The Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa is one of the most restrictive family migration routes under UK immigration law. It is designed for adult family members who, due to age, illness or disability, require long‑term personal care that can only be provided by their relative in the UK. This route is now governed by Appendix Adult Dependent Relative (Appendix ADR) of the Immigration Rules (the evidential specifications still point back to Appendix FM‑SE in places). It normally leads to settlement (Indefinite Leave to Enter) if granted where the sponsor is British or settled.
The ADR route is intentionally narrow in scope, with high evidential and legal thresholds. It is intended to prevent routine migration of older relatives, while providing a route in exceptional cases where care genuinely cannot be obtained in the applicant’s country of residence. As a result, refusal rates for this visa are high, and applicants must be able to present comprehensive and persuasive evidence to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) that they meet every element of the rule.
Applications must show that:
- The applicant is a close family member of a British citizen, a person with indefinite leave to remain, a specified EEA national with status under Appendix EU, or a person with protection status.
- The applicant requires long‑term personal care due to age, illness or disability.
- Such care is unavailable or unaffordable in their country of residence, even with the practical and financial help of the UK sponsor.
- The sponsor can adequately maintain, accommodate and care for the applicant in the UK without recourse to public funds, and will sign a maintenance undertaking (SU07) binding them for 5 years if settlement is granted or for the length of any temporary permission.
What this article is about: This guide provides a comprehensive explanation of the ADR visa route under UK law, including who is eligible, the evidential requirements, the application process, common reasons for refusal, and practical steps to strengthen an application. It is written for both prospective applicants and their UK‑based sponsors, and includes insights on overcoming common legal and evidential challenges.
Section A: Understanding the Adult Dependent Relative Visa
The Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa provides a route for certain adult family members to join their close relatives in the UK permanently, but only where there is compelling evidence that the applicant cannot live independently or obtain the care they need in their home country. This visa forms part of the family migration framework and is set out in Appendix ADR. It is designed to be granted only in exceptional circumstances.
While the policy intent recognises the importance of family unity, it is equally focused on ensuring that migration to the UK does not create an unreasonable financial burden on public services. As such, the ADR route is one of the most difficult categories to satisfy, requiring a careful balance of legal compliance and strong evidential presentation.
1. Definition and Purpose
The ADR visa is a settlement route that enables certain adult family members — including parents, grandparents, adult siblings and adult children — to live in the UK with a close relative who is a British citizen, settled, has protection status, or is a specified EEA national with status under Appendix EU. Its purpose is to allow entry to the UK only where the applicant requires long‑term personal care to perform everyday tasks due to age, illness or disability, and where such care cannot reasonably be obtained in their country of residence because it is not available or not affordable even with the sponsor’s help. UKVI applies these tests strictly.
2. Who Can Apply
Eligible applicants must be the parent, grandparent, son or daughter (18+), or sibling of the sponsor. Where a couple are both the parents or grandparents of the sponsor and apply together, only one of them needs to meet the long‑term personal care requirement. In addition, a parent/grandparent applicant must not be in a subsisting relationship unless their partner applies at the same time as an ADR — in practice allowing the caregiven partner to accompany them even if only one meets the care test. All applicants must be 18 or over.
3. Who Can Sponsor
The sponsor must be British, settled, hold protection status, or be a specified EEA national with Appendix EU status. Sponsors must demonstrate they can provide adequate maintenance, accommodation and care for the applicant in the UK without access to public funds, and they must sign a SU07 maintenance undertaking for the required period.
Section Summary: The ADR visa is a narrowly defined settlement route under Appendix ADR, available only to a small category of family members who meet strict eligibility rules. Applicants must be over 18, closely related to the UK sponsor, and reliant on the sponsor due to long‑term care needs that cannot be met overseas. Sponsors must hold an eligible status and be able to maintain, accommodate and care for the applicant without public funds, supported by a binding maintenance undertaking.
Section B: Eligibility Requirements
The Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa has some of the strictest eligibility rules under UK immigration law. UKVI applies a high evidential threshold, meaning applicants must meet every requirement in full — partial compliance is not enough. Failing to address even one element will almost certainly result in refusal. The Immigration Rules for ADR visas are set out in Appendix ADR, with Appendix FM-SE referenced for evidence of income, savings and specified documents.
1. Age and Relationship
The applicant must be aged 18 or over at the date of application, and be the sponsor’s parent, grandparent, brother, sister, son or daughter (18+). Relationship must be proven through official documentation; UKVI may request DNA evidence where authenticity is in doubt. A parent or grandparent applicant must not be in a subsisting relationship unless their partner applies at the same time on the ADR route.
2. Care Needs
The applicant (or, if the applicant is a parent/grandparent, their partner) must, as a result of age, illness or disability, require long-term personal care to perform everyday tasks. This is interpreted narrowly: needs must be essential to basic daily living, long-term, and go beyond intermittent assistance.
