Dependant
Dependant
A family member on the application: spouse, children (up to 18-30 years), parents (55-65+). Each dependant means added costs: government fee plus DD plus passport. A family of four can cost 50-150K USD more than a single applicant.
- What it is
- A family member you include in the application together with yourself
- Who is included
- Spouse, children and, in many programmes, parents
- Children up to
- From 18 to 25-30 (often in education and dependent)
- Cost
- Each has their own government fees and check fee
- Can you prepare
- Yes: check in advance who qualifies and calculate for the family
In plain words
A dependant in immigration is a family member you include in your application together with yourself. Usually it is a husband or wife, children and, in many programmes, parents. Their status is tied to you as the principal applicant: when you receive it, so do they.
Each programme has its own limits on whom you can include. Children are included up to a certain age — the threshold ranges from 18 to 25-30 in different programmes, often on condition that the child is in education and financially dependent on you. Parents are usually added from age 55-65, also as dependants. The age rules and conditions should be checked in advance for the particular programme — they differ noticeably.
Each dependant means additional costs. Government fees, the due diligence check fee and, where required, passport issue are paid separately for each. That is why a family of four costs considerably more than a single applicant — the difference can run to tens of thousands of dollars or more depending on the programme.
Where it matters
Who can be included
- Husband or wife
- Is checked
- Their own fees
- Up to 18-30 (varies)
- Often in education
- Financially dependent
- Usually from 55-65
- As dependants
- Not in every programme
- A government fee for each
- Due diligence for each adult
- Passport issue
How to include the family in the application
- 01Determine the family composition
- 02Check ages and conditions
- 03Calculate the fees for each person
- 04Checks on all adults
- 05Status for the whole family
What you need to know
- Dependant status is tied to the principal applicant
- Children’s age limit is 18 to 25-30 depending on the programme
- Parents are often included from 55-65 as dependants
- Each dependant has their own government fees and check fee
- A family of four costs noticeably more than a single applicant
How it affects the budget
- For each person
- Separate government fees and due diligence fee
- Children
- Age threshold from 18 to 25-30 (often in education)
- Parents
- Usually from 55-65, as dependants
- Difference
- A family of 4 costs tens of thousands of dollars more than one person
- Rules
- Differ noticeably between programmes — check in advance
Common mistakes
- Calculating the cost for the principal applicant only
- Not checking whether an adult child qualifies by age
- Forgetting the due diligence fees for each adult
- Counting on including parents where it is not allowed
- Learning about the limits only during the application
What this means for a BRIDGES client
We calculate the full cost in advance for your actual family composition, not just the price for the principal applicant. We check, by age and conditions, exactly who can be included in your programme, so that there is no surprise that an adult child or a parent does not qualify under the rules.
Frequently asked questions
01 /Up to what age can children be included?
It depends on the programme: the threshold is usually 18 to 25-30, often on condition that the child is in education and financially dependent on you. We check the exact limits for your particular programme in advance.
02 /Can parents be included in the application?
In many programmes, yes — as a rule from age 55-65 and as financially dependent on the principal applicant. Each adds their own fees, so extending the family noticeably affects the final budget.
03 /How much does each dependant add?
Each incurs their own government fees, due diligence fee and passport issue. The exact amount depends on the programme, but the difference between one applicant and a family is tens of thousands of dollars.
04 /Are dependants checked?
Adults, yes — each undergoes due diligence separately. The requirements for minors are softer, but the family composition is still checked.
05 /What if a child turns 18 during the process?
This is an important point: age is usually fixed at the date of application, but the rules differ. That is why filing dates for families with nearly adult children are planned in advance.
06 /Will dependants receive the same status?
Yes. Their status is tied to the principal applicant: when you receive citizenship or residence, the included family members receive it too.
See also
Read next
This material has undergone editorial review by BRIDGES.
Calculate the cost for the whole family?
We will check who can be included and calculate the full budget for your actual composition — with no surprises on ages or fees.