The United Kingdom’s British National (Overseas) immigration route is a historic and generous offer. At its very heart, it is a pathway designed not just for individuals, but for families. One of the most remarkable and welcoming features of this visa is its inclusive approach to allowing family members to move to the UK together. While the eligibility of the main BN(O) citizen is the starting point, understanding the specific and often complex rules for dependant family members is equally important for a smooth and successful relocation.

A mistake or misunderstanding in a dependant’s application can cause delays or even separations, creating immense stress for a family at a critical time. At Immigration Solicitors4me, we specialise in family-based immigration. We have a deep and practical understanding of the unique family provisions of the Bno visa route, ensuring we can provide the expert guidance needed to help your entire family start their new life in the UK together.

What Makes the BN(O) Dependant Rules So Generous?

Unlike most other UK visa routes, which have very strict and narrow definitions of who can qualify as a dependant, the Bno visa route was created with a broader, more compassionate scope. The policy recognises the importance of keeping family units intact. This is most clearly demonstrated in its unique provisions for adult children, a feature that sets this visa apart from almost any other in the UK immigration system.

The Core Family Unit: Spouses, Partners, and Minor Children

The most straightforward dependant applications are for the main applicant’s immediate family. This includes:

• Your spouse or civil partner.
• Your unmarried partner,provided you can prove you have been living together in a relationship akin to marriage for at least the last two years.
• Your children under the age of 18.

For these individuals, the application process involves providing evidence of the genuine and subsisting relationship (e.g., marriage certificates, birth certificates showing parentage) and demonstrating that they form a single family unit.

The Unique Provision: Can My Adult Children Be Included?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions and a key feature of the route. Under a standard UK visa, children over the age of 18 are almost never considered "dependants." However, the Bno visa has a special provision. A child of the main applicant who is over 18 can be included on the application, provided they are part of the same household. This usually means they must have been born on or after the 1st of July 1997 and must apply at the same time as their BN(O) parent. This rule was designed to ensure that the generation of young adults who were not old enough to register for BN(O) status themselves are not left behind.

What Does 'Part of the Same Household' Mean?

To include an adult child, you must prove that they normally live with you. This can sometimes be complex if, for example, the adult child has been temporarily living away from home to attend university. In these cases, an expert solicitor can help you collate the evidence—such as university accommodation letters and evidence of financial dependency—to prove that their main home remains with the family unit. At Immigration Solicitors4me, we have extensive experience in successfully handling these nuanced family applications.

A Higher Bar: Other Adult Dependant Relatives

The rules also allow for other adult relatives (such as an elderly parent, a grandparent, or a sibling) to be included, but the threshold for this is extremely high. This is not just about being part of the same household. You must prove that this relative, as a result of age, illness, or disability, requires a level of long-term personal care to perform everyday tasks that can only be provided by you, the UK sponsor. This is a very difficult test to meet and requires extensive medical and personal evidence.

Immigration Solicitors4me: Your Family's Immigration Partner

The inclusive nature of the Bno visa is one of its greatest strengths, but navigating the specific evidentiary requirements for each type of dependant requires expert care and attention to detail. A mistake in proving the dependency of an adult child, for example, could lead to that part of the family's application being refused, causing enormous distress.

Our team of specialists at Immigration Solicitors4me understands these family rules inside out. We provide a holistic service, managing the applications for the entire family unit to ensure a coordinated and successful outcome. We are experts in handling the unique complexities of applications involving adult children and other dependants, ensuring your family has the best possible chance of making the move to the UK together.

The Bno visa is a generational opportunity. To ensure your entire family can take advantage of it, contact the family migration specialists at Immigration Solicitors4me for a detailed consultation today.