3. Care Availability in Home Country
Applicants must show they cannot obtain the required level of care in the country where they live, even with the sponsor’s financial help, because suitable care is either not available or not affordable. UKVI expects independent, country-specific evidence: medical expert reports, records of attempts to secure care, authoritative statements on availability, and costings. Comparative quality arguments (UK vs overseas) are not enough.
4. Financial, Accommodation and Care by the Sponsor
The sponsor must demonstrate adequate maintenance, accommodation and care without recourse to public funds, using the evidence periods specified (for example, six months for income or 12 months for certain non-employment income), as cross-referenced to Appendix FM-SE. Accommodation must not be statutorily overcrowded. The sponsor must sign a maintenance undertaking (Form SU07): five years where settlement is granted, or the length of any temporary permission; the government may recover any public funds paid to the applicant during that period from the sponsor.
5. Genuine and Subsisting Relationship
The relationship must be genuine and ongoing, evidenced by communication, financial support and practical involvement. UKVI will assess the overall dependency and continuity of support.
Additional Eligibility Points
- Entry clearance only: an ADR applicant must obtain entry clearance before arrival. There is no “switch” into ADR from within the UK (permission to stay is only for those already on ADR).
- Tuberculosis certificates: if Appendix Tuberculosis applies for the country of residence, a valid TB certificate must be provided.
Section Summary: Eligibility hinges on five core requirements: close family relationship, strict long-term care needs, proven unavailability or unaffordability of adequate care overseas, the sponsor’s ability to maintain, accommodate and care without public funds (supported by SU07), and a genuine, subsisting relationship. These are strictly enforced, with additional procedural rules on entry clearance and TB screening.
Section C: Application Process
Applying for an Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa is a complex process requiring careful preparation and strict adherence to the Rules and evidential requirements. The application must be made from outside the UK — there is no in‑country switch into this category.
1. How to Apply from Overseas
Applications are submitted online using the “Join or accompany a family member” route and selecting the Adult Dependent Relative option. The applicant completes the form, pays the application fee and (where applicable) the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), enrols biometrics, and uploads supporting documents in line with the local process. Where Appendix Tuberculosis applies, a valid TB certificate must be included.
IHS note: Applicants granted Indefinite Leave to Enter do not pay the IHS. Where only temporary permission will be granted (for example, sponsors with protection status), the IHS is payable.
2. Supporting Documents
Evidence must meet the specified document rules. Typical items include:
- Identity and travel history: current passport and any previous passports.
- Relationship evidence: birth or adoption certificates; DNA evidence where requested.
- Medical evidence: detailed reports from qualified clinicians describing diagnosis, functional limitations, prognosis, and why long‑term personal care is required.
- Care availability/cost overseas: authoritative letters from local providers or public bodies, records of enquiries and waitlists, and costed quotations showing why suitable care is unavailable or unaffordable even with sponsor support.
- Financial evidence (sponsor): payslips, bank statements, pensions, dividends or rental income within the required evidence periods to demonstrate adequate maintenance without public funds.
- Accommodation evidence: title deeds, tenancy, council tax or utilities and a brief overcrowding assessment.
- Maintenance undertaking: completed SU07 confirming maintenance, accommodation and care for the undertaking period.
- Translations: certified translations for any non‑English/Welsh documents.
3. Application Fees and Processing Times
The ADR fee is higher than most family routes because it is a settlement‑aligned category. Processing can take several months and may be extended where UKVI seeks verification or further evidence. Applicants should avoid binding relocation plans until a decision has been made.
4. Appeals and Administrative Reviews
Appeal rights are limited and typically arise only where a human rights claim is accepted. Otherwise, an administrative review may be available to challenge caseworking error. Given the difficulty of overturning refusals, front‑loaded compliance with Appendix ADR and the evidential rules is critical.
Section Summary: The ADR process is entry‑clearance only and success depends on a complete, rule‑tracked evidential package: correct route selection, biometrics, payment logic for IHS, inclusion of any TB certificate, aligned financial and accommodation documents, and a properly executed SU07 maintenance undertaking.
Section D: Challenges and Common Reasons for Refusal
The Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa is one of the most frequently refused applications under the family rules. High refusal rates reflect UKVI’s narrow interpretation of dependency and care availability, stringent evidential standards, and a clear policy to confine grants to exceptional cases.
1. Strict Interpretation of ‘Care Needs’
UKVI applies a strict definition of long-term personal care tied to basic daily living. Evidence must show an inability to live independently due to age, illness or disability, not mere preference or convenience. Health issues that do not require significant daily assistance are unlikely to meet the threshold.
2. Insufficient Evidence of Care Unavailability Overseas
One of the most common refusal reasons is failure to prove that adequate care is unavailable or unaffordable in the home country, even with sponsor assistance. Applicants are expected to provide:
- Documented attempts to source care, including from private providers.
