Tier 2 Dependent visa

The Tier 2 General Work visa is a UK work visa, part of the British Points Based System. It is issued to highly skilled workers from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland, who have a job offer for a skilled job or a job in the Shortage List.

To be eligible to apply for this visa you must have a job offer by a licensed sponsor in the UK. You should provide a certificate of sponsorship issued by the employer as a proof.

Ability to pass the general grounds for refusal of a UK visa.
Capacity to qualify as a family member of a Tier 2 migrant.
You have to be a family member of a person who:

Applies along with you, or already holds a Tier 2 visa.
You’re their partner and they already hold an ILR or British citizenship, after having held LR in Tier 2 visa category.
You’re their child and they already hold an ILR or British citizenship, after having held a LR in Tier 2 visa category.

Lawful immigration requirement. You must not have entered or stayed in the UK illegally, i.e. without a visa, or have a history of overstaying. This is the key requirement when applying for an extension or settlement permit.
You must not intend to remain in the UK when your partner’s or parent’s visa expires.
Financial requirement. You must have the needed money to cover your subsistence costs.
Your partner’s immigration status. Your partner has to be in any of these situations:

Holding a valid Tier 2 visa.
Applying with you for Tier 2 visa as the main applicant.
When you apply for a Tier 2 Dependent Visa extension, your partner must be holding a valid ILR in Tier 2 visa category, or a British citizenship, after having held an LR in Tier 2 visa category.

Married/civil partner key requirements. You must not be in a polygamous marriage/civil partnership with your partner.
Unmarried/same-sex relationship key requirements. You and your partner should have been in relationship same as marriage/civil partnership for at least 2 continual years.
Genuine relationship requirement. The relationship between you and your partner should be genuine and you must plan living together for the entire period of stay in the UK. And, you must not be closely related to each other, in such a way that in the UK marrying each other would be considered illegal.
Immigration status requirement. You must not be a previous holder of the following visas:

UK visitor visa.
Short-term study visa on or after April, 2015.
Parent of a Tier 4 (child) student on or after April, 2015.

The validity of a Tier 2 General Work Visa is fixed, meaning that you can stay in the UK with this type of visa for a maximum of 5 years and 1 month, or 2 weeks after the end of the employment contract (as shown in the Certificate of Sponsorship Checking Service), whichever is less.

Depending on whether they are in the UK at the time of application, or outside the UK, Tier 2 Visa holders’ dependents will have to follow a UK visa application process that differs from the other.
Find out if you need a UK visa.
Chose the right UK visa type.
Complete the online application form.
Collect the required documents for a UK visa application.
Schedule a UK visa appointment.
Attend the UK visa interview.