What is the Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa?

The Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa allows certain adult family members of a British citizen, a person settled in the UK, or a refugee to join them in the UK if they require long-term personal care due to age, illness, or disability.

Who can apply for an Adult Dependent Relative visa?

The applicant must be the-

• parent aged 18 years or over;
• grandparent;
• brother or sister aged 18 years or over; or
• son or daughter aged 18 years or over of a person (“the sponsor”) who is in the UK.

If the applicant is the sponsor’s parent or grandparent, they must not be in a subsisting relationship with a partner unless that partner is also the sponsor’s parent or grandparent and is applying for entry clearance at the same time as the applicant.

Who can sponsor an ADR visa application?

The sponsor for the Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa must, at the date of application, be-

• aged 18 years or over; and
• a British Citizen in the UK; or
• present and settled in the UK; or
• in the UK with refugee leave or humanitarian protection; or
• in the UK with limited leave under Appendix EU, in accordance with paragraph GEN.1.3.(d)

What are the main eligibility requirements for an ADR visa?

To be eligible for the Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa, the Applicants must prove that:

• They require long-term personal care for everyday tasks
• The required care is unavailable or unaffordable in their home country
• The UK sponsor can provide adequate accommodation, care, and financial support
• No recourse to public funds will be needed

These requirements are strictly assessed by the Home Office.

Why are Adult Dependent Relative visas difficult to obtain?

ADR visas have a high refusal rate because the Home Office applies the rules very narrowly. Applications often fail due to insufficient medical evidence, inadequate proof of care options abroad, or failure to meet financial and accommodation requirements.

What medical evidence is required for an ADR visa?

Applicants must provide independent medical evidence confirming their condition and need for long-term personal care. This often includes detailed medical reports, care assessments, and expert opinions addressing why care cannot reasonably be accessed in the applicant’s home country.

Is there a financial requirement for an ADR visa?

The Immigration Rules require the sponsor to meet the adequate maintenance requirement so that the applicant is supported in the UK without recourse to public funds. 

How long does an Adult Dependent Relative visa last?

Successful applicants are usually granted Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) immediately, meaning there is no need to extend the visa later.

What happens if an ADR visa application is refused?

If an ADR visa application is refused, you may have the right to appeal or submit a fresh application. Many refusals can be challenged, especially where human rights arguments or procedural errors are involved. Legal advice is strongly recommended at this stage.

Can ADR visa decisions be appealed on human rights grounds?

Yes. Most ADR refusals attract a right of appeal, commonly based on Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (right to family life). Strong legal representation can significantly improve prospects of success.

How can Premium Solicitors help with an ADR visa application?

Premium Solicitors provide:

• Expert assessment of eligibility
• Strategic preparation of medical and care evidence
• Robust legal representations addressing Home Office policy
• Appeal and judicial review services where applications are refused

Given the complexity of ADR visas, professional legal support can make a critical difference.

Can I switch into an Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa from inside the UK?

The UK Immigration Rules contain no provision for an initial application for an Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa to be made from within the UK. However, outside the Immigration Rules and based on the case laws and family life envisaged under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), it is possible to submit a Discretionary Leave to Remain (DLR) application from inside the UK.

What are the key factors for being successful in the Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa?

The key factors for being successful in the application for an Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa include the following:

• The applicant is in need of long-term personal care due to age, illness or disability;
• The applicant is unable to perform day-to-day tasks on his/her own without the help of someone else;
• There is no other person in the applicant's country of residence to provide the required reasonable care.

For an in-country application for Discretionary Leave to Remain, it is important to show the applicant's physical dependence beyond normal emotional ties on the applicant's settled family member in the UK and that it will be disproportionate interference in the applicant's family life established with the UK family member if the applicant is required to leave the UK. The applicant's health conditions, particularly mental health issues, play a vital role in the application's success.

What is the success rate for the Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa?

The overall success rate in entry clearance applications for Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa is low because even if the requirement of being in need of long-term personal care due to age, illness or disability is met, the requirement that reasonable care is not available in the country of residence of the applicant often becomes a disputed factor and the Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) refuses most applications arguing that the required reasonable care will be available to the applicant in the country of residence of the applicant.

What is long-term personal care for the purposes of applying for entry clearance for the UK Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa?

As a result of age, illness, or disability, the applicant must be incapable of performing everyday tasks for themselves, e.g., washing, dressing, and cooking. This may have arisen recently, such as the result of a serious accident leading to long-term incapacity, or it could be the result of deterioration in the applicant’s condition over several years.

The Home Office UKVI rules also require that the applicant has no access to the required level of care in the country where he/she is living, even with the practical and financial help of the sponsor in the UK. This could be because it is unavailable and no one in that country can reasonably provide it, or because it is unaffordable.

According to the Home Office, Policy Guidance, if an applicant has more than one close relative in the country where they are living, those relatives may be able to pool resources to provide the required care. The ECO should also bear in mind any relevant cultural factors, such as in countries where women are unlikely to be able to provide support.

What is the sponsor's undertaking for Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa entry clearance?

If the applicant’s sponsor is a British Citizen or settled in the UK, the applicant must provide an undertaking signed by the sponsor confirming that the applicant will have no recourse to public funds and that the sponsor will be responsible for their maintenance, accommodation and care, for a period of 5 years from the date the applicant enters the UK if they are granted indefinite leave to enter.

Do I have to pass the English language and Life in the UK test for an Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa?

No, the UK immigration Rules do not require the applicant to meet the English language or Life in the UK test requirements to apply for an Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa from outside the UK.

Why choose Premium Solicitors for an Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa?