UK Adult Dependent Relative Visa for Parents in Pakistan: £3,635 Fee, Who Qualifies and 6 Steps
UK adult dependent relative visa for parents in Pakistan: £3,635 fee, 12 week decision, no English test. Who can sponsor, what to prove, documents and steps.
To bring an elderly parent from Pakistan to live in the UK permanently, the route is the UK adult dependent relative visa, a family visa for an adult who needs long-term care from a relative living in the UK. It costs £3,635 when applied for from outside the UK, a decision usually takes 12 weeks, and the parent can apply only from outside the UK. It is a hard route: the parent must need daily personal care that is not available or affordable in Pakistan.
Many British Pakistani families ask about a "parents visa". The UK has no general visa for parents to retire in Britain. A parent who only wants to visit uses a Standard Visitor visa, for stays of up to 6 months. The adult dependent relative route is for a parent, grandparent, brother, sister, son or daughter who cannot look after themselves.
Adult dependent relative visa at a glance
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Fee from outside the UK | £3,635 |
| Fee if the UK relative has protection status | £452 from outside the UK |
| Usual decision from outside the UK | 12 weeks |
| Where to apply | Outside the UK only, unless extending |
| English test | Not needed for this route |
| Super priority | Not available for this route |
GOV.UK says you might also need to pay the immigration health surcharge as part of the application. Our health surcharge guide explains how it is calculated. Tell your bank before you pay, because GOV.UK warns that a large payment can be blocked.
Who the UK relative must be
The relative in the UK must be the applicant's parent, grandchild, brother, sister, son or daughter, living permanently in the UK. They must also be one of these:
- A British or Irish citizen
- Settled in the UK, for example with indefinite leave to remain or settled status
- From the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein with pre-settled status, having started living in the UK before 1 January 2021
- Holding protection status in the UK as a refugee or with humanitarian protection
So a son or daughter on a Skilled Worker or student visa cannot sponsor a parent on this route. GOV.UK says you cannot apply for a family visa when your family member in the UK holds a work or student visa.
What the parent must prove
- They need long-term care to do everyday personal and household tasks because of illness, disability or age.
- They are 18 or over.
- The care they need is not available, or not affordable, in Pakistan.
- The relative in the UK can house and care for them.
- The relative has enough money to support them without public funds, for 5 years if the relative is British or settled.
Point 3 is where most cases turn. Being old, or wanting to live with your children, is not enough. The application must show the parent needs help with daily tasks and that suitable care cannot be arranged or paid for in Pakistan. Medical reports from the parent's doctors, and evidence about care options in their city, carry the case.
The caseworker looks at the UK relative's income, housing costs and any care costs. GOV.UK lists the evidence for the relative's income in its "information and evidence you must provide" section.
Documents to prepare in Pakistan
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Parent's valid passport | Identity |
| Medical reports and doctors' letters | Proves the need for long-term personal care |
| Evidence on care in Pakistan | Shows care is not available or affordable locally |
| Proof of the family relationship, such as a birth certificate or FRC | Links parent and UK relative |
| UK relative's passport or status proof | Shows British, settled or protected status |
| UK relative's income and housing evidence | Shows they can support and house the parent |
| TB test certificate | Needed for UK stays over 6 months from Pakistan |
| Certified English translations | For papers in Urdu |
Book the TB test early at an approved clinic. Our guide to booking the UK TB test in Pakistan lists the clinics. A Family Registration Certificate (FRC) from NADRA is a common way to prove the relationship.
How to apply from Pakistan, step by step
- Apply online on GOV.UK as an adult dependent relative and complete Appendix 1, the form for this route.
- Pay £3,635, or £452 if the UK relative has protection status.
- Pay the health surcharge if the application asks for it.
- Book a visa application centre appointment in Pakistan.
- Attend with the passport for fingerprints and a photo, and submit the documents.
- Wait for the decision, usually within 12 weeks.
How long the parent can stay
| UK relative's status | Parent's stay |
|---|---|
| British, Irish or settled | Unlimited, no extension or settlement application needed |
| Pre-settled status | As long as the relative stays; extend or settle when they do |
| Protection status | As long as the relative stays; extend or settle when they do |
If the case is refused, our guide to UK visa refusals from Pakistan covers review, appeal and reapplying. For a parent who only needs a visit, see our UK visit visa guide.
Common questions
Can I bring my parents from Pakistan to the UK permanently?
Only through the adult dependent relative visa, and only if they need long-term personal care that is not available or affordable in Pakistan.
How much is the UK adult dependent relative visa fee?
£3,635 from outside the UK, or £452 if the UK relative has protection status.
Do my parents need an English test for this visa?
No. GOV.UK exempts adults coming to be cared for by a relative from the English requirement.
Can I sponsor my mother while I am on a Skilled Worker visa?
No. The UK relative must be British, Irish, settled, protected, or an EU-type national with pre-settled status from before 2021.
How long does the adult dependent relative visa take?
Usually 12 weeks from outside the UK. Super priority is not offered on this route.
Can my father apply from inside the UK on a visit visa?
No. This visa can only be applied for from outside the UK, except to extend an existing one.
How we verified this
What we checked and where we read it.
Last checked 14 November 2026. Fees, decision times, sponsor rules, what must be proved, length of stay, the Appendix 1 form and the no super priority rule are from GOV.UK's Family visas: apply as an adult coming to be cared for by a relative and the guide's overview and Knowledge of English sections, read through the GOV.UK content service.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
