UK Home Office Updates Adult Dependent Relative Immigration Rules

The UK Home Office has revised its Immigration Rules concerning the Adult Dependent Relative route, outlining the conditions necessary for individuals in Britain to bring elderly, ill, or disabled relatives to reside with them. The updated rules, available on the official UK government website, apply to relatives aged 18 and above who require a sponsor residing in the UK.

Eligible sponsors must be British citizens, settled individuals, or qualifying EEA nationals with permission under Appendix EU. Only four categories of family members can be sponsored: parents, grandparents, sons or daughters, and siblings.

The applicant must demonstrate a need for long-term personal care due to age, illness, or disability, and that such care is unavailable or unaffordable in their home country. Sponsors must provide documented evidence of income or savings to support the relative without public funds and sign a formal maintenance undertaking lasting five years for settled relatives.

If public funds are accessed, the government may recover costs from the sponsor.