- Authoritative letters from medical or social care bodies confirming unavailability or inadequacy of local services.
- Costings showing why any available care is unaffordable for the applicant and sponsor combined.
3. Financial Maintenance Concerns
Insufficient or incomplete financial evidence often results in refusal. Common issues include gaps in the required evidence period, failure to meet adequate maintenance thresholds, or unclear/inconsistent records. The SU07 maintenance undertaking is a mandatory element; the government may recover public funds used by the applicant during the undertaking period from the sponsor.
4. Weak Presentation of Relationship Evidence
Even if the family relationship itself is undisputed, UKVI also assesses whether it is genuine, subsisting, and based on dependency. Refusals may result from a lack of ongoing contact evidence, minimal proof of financial or practical support, or unexplained gaps in communication.
5. Tips for Strengthening an Application
- Obtain detailed, independent medical evidence clearly linked to the Immigration Rules’ definitions.
- Provide objective, country-specific proof of care unavailability or unaffordability, supported by documentary records.
- Ensure all financial documentation meets Appendix FM-SE requirements for format, content, and duration.
- Corroborate the genuine, long-term nature of the relationship with communications, visits, and evidence of dependency.
- Consider professional legal advice to address any potential gaps or to prepare a parallel human rights argument.
Section Summary: The ADR visa’s high refusal rate is driven by strict legal tests, narrow definitions, and uncompromising evidential requirements. Weaknesses in medical evidence, proof of care unavailability, or financial maintenance records are the most common causes of refusal. A strong application addresses each element comprehensively, anticipating the Home Office’s scrutiny.
FAQs
Can I apply for an ADR visa if my care needs can be met in my home country?
No. A key requirement is proving that the care you need is not available or affordable where you live, even with the financial and practical help of your UK sponsor. If UKVI determines adequate care exists locally, the application will be refused regardless of your preference to receive care from family in the UK.
How long does the ADR visa last?
If granted and your sponsor is British or settled, you will normally receive Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE). If your sponsor has temporary protection or limited leave, your visa will be granted in line with theirs and will require renewal when theirs does.
Can I work in the UK on an ADR visa?
Yes. There are no work restrictions on an ADR visa. You may work or study in the UK, though practical limitations may arise from the care needs on which your application was based.
Is there an English language requirement?
No. There is no English language requirement for the ADR route. The primary focus is on meeting the care, relationship, and maintenance criteria.
What happens if my sponsor dies or can no longer support me?
If you have ILE, your right to remain is unaffected by the sponsor’s death. If you hold limited leave linked to the sponsor’s status, you must apply to vary your leave or switch to a different route. Exceptional circumstances provisions may apply, but these are assessed case by case.
Conclusion
The Adult Dependent Relative visa is one of the most challenging categories under the UK Immigration Rules. It is designed to allow certain close relatives to join their family in the UK only in exceptional circumstances where care needs are significant and cannot be met in the applicant’s home country.
Applications are often refused due to insufficient evidence, misunderstandings of the “unavailable or unaffordable care” requirement, or failure to meet the strict financial and accommodation criteria. Success depends on providing a complete, detailed evidential package addressing every element of Appendix ADR and the supporting evidence rules.
For those able to meet these requirements, the ADR visa offers a direct route to settlement and long-term family unity in the UK. However, the preparation stage is critical — strong, rule-focused evidence from the outset is essential to avoid costly and time-consuming refusals.
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) | A UK visa route for certain adult family members who require long-term personal care from a relative in the UK. |
| Appendix FM | Part of the Immigration Rules governing family migration routes, including ADR (now supplemented by Appendix ADR). |
| Appendix FM-SE | Section of the Immigration Rules specifying evidence requirements for family visa applications. |
| Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) | Permission to enter and remain in the UK without a time limit, granted from outside the UK. |
| Adequate Maintenance | The requirement that a sponsor can support the applicant without public funds, assessed against Income Support levels. |
| Settlement | Immigration status allowing permanent residence in the UK without time restrictions. |
| Sponsor | The UK-based relative who undertakes to maintain and accommodate the ADR applicant. |
| Long-term Personal Care | Daily assistance with essential tasks such as washing, dressing, and eating, due to age, illness, or disability. |
Useful Links
| Resource | URL |
|---|---|
| GOV.UK – Adult Dependent Relative Visa Guidance | https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/adult-dependent-relative |
| UK Immigration Rules: Appendix ADR | https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-adr-adult-dependent-relative |
| UK Immigration Rules: Appendix FM-SE | https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-fm-se-family-members-specified-evidence |
| DavidsonMorris – Adult Dependent Relative Visa Guide | https://www.davidsonmorris.com/adult-dependent-relative-visa/ |
